This Boat Will Change Boating Forever

[@htuckey]

I'm 81 now, and I still have the 12 foot aluminum jon-boat I bought from Sears Roebuck for $67.00. That was back in 1968, and I bought a 2.5 horse air-cooled outboard motor with it for another $87.00. I made the mistake of leaving the boat out in the back yard one winter, and something chewed a big chunk out of the transom, but I was able to replace that myself. I've since got rid of the motor, and replaced a few rivets in the boat, but the boat is still useable. I did put a 6 horse motor on it one summer, and scared myself spitless the first time I went full-throttle with it! That said, I'd still like to try fishing from a kayak, or one of the new plastic bit designs, and it just seems like they'd be a decent way to recycle some of the throw-away platic we're burying ourselves with nowadays.

[@waveranger4974]

You just keep going with the things that you enjoy and don’t let anyone tell you that you are too old! Bravo

[@jimmycricketlopez2746]

boring

[@intosound913]

kinda strange your setup is now a 20,000 dollar rig😂😂😅

[@thereader7776]

You mention thet the market is shifting in the direction of plastic boats and it is, however that shift began 25 years ago and the younger generation ran with it . Kayaks are available for allot less than a grand and are easy to transport and some of the other plastic boats like the Whatly boats are unsinkable and thats hard to beat

[@theestablishmenta7903]

I agree and kayaks are cheaper, easier to transport, and easier to row or pedal

[@morrismonet3554]

@@theestablishmenta7903 Try standing up and pissing over the side. 🤣🤣🤣

[@namvet1968]

Boston Whaler, great boats.

[@ronaldwarren5220]

My Dad bought a Montgomery Ward 14' aluminum boat in 1957. When the Chris Craft outboard motor company went bankrupt he bought three of their 10 HP motors at a steep discount. He put the best one on the new boat. That changed our lives. Water skiing, fishing, swimming and trips on the Big Muskegon River in Michigan made our summers great. He gave the boat and motor to me in the 70s and I used it for years.

[@lching7491]

I have a 21’ triumph. It’s made of HDPE and rotomolded like a cooler. Great boat, it’s light, responsive, great ride and tough as hell!

[@bwfvc7770]

Plastic boats are gonna totally dominate once the market gets its head around it. Plastic has many advantages over traditional boats in many spheres of construction, operation and maintenance. I can see heaps of you blowing a Fuse but I am right. Love your Vlog. I'm gonna Duck now.

[@2skiwme]

I have 2002 190 Bay Triumph. It might not be perfect according to the naysayers but it can handle 6 footers no problem. Perfect boat to teach a kid docking because even if you hit the dock pretty hard the boat will show no scars. Another plus is that it is way easier and faster to fix plastic than Fiberglas.

[@coffeedollsvp]

Its LDPE

[@dougaranda6187]

I bought a plastic Pond Prowler this June to finish out the fishing chapter of my life. I’ve had many boats over my lifetime (just ask my wife) and didn’t want to spend much now, not knowing how long I’ll be able to keep going. My last bass boat I gave to my Son, and he traded it in on a Skeeter. So, I can see how a plastic boat could be entry level, or the final level of boating/fishing.

[@kfsrmn]

83 and been through a lot of boats. I have been kayak fishing for over 30 years. Main design was plastic sit on tops. Grandson is getting my fiberglass fishing kayak. Last year I bought a Hobie pedal drive which I keep on a trailer. I have a 16' aluminum fishing boat that does not get used. I still have a 12" PortaBote with 6 hp engine I bought for hauling with the RV. I prefer it to the 16' boat.

[@crestedcarvings]

Bought my 2011 Old Town Sportsman 154 (15' square stern canoe) for $400 used with a trailer in 2020. I have made numerous mods to it, including my most recent upgraded 3hp Newport NT300. I love my plastic boat for its simplicity and how light it is (120lbs empty). You are right, the push is towards these smaller fishing kayaks and small skiffs, I think mainly because fuel is getting more and more expensive. The bigger the boat, the more expensive they are to maintain, its very simple!

[@t9056]

idt gas price has anything to do with it but instead large boats with high hp cant even go to alot of lakes and rivers...they also dont have room to store it cuz they live in apt and also dont have a truck to tow it..and of course price

[@JackEnnis-xx1pw]

I just bought a slightly used 12-foot Tracker Topper jon boat . I have begun to realize the points you’re making, Wayne. It’s a very basic and very decent little boat, but most importantly a hot commodity of enjoyment and appreciation of the great outdoors…priceless!

[@auditrevor]

I have an older 15’ fiberglass tri hull boat and abosolutly love it. I wanted a boat that was small, easy to haul, launch, beach, fuel efficient and decently peppy but was also stable. Old fiberglass boats can be gotten for next to nothing or even free. I got another 15’6” Glastron im gonna redo the floors in and put a hot motor in it.

[@randystone4903]

I was lucky to get an old aluminum 12' jon boat that I'm positive was made in America. The metal seems thicker than newer boats and still light enough for two of us to pick it up. I'll still enjoy my fancy fishing kayak and also have fun with buddies in the jon boat. I looked hard at the variety of plastic boats available and I don't have confidence in their long term durability.

[@kaavest]

A PE boat i have a Norwegian Pioner 10 is uv stabilized and no mainetance, just throw it up in winther and forget all about it and just as good next spring.They are wery durable

[@jeffd4056]

Just keep it out of the sun

[@wendellbryant]

Ive had a 15'x8' plastic roto molded plastic boat for the last 5 years, love it. It's indestructible

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Nice!

[@ScottBrooker-oh5ym]

I just bought a Fun Yak 350 11.5 foot. The thing is like new with a trailer for $950. It even has a few options. Owner was going to rent it but changed his mind. Can't wait to get it wet!

[@MrWhit30]

Im a veteran canoeist and kayaker getting too old and arthritic so in the market for a small jonboat. I found the Sun Dolphin American 12' on sale for under $600. Seemed to meet all the criteria. About 550# capacity, not too heavy, rated for 6 hp, prewired for trolling motor, seemed like a deal. But when I looked at one in person I changed my mind. Only the rear floor drains. the middle floor and the fore section have no drainage system. The boat has 2 drain plugs, one only drains behind the aft seat, and the other drains the inner cavities of the boat between the hulls. The only way to get water out from between the other seats is to flip the boat. So you cant put the boat up to max speed and pull the plug and drain the boat while underway, a simple thing on an aluminum boat. That simple fact put me off it. So I'm shopping for a used 12' alum. even if I have to do extensive renovations.

[@kevinyoung947]

Get a 1236 instead of a 1232 i have a 1542 now and a kayak

[@GTKInc]

I own a Smartwave 4200, PE Runabout in NZ...best buy for local island hopping and fishing. 40 hp 2 stroke, 250kg .

[@terrancewilhite9260]

I bought a very expensive porta-bote around 25 or 30 years ago and have never regretted it. Even now it is almost worth twice what i paid for it. I am 74 years old and could not get into or out of a kayak without a lot of help, and maybe a crane.

[@BrandenKellar]

Arguably one of the only folding boats, and one of the best small boats out there. My grandfather bought his porta-bote in 1989, and I still have it today. Dragged it over rocks in the river, beach, you name it, that thing is bomb proof. In fact, just bought myself the 2023 14 foot model cause I wanted something I could bring more people along with. Throw it on the roof and off you go!

[@Nobodyspecial5150]

I'm going jetski fishing!!!!

[@neilbroome4941]

Thank you for your video, very interesting content. I have 3 small plastic boats they are tough but I am always concerned about damage. GRP is easy to repair but I have no way of repairing my plastic boats nor access to professional repairers. Love your channel.

[@mikecrawford7352]

I have had in the last 25 years 9 different kayaks both sit on and sit in style all were some form of plastic or another I currently have 3 plus a couple inflatables. I don’t fish very often. We just go play on the lakes and slow moving streams and rivers with friends and family. 15 years ago I bought a 1973 crest liner 16’ i think. Tri haul open bow. I kept that two years, I only used it a dozen time, it cost as much as my ocean kayak 2xl. I found it was bigger hassle plus registration fees launch fees to keep a boat not to mention every trip I needed to fix something, it was in the garage next to my camper which brought up another issue, getting them both lake side,plus my kayaks was getting nasty sun damage from being stored leaning against the house. Aside from the cost i think most people are going with plastic because of the ease of maintenance transport storability and usage fees.

[@phils6733]

I love throwing my bass raider 10 in my gmc savana and just fishing for 5-6 hours…no trailer, no maintenance and it’s pretty stable 2 people for a 10 foot bathtub 😂I got my garmen Sv on ther my 50lbs thrust and I’m able to catch fish. Works for me

[@pugsbella]

I bought 2 jetski's with trailer for 500 used 2 for 1 good runner and gutted the second hull for a pull behind storage trailer for the water when island camping.

[@youdonthavetoreadthispost.5850]

I started out with wood boats and still have one. There's aluminum and then there's Alumaweld among others, I have an Alumaweld boat and it is built for hard use for a lifetime. There are others that run the white water rivers of the west coast for many purposes. Know why you want your boat.

[@davidmuth4571]

I was introduced to sit-on-top lake kayaks about 14 years ago. I have a 10' Ocean Kayak which is perfect for fishing. It's the only Non-hole-in-the-water boat I've ever had.

[@sparky6086]

I'll keep my 1987 Bass Tracker TX-17. Grandad had cypress boats, which he built himself. He rented them out in his fishing camp from the 1940's through around 1972. He kept a coffee can in each one to bail them out. He used tar to cut down on leaking. By the 1970's, people usually had their own boat on a trailer. Before then, many brought their own small outboard motor in the trunk of their car to use. Others just paddled.

[@petervanelslander6206]

i am developping a pontoon houseboat. The prototype i live on is about 10 years old, the hulls are made from HDPE. I admit it has none of the charm of wood or even aluminum, but it is just so much more carefree. I can beach it straight onto rock without worries of punctures. I' d never go back to fiberglass, aluminum or wood. The lenght of the hulls is about 40 feet

[@RespectMyAuthoritaah]

My local boating place sells NEW 12 and 14 foot Aluminum Jon Boats from $750 to $1500 and I live in a high desert. So, I get that not as many people are buying them as before, but the market certainly hasn't dried up and blown away. I wont name the place until after I purchase my boat next month. Pretty sure though the little Jon Boats are everywhere. Back when I was stationed in Louisiana I literally tripped over aluminum Jon Boats everywhere.

[@mfnd502]

I have two kayaks, bought them used for about half the new price. The are very fun. It's appealing to be able to throw one on your car and get on the water without the trailer, the ramp, and all the other things that come with a motor boat. I do love my motor boat though, and I'd love one of the new poly fishing boats in the 14-16 foot range.

[@classicxl]

I honestly could care less if my boat was made of Aluminum or plastic especially if we can start building plastic boats from recycled plastics . what is important to me is i want my boat to last a long time and not have to worry about about it flexing and cracking like some of the budget friendly plastic boat do or have

[@insolentstickleback3266]

Yep, although I do prefer aluminum, plastic has its place. I love my 9' Vibe "Skipjack" kayak, but for anything I could take a dog or another person on, aluminum is the only thing I am interested in. Plastic is simply not structurally acceptable to me in a 12' two person craft, wood is nice but I don't want to be a wood boat maintenance slave.

[@haciendadad]

Is there a difference between "I could care less" and I "couldn't care less"?

[@mr.annoying9453]

you want your boat to last a long time? if you leave a bolt and salt water on the bottom of you alli boat then it will rust a hole straight through it. the boat which will last the longest, by far, is plastic. it has a 5x impact resistance over fibre glass. google the 5.30 warrior polycraft. after 20 yrs they still look brand new

[@basschaser9356]

I bought a nucanoe unlimited and at 12.5 ft 85lb . I can cartop by myself and storage easily inside my garage . I could take my kayak on lakes without boat ramp. Maintenance free . I add a motor 55lb and hit up to 4mph

[@FrankLadd]

My son's friend has one that is a 16 foot center console boat in polyethylene. It is heavy for what it is so it needs a bigger than normal motor and goes slower than normal for a fiberglass or aluminum boat. Also it is not easy to modify and major repairs will be impossible. But it is incredible tough so basically impossible to kill outside of a fire in the first 30 years of normal use.

[@stevehogan8829]

How true. Not many blacksmiths on the corner either.

[@bravofighter]

My father in law has an aluminum johnboat, he had to buy and assemble a trailer to pull it with, he can’t handle it as easily as he used to at 72 years old. Meanwhile, my mom at 75 has been an avid kayaker and fly fisherman her whole adult life. She can carry her little plastic kayak down to the river and kayak herself to her favorite eddy. She can even put it on top of the station wagon by herself, and take it down (although if here’s a handsome younger man there, she’ll ALWAYS ask him for help😂). The difference between aluminum and plastic is cost, weight, speed of construction, and convenience. There’s no contest, even though I do love fishing from a johnboat.

[@genetilbury3487]

In Bass Pro yesterday, 10' and 12' ALUMINUM are back. Just bare bones and no trailer $300 and up.

[@patwalker9890]

That's just the ad from BassPro. That $15k bass boat is their bread and butter. Walk into a showroom and you'll find bare-bones aluminum johnboats. My local marine dealer has basic aluminum johnboats stacked like cord wood. They sell a ton.

[@alexforget]

Blow molding is super cheap and fast. Even if plastic is heavier, the cost advantage make a huge difference. An aluminum kayak doesn’t sound comfortable having your skin touch wet metal.

[@skiphinson8620]

I like my aluminum boats. Currently own two. I prefer 14/15/16 footers in utility V bottom or flat bottom styles. I run 1967, 1971,1974, 1976, and a 1980 vintage Johnson and Evinrude motors. But then, I’m 64 years old, what else might one expect from me? I cut my boat handling teeth on the ol 1971 aluminum V bottom fishing boat beginning at 12 years old. Yep I still have that boat and enjoy it regularly. Had one fiberglass boat in my life. It was a good one but I’ll stick to aluminum. Can’t kill em off even if you only give them a marginal amount of care.

[@noyopacific]

My first boat was a 10' folding plywood kayak that I built myself in 1968. I got it for fishing. I've had quite a few boats since. BTW, I always considered fiberglass boats as plastic or plastic composite. Thanks for the video !

[@davidpethick83]

Spell check errors! Exploded s/b expelled!

[@jjnxyz4368]

I think size is the biggest factor, a 12 or 14 foot jon boat needs a long truck bed or a boat trailer while a kayak can go on roof racks and an 8 foot-10 foot plastic boat can go in a utility trailer.

[@WilliamCunninghamII]

I live in a community on fresh water. A fellow recently splashed an aluminum pontoon. Unbeknownst to him he had an electrical fault at his dock and his pontoons were destroyed by electrolysis in less than a week. I note some new pontoons are thermoplastic. That is the way I would go. I have a thermoplastic kayak which has been In hard sun for 12 years. Still perfectly functional but color has faded. Pretty impressive durability. I would imagine plastic is heavier than aluminum tho.

[@rugan0723]

My dad bought a 16 foot Grumman aluminum canoe when he got out of the Navy after WW2 that he and his brothers used. My brothers and myself fished out of it a lot growing up. My nephews are still using it to this day. I wonder how long a plastic canoe would have lasted?

[@aquaman7356]

Fantastic info on this gravitation towards plastic boats. Just my thoughts though here …. A late 60’surfboard manufacturer who thought much cheaper foam injection plastic shell surfboard was the future. It didn’t last long. Consumers eventually want performance… Now, back to boats. I grant you, performance is not at issue but, I for one don’t understand why these “ kayak” boats are selling. Me? I still want a cheap boat that will comfortably accommodate 2 or more people! I don’t care what is made of. And I know there are a lot of people like me out there. IDK, maybe I just don’t understand the market.

[@alanjohnson2613]

I like that you have chapmans on your book shelf.

[@barrythacker7281]

I like light boats. A 20 hp on a rib can run 30 mph. I can move it by hand, if i have to. Plastic boats are heavy as compared to aluminum. I bet plastic boats are more durable? They would make good rental boats.

[@Biochemechanic]

The plastic degrades when left outside. That’s the downside of a plastic boat.

[@patrickseekins1299]

TRIUMPH has been making plastic Boats (ROTOMOLDED) for 20 yrs. I have a 2005 19' Fish and Ski. It is tougher than any fiberglass boat made. Triumph used to have the videos to prove it. It took sledge hammer blows to side that Boston Whalers could not. Then took ones at least 5 times worse and it just bounced off....

[@DougFrantz]

Addressing the realities of the market will always make you enemies. Great video!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yes! Thank you!

[@punk46664]

I learnt to sail in a rotomoulded dinghy on a rocky dam. No other boat would have survived that. I'd happily own one as a powerboat, but the weight is still an issue. But for now I'm all about aluminium

[@elstevobevo]

I’m team aluminum, but I like that the free market can do what it pleases. Who am I to force people to buy aluminum?

[@gillesgomez3091]

I agree. Brands make/sell what customers are looking for. Plastic boats are popular because they are cheaper than other kind of boats. At the other side, in locations like Florida, fishing boats are becoming insanely big and over powered. Different places, different needs, different budgets?

[@beddozo]

My plastic chairs and pipes get brittle, oxide, and crack/break . Aluminum Me for life .

[@Zaprixa]

That’s correct, you can’t tell ppl to bc they won’t listen to you.

[@tobbes3566]

Were im at they are popular and have good re-sale value, plastic have allways been around often as dingys.

[@chrissinclair4442]

Well, fixed markets can do value added up selling.

[@markburley3418]

Got to thinking, funny that people are more so buying the small plastic fishing kyacks, & how when it comes to cars they keep getting bigger. Then I realised that yesterday when I took my two boys out on the lake in our aluminium ‘tinny’, there was a father & son whom each had their own Kyack they were fishing from, but side my side. I guess like you said Wayne, different thinking

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

When I bought my 10 ft John boat price and weight was the biggest factors my ten aluminum Jon boat with no accessories on it weighs 88 lbs all the plastic boats with the We're 12ft. And 200 plus pounds with no accessories so I went with aluminum as it would be easier to load into the back of a pick up truck

[@biggdaddymiller]

Thanks for doing boating fellow Marylander

[@paulchancey8905]

I have a kayak now I fish out of . I've fished from aluminum jon boats, more room better standing stability but seats not as comfortable. I want to go electric with a fiberglas or kevlar bass boat like hull with lots of battery storage an autopilot trolling motor and an electric outboard. All thats availble but I haven't seen a manufacturer that wants to put it on a trailer for me.

[@locker1325]

I love some of the new plastic boat designs. I love the kayaks but don't love the sitting position. I prefer to sit higher and like the ability to rotate. You have to watch the weight of these new offerings because you lose the ability to easily load and unload from a truck bed if that's important to you. I think you would have to have several of these to cover all your fishing needs. Knowing exactly what you want is key in buying one of these boats as your imagination can get you in trouble and you end up with something you didn't quite bargain for.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

great points!

[@great0789]

As a person who does inshore salt almost exclusively… I LOVE my plastic kayak. Now I am looking at plastic boats. Lol I want to bring a kid with me fishing.

[@ernestclements7398]

Wayne the Boat Guy recently You TubeHad a Video on a boat that came in nesting sections and was put together with spring loaded pins, and could be carried in the cargo area of an SUV it would take an out board and there was a canopy set available it was supposedly available through WalMart but a check of their stores and web site showed no mention of it, it was green like the polycraft and had pontoons on both sides of the engine mount I've tried repeatedly to get the video back but it seems to have been taken down I'd like to get one.

[@ptrollip1]

Great vid. Here in New Zealand the plastic SMARTWAVE is v popular

[@gjeka02]

Any thoughts about UV degradation of the plastic materials?

[@Ego.monster]

Absolutely! Even the best treatments can not prevent eventual degradation due to UV and the elements. Plastic also takes a set when a distributed force is sustained on it. Think of a boat laying across a 2x6 and when lifted now has a crease where it's weight was focused at that 2x6. Plastic is not a long life material.

[@mr.annoying9453]

​@0ddJ0B look at polycraft in Australia if the color of the plastic fades you heat it up with a geat gun and the color comes back. ive seen 20 year old plastic boats that still look brand new

[@Ego.monster]

@@mr.annoying9453 good tip, I’ll give it try sometime

[@kylegroth3199]

Terrible for the planet. Small kayaks are 1 thing but to produce giant plastic pieces of trash called a boat is a joke. We're destroying this planet so quick it isn't even funny. God I hate plastic.

[@mikepalmer1971]

That is a huge concern. If you have one keep it covered, under a carport or in a garage.

[@_onesimpleidea]

This time I have a real question. At 1:56, there's a dark gray boat with a 50hp Honda on it. What brand of boat is that?

[@_onesimpleidea]

Turns out, I found it. For anyone who's also interested, it's a Whaly 455R, manufactured in the Netherlands.

[@jenahildreth]

Also I believe kayaks are more comfortable to sit in for a longer period of time, and they definitely are more convenient to travel them, just throw them in the back of your truck or on top of your SUV.

[@RichZFishes]

Couldn't disagree more. I acquired a sit on top kayak some years back, specifically to fish a "no motors" lake. After three hours in it, I was in so much pain that I put it up for sale as soon as I got home. Sold it the next day. 2 weeks later, the guy I sold it to put it up for sale. He wasn't ready for the discomfort, either.

[@Jeff-0621]

In my case, you are right. I wanted a little more adventure and looking into plastic or fiberglass. I am the only one that’s going out to the water so I wanted something I can lug around myself.

[@tusi1950]

Hey Jeff, I like you need a little boat that I can haul around by myself, so I mention above SOLO CRAFT, it is small and you can put it on the back of a pick up truck or even on top of SUV or car. Truly I love it. check it out on google.

[@digitalalchemy6414]

I've used little plastic bass boats for decades, the little pontoon boats with 2 seats... and ive used kayaks but neither of them servers the confort level of going fishing with others in a boat big enough to walk around in a bit that didn't cost you more than a car. I think we are missing something in the middle... between the kayaks/mini bass boats and 15k bass trackers and pontoons. what form that takes is anyones guess but its largely missing from todays market.

[@2Amend4Life]

It’s about portability. Most younger people don’t own a truck. Kayaks are easier to transport. I have owned a Sun Dolphin Pro 120 for 20 years. My next boat is an Ultra Skiff or Lite Skiff. Nothing wrong with aluminum but prefer plastic. I had aluminum back in the 1980s. Sure the thing is still around somewhere.

[@insolentstickleback3266]

I see 12' Sears, Montgomery Ward aluminum boats near me everyday for as low as $300.00. I could buy my Grampa's 12' foot aluminum boat any day of the week.

[@paulknight5300]

Seems as though one can build a boat out of many different materials. Whatever works to enjoy the water

[@Scrub_Zero]

I'm having an all plastic hog island river skiff built right now. They've proven themselves to have insane durability, and my build is considerably less expensive than an aluminum boat with a similar setup.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

That sounds awesome!

[@jeffd4056]

Just keep it out of the sun

[@LimitedGunnerGM]

I can weld and patch aluminum. When HDPE repairs are easily done, then I’ll be less apprehensive to go that route.

[@gregoryhungerford6712]

What happened to those Livingston boats? I still think those are great when you can row or motor around, sit in a nice seat that can rotate around, be fairly stable, have a Bimini top, and unsinkable. I keep looking for a good one on Craigslist, but they tend to be 4 decades old!

[@beboboymann3823]

This is a good report. I’ve looked at aluminum boats but honestly I’m not understanding the high prices.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Boats and boat accessories always seem to be a bit more costly than we anticipate.

[@teamharrisracing21]

i bought a 14 foot aluminum boat not that long ago this year

[@goferizer]

If the US can't drill for oil and the petroleum sector collapses there won't be any plastic anything. Brilliant. The only reason I don't own a plastic boat is I still have the aluminum boat gifted to me and my brother from our Mom and Dad in 1966. I would like to try a plastic kayak. Thanks for the video.

[@dougheclipse1717]

The main problem I have that keeps me from going with most of the plastic options is size. I have 2 sons and a wife that would sometimes like to go with us. I don't see many good plastic options that can ride 4 deep without being worried about taking a swim.

[@thesoultransferprotocol721]

Can't wait to hit Haulover Inlet in this bad boy!!!!

[@elwaupo1]

I paid $100 on a 14’ Valco aluminum boat, yes had a couple of holes to fix but it was an easy fix, I’ll stick with my aluminum for now

[@ernestclements7398]

There used to be a plastic boat on you tube that could be taken down into nesting sections and carried in the back of any suv does any body recall who made it and where to buy one? It was only a couple of months ago.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

The Portabote folds flat, and I have only seen sectional kayaks - but I don't recall seeing a sectional boat

[@markdimaio8396]

I think there are only 6 aluminum smelters left in the USA and we only have about 2% of total market share world wide. Not that it's a driver in the small boat market but it's indication of an overall trend. I remember about 20 years ago perhaps longer Triumph Boats had a plastic hull 17-21' center console boats. Obviously ahead of their times. They are no longer in business. They were very tough boats and made extremely well:Roplene construction is a patented dual-wall system made by roto-molding marine-grade polyethylene.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I'm surprised we still have 6 aluminum smelters!

[@markdimaio8396]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy I didn't do too much research but it might be comprised of only two companies

[@whatthehell7930]

I got a polycraft 4.5 center console and never looked back!! Tuff as nails, quiet on the water, easy to clean, not heavy at all by comparison!

[@payitforward9442]

Same - have an older 4.55 polycraft - tough as boots! Safe, stable, quiet.

[@paulaka7]

The plastic boats have been around for 30 years, however they are way heavier than alloy, in Australia small runabout trailable boats 20 foot and smaller 90% of the market is alloy, 9.5% fibreglass .5% plastic and the largest I've seen is a 14 footer and really heavy,

[@sg7392]

How does it compare weight wise with aluminium?

[@SigmaRage1]

When I was a kid, my grandmother would take me out on fiberglass boats. Fun catching fish, but it was torturous after the fact - itching for days.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Most boats over 16 ft are fiberglass these days. I wonder if that one was unfinished or wasn't sealed in gelcoat.

[@SigmaRage1]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy yes. You could literally see the fibers glistening in the sun . Old boats …

[@SigmaRage1]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy you know how insulation irritates the skin?

[@peterolbrisch8970]

Interesting stuff.

[@timmoore9736]

With no disrespect to the video, Lund, Smoker Craft, Lowe and Princecraft all appear to be making aluminum 14 footers. And there are a bazillion 10 to 14 foot aluminum boats already out there, so if one prefers metal to polyethylene, they are to be had.

[@chrisfernandes3730]

I have a spine issue anf just cannot sit in a kayak without pain . I like the little pontoons like the bass baby

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I'd give this a "like" but back pain is rough and makes a lot of activities challenging!

[@coldspring624]

Marketing has boosted the cheap plastic boat into big bucks

[@davidweisschadel]

I still own a 14-foot aluminum boat. I also own a 16-foot double eagle fiberglass. The aluminum boat has seen better days. Needs some rivets and some aluminum welding.

[@keithhults8986]

Plastic boats are for kids in bathtubs. I grew up during the 60's running a 32ft wood diesel trawler offshore, out of Montauk, then Shinnicock, and owned 7 different types of boats of my own across my lifetime, from my first boat a 14ft/40hp evinrude 13yrs old, to my custom 25ft diesel stiegercraft that I had built for myself, I wouldn't be caught dead on a plastic boat. I would rather find a 14-16ft GLastron Jetflight and restore it to it's new splendor. I stand a better chance at landing a Carlson. Or a 17ft Checkmate. There are plenty of two stroke sweet water Mercury's to propel my project. I blew up piston 4 and rebuilt the same 140hp Johnson so many times, practicing for AWSA Slalom tournaments, that we kept a 2nd powerhead, so we would never miss a day of skiing.

[@centralcoaster33]

I love your reminder that wooden boat people used to laugh at aluminum boats. I'll try to remember that when I laugh at plastic hull boats 👍

[@KeepItSimpleSailor]

In Australia aluminium boats rule. For any given displacement aluminium is much lighter and easily worked.

[@BBBYpsi]

I like the look of the plastic boat with the 50 HP honda on it at 1:55 of this video. What brand name is that one?

[@echofoxtrotwhiskey1595]

Looks like a Whaly 455.

[@TheBeaker59]

Another issue of aluminium boats and plastic is they last nearly forever so once all the needed boats are built there's only so many needed the market for new ones shrinks. Advantage is that for manufacturers to make a living they have to make better boats cheaper. So they become fashion statements as well.

[@Airon79]

I can remember when I saw a gasoline cast iron engine with aluminum heads and at the time it was considered junk by many . Now , most gasoline engines are made of aluminum .

[@mikebecker328]

I had a 2000 Hunter 212 sailboat made from ABS plastic in Florida. The composition of the plastic was not stabile in the MN winters and the cabin top cracked horrible bad allowing water to soak into the roof. I tried DIY fixes and professional repairs but ultimately the boat was a total loss.

[@Commander-McBragg]

Aluminum is darn expensive no matter what. Even racks for cnc machines are off the charts.

[@gregorytaylor862]

One of the reason Jon Boats are becoming less popular has to do with another boating segment that is making it hard to use jon boats in large lakes. Wakeboard boats that kick up 4-6ft wakes at everything around them will sink an aluminum jon boat with absolutely no effort or time wasted. These idiots in their wake boats will come by you within 50 feet and throw a massive wake stuffing your shallow jon boat within seconds and down it goes to the bottom of the lake. People who are buying the plastic boats generally are using them in small lakes and ponds where that's not an issue, and often the plastic boats are filled with foam so they won't sink if they get stuffed with a wake. I had to get rid of my 9ft dinghy because it got stuffed by a wake boat in a larger lake and went with a 15ft fiberglass tri-hull. It still gets rocked pretty hard by those irresponsible and disrespectful jerks, but at least I'm safer than in a small shallow dingy or jon boat.

[@SABRECRAFT]

i know someone who just bought a 185 foot composite hull yacht

[@garysmith7832]

I like my Coleman 16 foot canoe. More comfortable than a kayak.

[@tadroid3858]

My Dad would be so proud. He was a chemical engineer, who spent his career working with polyethylene.

[@hildablanco1591]

Its better to go with Kevlar carbon fiber over marine plywood and teak interior with ford 460 cobra engines and twin TRS drives

[@svtruthandpups.6218]

I had a Portland Pudgy dinghy

[@terryquan9052]

I’d take my 10 foot livingston over a plastic boat or kayak. I had a fishing kayak and it was hard to fish off.

[@Randy-v9x]

Middle/ late 70's Checkmate, Baja & other fiberglass ski / speed boats were popular. Aluminum weighed less, planed easier and totally outperformed fiberglass..... ALUMINUM RULES here on the Ohio!

[@williamlutsch4259]

I have two brass handmade propellers that look soo similar to the one on your bookshelf. I have lil knowledge of boating antiques. Are things like that worth much. I was gonna do a garage art project lighting thing

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Mine is a fake. My daughter bought it at Hobby Lobby!

[@williamlutsch4259]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy i did a quick search.. dang things seem to have some value. Itd be cool to find someone to appreciate them. They are HEAVY DUTY

[@Jsailor1210]

The price of those fishing kayaks is insane! A 14 foot boat with a 15-20hp engine is way better, more comfortable to fish in and can go everywhere those kayaks go.