What each material buys you
| Aluminium | Fibreglass | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight for length | Lighter — often 15–30% less | Heavier |
| Ride in chop | Firmer, noisier | Softer, quieter |
| Beach and rock landings | Very tolerant | Gouges gelcoat |
| Finish | Functional | Superior |
| Repair | Weldable | Glass and fair |
| Typical use | Davit tenders, clubs, workboats | Motor yacht tenders, dayboats |
How to choose in one question
Ask yourself: is the boat lifted, or driven? If it spends its life on davits and gets dragged up beaches, buy aluminium. If it lives in a garage or on a hydraulic platform and does long runs at speed, buy fibreglass.
Almost every unhappy RIB owner we encounter bought the answer to the other question.