BoatBanter.com - Aluminium vs. Fiberglass

People cruise quite happily, of course, in many kinds of different boats.

The book The Nature of Boats by Dave Gerr has an interesting, personal view
of the pros and cons of different materials.

Are you also getting ready for cruising by doing a lot of boating in the
meantime? How do you know you will like it? (It's a wonderful but quite
committed way to live.) What boating skills - and you will need many - are
you developing in the meantime?

This doesn't relate directly to your question, but it puzzles me that you
contemplate something as committed as "cruising" but aren't driven to be
doing at least limited boating along the way. Of course, what do you mean by
"cruising"? Weekends? Years at sea? Blue water or coastal? How large a boat
are you thinking of? Power or sail, diplacement or planing ... ?

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Charles T. Low
www.boatdocking.com

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"Meach" wrote in message
ups.com...

I am starting a long (years long mind you) search for a boat. The
length of the search is mostly because my wife and I want to cruise in
about 10 years or so for a number of reason. It would of course be
cool to cruise now, but the long wait affords me the pleasure of taking
my time in finding a boat. One question I come upon and don't have a
great answer for is what are the difference between aluminium and
fiberglass.

I was hoping you all could help me out.

What experiences have you all had with aluminium hulls and decks?
Advantages and disadvantages?

Thanks.