tin vs glass

[Julian Arvizu]

I am currently looking for a new fishing boat. The boats i'am interested in are the 2003 Tracker Targa 17 wt and 2003 nitro NX750 DC. I am looking for info on performance, maneuverability, ect. The Targa would be upgraded to a 90hp 4-stroke and the Nitro would be upgraded to a 115EFI 4-stroke. What are the pro's and con's on tin or glass?

 

[Jim B]

depends on the yupe of water you fish. rivers get tin. busy lakes get glass.

 

[Mark Hofman]

Quick, somebody take my 10-foot pole. I'm liable to touch something with it!



(Translation: Use the search feature and type in "tin vs. glass" or "glass vs. tin". Then stand back from your monitor, cause you run the risk of it blowing up! LOL!!)



Rob, Tox, Greg,...the floor is YOURS.

 

[TrepMan]

Glass is for FAT A$$es!!!



Tin is IN!!!



Now that we got that out of the way...



Based on the nitro.com and tracker.com sites here is how the performance with the motor's you mention fall out:



- NX750DC with 115 4 stroke top end: 52-53mph



- Targe 17wt with 90 4 stroke top end: 36-38mph



So top end and performance (as well as cornering) the NX is the best. If you are looking at big water, dry, smooth you'll be in better the Targa. At price your about $1000K LESS in the NX.



As to Tin vs. Glass, that is a HOT topic on this board with lots of folks with OPINIONS (which is all they are, you have to choose!!). Do a search on just "tin" on this board and you will find HUNDREDS of opinions!!!



The decks on the NX are larger (front and back) then the Targa, so if traditional bass fishing and tournaments is the thing i'd go with the NX. If it's multi-species, big water, thinking of trolling, livebait and bass fishing i'd go with the Targa!



Good luck and you'll love what ever you get!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

My dear man Julian, please pay no attention to the ramblings of these poor, pathetic, no fish catching, jar jar wannabes! Now, if you will look and see, that those of us QUALIFIED to answer your question run glass! Toxic, Jon P, and myself are all guides and we run glass. Mini and Mac are prostaffers for BPS and they run glass. In fact the only one here that has me concerned is Jim Moore (bassinfool). Despite being a good fisherman, he is a little confused and runs an Avalanche. Even Scott, who was once the banner carrier, rainbow flag leader of the Trep clan runs GLASS. I have to wonder if you really wanted to know, or have been lurking and just wanted to throw some gas on the dirty bomb fire! LOL Those of us "in the know" encourage such discussions as it is our appointed responsibility to educate and inform, and ultimately rid the world of the diseased vermin known as tin owners! LOL durn fever, you tin fellas better hope spring comes early, less I start gettin' ugly! LOL

 

[Mark Hofman]

Too late.

 

[Staci Matheis]

You got that right, MO..... He's mighty durn ugly! :^)

 

[Staci Matheis]

Julian -



TrepMan hit the nail squarely on the head. (Now, if only he could do the same to Rob..... :^)) Take a look at the water you'll be fishing - that will be the biggest deciding factor.



I get the feeling that this may be your first boat..... If so, you may want to consider buying "used" first. That way you'll be able to see what aspects you like and dislike of whatever style boat you choose and not suffer a great loss due to depreciation if you discover that another style would have fit your needs better.....



me!



P.S. Rob does have a glass boat in excellent condition for sale!

 

[Kraig Clement]

Julian,

both are great, but not at the same things.

I feel a glass boat is more stable and better to fish from when bass fishing. I think all of the big pros fish out of glass boats, that must say something for glass. If you look in last months Bass magazine, they have an article on glass vs tin..... it stated tin boats never look out dated because the basic design does not change, thats a plus!

If you do decide to go with tin get all welded boat. It is less likely to leak.

Again these are just my thoughts!



Kraig

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Good point Kraig. If you get tin, go welded and steer clear of rivets. They're just a headache. If you aren't familiar with our friendly banter, this is a fun slamfest we have all year at each other's expense that usually intensifies with the onset of severe cabin fever. Bottom line is this, whatever your budget can afford is the best boat for you. If you fish a lot of big water and like walleye and pike and don't need a pitching platform, then a tin rig would be best, but again, don't get a riveted boat. Tin is a versatile rig in the fact that if you don't care how it looks, then when you put a dent in it or SMALL hole, you can patch it quickly and easily and be back on the water. With glass, you've got to be sure you've stopped the leak because once water gets into the tigerhair, it can rot and is very hard to fix. Glass will be heavier and so give a much more stable and dry ride, but keep the weight in mind when towing. If you have a small truck, the extra weight will be noticeable. A tin rig.....you won't even know it's there unless you're towing with an Escort (like some here! LOL) and it's a 20' Tundra loaded with gas and gear. Each has their place, but like Kraig said, all pros run glass for a reason. IF it fits your style of fishing and budget, it is the way to go, if not, any tin rig that gets you on the water is better than no rig! I like Scott's idea of getting a used boat first, (not just because I have one...thanks for the plug Scott) but a lot of guys run out and get a first bassboat and dump $15k lets say into a new boat. Then they (or their wife) don't like the ride, or it scares them. OR they don't know what they're doing and just gas it and end up seriously damaging a new boat. In a used rig, there's not as much to worry about. You can really dig and learn about the boat. That's why I loved my TF so much. I know everything about that boat now. I could almost build one. NOW, I can climb into any 19 or 20 footer with confidence to run and/or repair or upgrade accessories. Good luck, whatever you get, remember to get out there and enjoy it, and take someone with no rig out with you.

 

[Julian Arvizu]

This will be my third boat. I have owned a used tri-hull (glass) with a evinrude 135 o/b and i currently own a small 14' tin boat with a 10hp. I'm from central California and i like to bass fish in small and large lakes,ect. One of my favorite spots is the San Luis Reservoir. This is a large Reservoir and the winds tend to pick up fast(15-60mph). But i do visit alot of small lakes to.

 

[TrepMan]

Hey Rob - If he buys his Tin boat from Tracker there is no rivited issue (if he buys new) since EVERY boat is ALL WELDED!!!



Oh and BASS pro's run Glass, Walleye/Pike/Muskie Pros run TIN!!



By the way Rob, yes you are already ugly, AND great take on the Tin vs. Glass approach!!

 

[C C]

Since I have just gone through this on another thread, owned a 2000 Targa V17 and due to the water I fish I will remain a tin owner once I order an Avalanche to replace the Targa, I hope I can offer input of some value. If your fishing takes you to locations without docks, rivers, areas with sneaky rocks and so on Tin may the solution for you.



With regard to the Targa, if you want speed I would strongly suggest that you purchase as much engine as you can afford. The Tracker web site states an "Estimated Speed" of 29-31 with the standard 60hp on a Targa V17 which I had and that 60hp could not push that boat over 23mph on any given day. I know that I didn't carry nearly as much gear as most folks do so I know it wasn't loaded down with anything other then me, and a full tank of gas. I tested with a GPS, Speedo and other boat running parallel using a GPS and Speedo and top end was 23mph. So if you are looking for any speed get more engine.



Otherwise, the Targa is a very stable boat if on busy lakes, rivers and even on windy days when others were just driving by the ramp I put in and had a good day fishing.



Cass

 

[Michael Snow]

Take yourself for a ride and decide for yourself. Stand on the back corner of each boat and see how much it moves. Also check the weight of both rigs. A lighter boat will be cheaper on gas mileage on and off the water (assuming identical setups).



My fat arse likes my glass boat. Of course, it's a 911, which is wider, longer, and heavier than either of the boats you're considering. I like MY boat because of how it fishes, not based on the material it's made out of or the name on the side.

 

[JEFF WHITE]

tin is in,glass is a thing of the past!



avalanche and tundra,DO I HAVE TO SAY ANYMORE!!!



drop a tin beer can,does it not dent,but your beer is still in it?



drop a glass beer bottle,does it not SHATTER?? oops,no more beer!



case closed!

 

[Eric Wilder2]

<b><center><br><font color=red><b><h2><i>GLASS VS TIN<br></font>RALLY</h2></b></i><br>is coming to a lake near you soon!</center></b>

 

[Michael Snow]

They don't make beer bottles out of fiberglass. Also, you can't get a pretty gel coat on a tin boat.

 

[Gene B]

Also you said the lake gets windy. A glass boat is heavier and lower to the water than most tin boats, and is less affected by the wind. It was one of the biggest reasons I went to glass.



Gene

 

[Mike Levesque]

Gene makes a good point, if you plan to be on a windy lake,glass would sit with a lower profile than some tin boats.

I personally have tin, for lots of reasons,(2002,Pro deep V 16)



AFFORDABILITY,although in your case the prices would be closer,

TOW-ABILITY, lighter total package weight, cause I don't have one of them big pick em up trucks or suv's. (conversion van with 6 cyl.)

SAFETY, having a couple younger kids, I like them being "down in" the boat rather than "up on" the boat,

THE WATERS I use it on, a river, some power plant cooling lakes that can get ROUGH, and a few other lakes that are to be honest, too small to bother with going 60+ mph on.

In all fairness, I've seen both tin and glass on all waters I fish.

While I occasionally join in FOR FUN, the tin vs glass debate, both boats have good things going for them.

As someone, Rob?, mentioned above, the 2003's are now welded and not riveted, mine's a 2002 so it's riveted, no leaks yet, and actually, I've seen quite a few 20,30, even older riveted tin boats still going strong, although one's a rowboat, lol. Bottom line, pick the boat YOU want, don't worry, the glass guys'll get over it eventually, hehe egMike

 

[Paul Ritter]

Bass fishermen stand up to fish. Glass boats are typically more stable (heavier) than tin. If you stand up and fish you'll find a glass boat more stable and will rock much less. If you fish for other species and sit down to fish it probably isn't as big an issue.

 

[Paul Mazza]

After hearing all these arguments I've decide to investigate reed boats...

 

[JAMES MOORE]

I got a question for all those that think glass is better than tin. Why is it that evryone who comes up and looks at my Tracker Avalanche automatically think its glass. Now mind you I'm sitting there with tin lids up and everything and people still don't believe me it's all tin. I'll put my tin Avalanche up against any boat of equivalent length and horse power, and we'll see who beats who. Even in four footers, I've found I can travel faster than any sane glass man would ever travel in his boat. So this glass is faster than tin just doesn't hold water when things get ruff.

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

BF,



I think if you chek the past threads it was discussed that your rig is heavy compared to the glass and that your hull is the same as the one of the glass series. I just have a problem with a tin boat that wants to be like a glass boat. One of the BIG selling points of tin is durability and when you put that coat of paint on her you just lost the tin advantage, now you have the same issues as glass. Doesn't make any difference if it's cracked glass, foggy clearcoat or scratched paint and dented tin. BTW, have you seen the ad where they cut a glass boat in half, put 4 guys on it and it still floats? Whaddya think would happen if you did that with tin?



TOXIC

As potential nominee for Director of Homeland Security in the Neeley for president campaign, I hereby rate this topic a code ORANGE!!

 

[Texas Transplant]

I've got a Targa 18, and I can tell you that in the wind - it is a pain. On the otherhand, when it's blustery and 'wet' (as in wet riding the waves) - it is a dry ride. We got it because it would be a better ride for my wife.



I bass fish out of it all the time. It can run in pretty 'skinny' water (shallow) with no problems. I've got a 90hp merc, and I can get 37-38 mph on the gps out of it most of the time. I'd love to have another 5-8 mph, but it moves well anyway.



I'm considering moving towards a standard bass rig this fall, but it is driven primarly by what I am now doing. Fishing more tourneys both as a non-boater and boater. Wife loves the room and the nice top that we have. In the summer, she considers it to be a must have.



Tex

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Tracker doesn't make any more riveted boats? At all? That's got to be the smartest move they've made! egMike, the "someone" I referred to was jarjar. A 6 cylinder passes in my eyes. I crack up when people try to tow with 4 cylinders. I KNOW trep, you got a 6, but little family sedans don't have the tranny (argue that one right now, I dare ya! LOL) or the suspension to tow anything other that a suitcase with wheels! LOL As for a boat, if I couldn't have a glass rig, and all I could swing was a tin boat, I'd be back in tin so fast your head would spin. The bottom line is....does it get you on the water? Cause the boat doesn't make the angler! I spanked a LOT of purty big sparkly boats from my Super-Guide. But I could have spanked a lot more if I had had a bigger, glass boat with a 150 or 200 on it! LOL I would have had more time and range to spankify everyone!

 

[TrepMan]

Rob - straight from www.trackerboats.com:



NEW FOR 2003 - ALL-WELDED. EVERY MODEL.



You know I towed my 175 for 2 years with my 4 cyl saturn 4 door sedan. Granted it was a 5 speed and YES I did need to drop to 4th gear up hills. Would I prefer a truck? hmm, maybe one of the car-based SUV's (like the Honda Pilot) for my 175. Now if I towed a heavy Tundra/Avalanche, i'd go for a full frame ladder truck/SUV.



JarJar - Meesir, LOVE tin!!!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Still had to be funny. I know the 175 isn't a big boat, but it has to be bigger than a saturn. Could you see anything out the rearview mirror other than boat? LOL

 

[TrepMan]

NO, just BOAT, BOAT and more BOAT!! I still think the opposite was funnier, my old 14ft Jon boat w/5hp mariner being towed behind Beka's Dodge Ram Club Cab with the 5.9 v8!!

 

[Rich D]

Partial to tin, myself. I fish rivers and smaller lakes and tow w/ a Jeep Wrangler. Also, tin fits my budget better!!



Rich D

 

[JEFF WHITE]

ah exsqueeze me,me no like glass,tin is the in!

 

[Greg Meyer]

Well,



Here's my (very prejudiced) take... If open water is in your future...If wet, windy, late fall/winter fishing is in your future... If you plan on trolling for walleye's/muskies... If you want a boat with a full windshield... Then you are talking Deep V... When you talk deep-V you can still choose bewteen tin and glass... But, in Glass you pay big bucks and get a beast of a boat... ou are gonna need a 3/4 ton truck frame and a lower rear end to tow it... Or, you get a 17-20 tin boat and power it with 25-50 hp less for the same top end... tow it with a 1/2 ton or SUV...



Oh, me... I run a 19' Tracker riveted Aluminum... And, I love the boat...absolutely love it

 

[Mike Levesque]

Rob, I knew who ya meant,hehe

By the way, I have a 6 yr old son who's gotta have every JarJar toy around, even the big stuffed doll that talks and tells ya the time every hour, now if I could only find the battery compartment on THAT one....as I often have closed my postings lately............ C'mon Spring!!

 

[stan jones]

i know one thing. on a windy day a glass boat is more stable than a tin boat. especially when on the trolling motor.my opinion and my experience. thanks stan

 

[TOMMY RICH]

Don' ya' know.....GLASS IS PAST!

TIN IS IN!!!

TEE