Top shelf Plate v Glass

[Flex]

I know this topic has been flogged. But I was in a discussion with a mate yesterday on glass v top top quality plate boats in ride and speed.


Comparing the Fisher/offshoremarine master or Bluewater alloy in a 5.5 to 5.8 model. Verse something like a 542F Haines or similar.


Now Whats your opinions on seaworthiness of the Plate v the Glass hulls? can both go out in same conditions? can both travel at roughly the same speed in the rough? (my mate seems to think so, I dont:)

And if you had a choice what would you choose? if your looking at it from a offshore/fishability point of view. Also considering it will be trailered all up and down the cost of QLD to fish different locations.

Is the Glass safer and significantly better than the plate when offshore do you think?

[fish-n-dive]

I have had the opportunity to ride in both tin & glass and from the point of view of comfort in sloppy conditions, the glass wins without a fight...............as for the other questions I'll have to let others answer them............

[onerabbit]

Not really a question of seaworthiness,
more about comfort.

Glass will give a smoother ride in the slop, they travel quieter, & most glass boats will sit down in the water more at rest, giving a slower drift.

You do have to be much more carefull of glass though.

Just my opinion,

Muzz

[Jabba_]

Comparing the top shelf platies against top shelf glass is going to be a great thread....

Neither will be any more sea worthy then the other when comparing same sized boats..
But the advantage off the glass boat is, it will ride the rough stuff much smoother and faster then a platey ever could.. But IMO this only applys to boat under 8m over that and its a new ball game...

[backlash08]

I'll grab a few beers and popcorn........I've had both high qulaity plate and glass to 6M, glass = more comfort when traveling into a sea, apart from that I prefer plate and as my 7M fisher is almost finished so i guess that shows my hand after having looked at 685 in CC and patriot

[Flex]

I rekon you average Fisho would head outside in anything under 20 knots. For example around Yeppoon 60% of the time you get winds below 20 knots during the year.

If you were headed 40km offshore in 15knots and coming home in 20 knots in a 5.5m plate or glass what sort of speeds would one expect to cruise at in both?
I have never driven a 5.5m top quality glass boat, what sort of speeds can you travel at in a 20 knot wind? into usual choppy conditions

[Scott nthQld]

to me, its not just a question of ride, but the whole package. I'm torn between the 2 myself. Yes glass will have a better ride, being more comfortable and quieter, but as I see it, that about the only advantage. Plate on the other hand, while a harder ride, is a lot more durable and will be forgiving when running up on beaches and ramps, especially when you are doing a single person launch and retreive, the ability to do this far out weighs the softer ride of a glass boat IMO. But I have little doubt that a glass boat in that size range would be more seaworthy than a platey, but that my opinion others will almost certainly differ.

But to be honest, If I was given 60grand to go out and buy a boat in that size range, a platey manufacturer would be getting my dollars, upwards, I'd be leaning towards a high sided glass long boat, as it will only be used for fishing, and things like overnight accomodation won't be all that important to me.

[Coontakinta]

Glass over plate for me, purely because of the ride. I have to lift off the go pedal in a sea because it hurts too much.

One of the benefits of plate is the almost limitless ability to customise the boat, unlike glass which is all moulds.

[PinHead]

to me, its not just a question of ride, but the whole package. I'm torn between the 2 myself. Yes glass will have a better ride, being more comfortable and quieter, but as I see it, that about the only advantage. Plate on the other hand, while a harder ride, is a lot more durable and will be forgiving when running up on beaches and ramps, especially when you are doing a single person launch and retreive, the ability to do this far out weighs the softer ride of a glass boat IMO. But I have little doubt that a glass boat in that size range would be more seaworthy than a platey, but that my opinion others will almost certainly differ.

But to be honest, If I was given 60grand to go out and buy a boat in that size range, a platey manufacturer would be getting my dollars, upwards, I'd be leaning towards a high sided glass long boat, as it will only be used for fishing, and things like overnight accomodation won't be all that important to me.

you would probably be looking at a 2nd hand one for that money.
Glass for me..I am old..I prefer the comfort.

[polky]

Been in both and own a glass boat, fish 80nm of the coast, most times a 3 hour run home and the glass ride is a lot better, in 20 knot wind with tide come home on 30/34 wind against tide back of to aroud 24 and trim down a touch. polky. Not everyone will agree cause plateys have there pluses to.