Aluminum vs poly

I just ran into a company that is willing to build a 2072 boat built to my specs (no bass fishing deck in back) that can do the boat in poly or aluminum. They say the poly bottom is as tough as aluminum. Does anyone here have experience with a poly boat? I think a lot of drift boats are built like this and this company does make drift boats. I dont know how repairable they are if you hit something hard? Picture is example of one of the smaller versions of what I want. They say the aluminum and poly boats are identical. I have not found a boat manufacturer that is willing to build a stern like that for a reasonable amount of money (as in, North West boats are up to $80k).

dunno, but i sure hope you keep us in the loop. i love that design.

Poly is gonna be much more difficult to repair when it gets a hole/ tear in the hull !! Worked with poly and alum over the years, both can be tuff....but when it does happen...the alum will be much easier to repair!!

I guess the big question to ask is....."poly" what?
Polyvinylchloride?......HDPE?.......just what mix exactly, of polymer will they be using? The repair techniques will depend on the mix.

I think I'd have to side with Airshot on this, even if there'd be zero corrosion properties with the poly.

Roger

Poly is great for some things, but aside from a kayak, I wouldn't want a boat made out of it.

It's not very temperature stable, and it tends to fade and scratch easily. Plus it sucks to repair, can't be glued. Only method is plastic welding and that is an art I haven't been able to master.

I don't think you'll ever find a plastic boat in 60 years that's in great shape like you do aluminum.

Just my experience dealing with poly fence, tanks, bale rings, etc. It's great until it isn't.

Blue ridge boats in elizabethton TN makes drift boats of UHDPE and HDPE sheets. They are "welded" at the joints. I think they use aluminum frames. They were contemplating building a small power boat with jet outboard the last I heard.

I've seen boats with HDPE bottoms but never a whole hull. What's the thought process behind a polymer hull? Will it save you weight or? I'm trying to wrap my head around this is why I ask.

Are you sure he doesn’t mean aluminum with a layer of polymer over it? That is more common.