How do you decide between aluminium and fibreglass boats? Still undecided?

Aluminium and Fiberglass are currently the most commonly used materials for the production of yachts.

Fiberglass materials have the advantages of high strength, easy to form, smooth surface and so on. Aluminium alloy material has excellent welding performance; excellent corrosion resistance, good hot and cold forming performance.

For the same size, aluminium alloy is lighter, so aluminium alloy boats are relatively superior in terms of manoeuvrability and handling. On the contrary, boats made of fibreglass are heavier and therefore relatively more stable in poor wave conditions. For the same size and structural strength, an aluminium boat is about half the weight of a fibreglass boat. The lower weight makes aluminium boats more fuel efficient than fibreglass boats. Over the same number of years of use, fibreglass is more prone to wear and tear, absorbs water, and increases its weight.

Typically boats made of aluminium alloy are put together in flat sheets and the sheet metal pieces are welded or riveted together, making them inferior to fibreglass boats in appearance and fluid characteristics. Fibreglass boats can have a brilliant appearance and excellent hydrodynamic properties, and because of their malleability, they are stylistically and seaworthily superior to traditional aluminium boats.

 Aluminium is fully recyclable and easy to maintain, and used aluminium boats are more expensive than fibreglass boats!

If you are on a budget, choose a fibreglass boat; if the performance of your boat comes first, choose an aluminium boat,no matter which material you choose, there are advantages and disadvantages, the one that suits you is the best.