Choosing between an aluminum and a fiberglass boat comes down to weight, price and how you will use the boat. In the three Ranger Boats pairs compared here, each aluminum model weighs less than a fiberglass model of similar length and purpose, and in the 2026 pair sold with the same motor, the aluminum package costs $18,130 less.
| Ranger pair | Aluminum | Fiberglass |
|---|
| Bass boats | RT188 (2027): 18' 10", 1,240 lb | Z185 (2027): 18' 8", 1,575 lb |
| Deep-V multi-species | VX1888WT (2027): 19', 2,100 lb | 1880MS (2026): 18' 10", 2,290 lb |
| Fish and play | VS1882SC Reata (2026): 18' 8", 1,790 lb | 1850MS (2026): 18' 10", 2,265 lb |
| Fish and play package with Mercury 150 XL Pro XS | $48,395 | $66,525 |
Weights are Ranger's approximate boat weights. Prices are Ranger's boat, motor and trailer package prices before dealer prep and freight. All figures were read from Ranger's model pages on 12 October 2026.
Browse aluminum and fiberglass boats for sale on Searchshop.
Ranger Boats' published figures are the basis of this comparison, because Ranger makes both aluminum and fiberglass fishing boats and lists weights, power ratings, fuel capacities and prices for both. Three pairs of similar length and purpose were taken from Ranger's aluminum and fiberglass lineups: bass boats, deep-V multi-species boats and fish-and-play boats. Every figure was read from Ranger's model pages on 12 October 2026, with the model year shown. Hull thickness figures for a second aluminum builder come from Lund's model pages, and care advice comes from boat builders' own pages. Nothing here comes from test drives. Searchshop listings do not record hull material, so listing counts and asking prices by material are left out.
Aluminum is lighter in every Ranger pair compared here. The fiberglass Z185 bass boat weighs 335 lb more than the aluminum RT188. The fiberglass 1880MS weighs 190 lb more than the aluminum VX1888WT, and the fiberglass 1850MS weighs 475 lb more than the aluminum VS1882SC Reata.
A lighter boat puts less weight on the trailer and the tow vehicle. Ranger lists trailer ratings on its aluminum pages: a trailer GVWR of 2,950 lb for the RT188, 3,725 lb for the VS1882SC Reata and 4,700 lb for the VX1888WT's tandem-axle trailer. Before you buy either type, add up the boat, motor, trailer, fuel and gear and check the total against your tow vehicle's rating. The Searchshop boat trailer guide covers trailer types and upkeep.
Fiberglass cost more in both Ranger pairs that can be priced with the same motor. With a Mercury 150 XL Pro XS FourStroke, the 2026 aluminum VS1882SC Reata package is listed at $48,395 and the 2026 fiberglass 1850MS package at $66,525, a difference of $18,130.
With a Mercury 200 XL Pro XS FourStroke, the 2027 aluminum VX1888WT package is listed at $61,975 and the 2026 fiberglass 1880MS package at $70,065, a difference of $8,090. These two boats are different model years, so treat that gap as a rough guide.
All of these are Ranger's boat, motor and trailer package prices before dealer prep and freight. The bass pair is not priced here, because Ranger does not offer the RT188 and Z185 with the same motor.
No material wins every specification, so compare boats model by model. In the bass pair, the fiberglass Z185 is rated for up to 175 hp and holds 33 gallons of fuel, against 115 hp and 22 gallons for the aluminum RT188.
The deep-V pair runs the other way. The aluminum VX1888WT is rated for up to 225 hp and holds 47 gallons, against 200 hp and 34 gallons for the fiberglass 1880MS. In the fish-and-play pair, both boats are rated for 175 hp. The aluminum VS1882SC Reata holds 40 gallons of fuel to the fiberglass 1850MS's 34, while the 1850MS has a 101-inch beam and a 27-gallon livewell against 96 inches and 15 gallons on the Reata.
Ranger and Lund list hull thickness for their aluminum boats, which is worth comparing between models. Ranger lists a hull thickness of 0.1 inch on the RT188 and 0.125 inch on the VX1888WT and VS1882SC Reata. Lund lists a bottom thickness of 0.100 inch on its 1875 Pro-V and 0.125 inch on its 2075 Pro-V. Ranger describes the VX1888WT and VS1882SC Reata as all-welded and wood-free, so ask any builder or seller how a hull is joined and what the warranty covers.
Aluminum boats can be used in salt water, and two aluminum boat builders point to construction, wiring and rinsing as the things to watch. SAFE Boats, which builds aluminum boats, says aluminum boats do not corrode when they are built correctly, and that improper wiring can lead to corrosion through stray current in the water. Xpress Boats, another aluminum builder, advises rinsing a boat with fresh water after using it in salt water, and explains that a sacrificial anode is a small piece of metal attached to the boat.
When you look at a used aluminum boat that has been in salt water, ask about the wiring, the anodes and how it was rinsed and stored.
A fiberglass boat's gelcoat needs gentle cleaning and waxing as needed to keep its finish. Grady-White, which builds fiberglass boats, advises gentle cleaners made for fiberglass, no harsh chemicals such as bleach, and wax on smooth surfaces as needed. For oxidation and stains, Grady-White says to start with the least abrasive method that works, using polishing compounds for minor issues and rubbing compounds for deeper correction.
Below the waterline, a used fiberglass hull should be checked for blisters and moisture. The Searchshop used boat inspection guide explains what to look for on both types.
The right material depends on how you tow, what you spend and where you fish. Use these points to narrow it down:
- Towing with a lighter vehicle: start with aluminum, which was lighter in every Ranger pair compared here.
- Keeping the price down: aluminum cost less in both Ranger pairs priced with the same motor.
- The most power on a bass boat: compare maximum horsepower ratings, since Ranger's fiberglass Z185 is rated for more power than its aluminum RT188.
- A bigger livewell or wider beam: compare the exact models, because the answer changes from pair to pair.
- Salt water: either material can work; with aluminum, ask about wiring and anodes and plan to rinse with fresh water after saltwater use.
- Upkeep: plan for gelcoat cleaning and waxing on fiberglass, and for rinsing and anode checks on aluminum used in salt water.
For more on choosing a fishing boat, read the Searchshop fishing boat buying guide and the bass boat buying guide. When you know which material suits you, compare boats for sale from dealers on Searchshop.
Aluminum boats were lighter in every Ranger Boats pair compared here. The aluminum RT188 bass boat weighs 1,240 lb against 1,575 lb for the fiberglass Z185, and the aluminum VS1882SC Reata weighs 1,790 lb against 2,265 lb for the fiberglass 1850MS. Weights are Ranger's approximate boat weights, read on 12 October 2026.
A fiberglass boat cost more in both Ranger pairs priced with the same motor. With a Mercury 150 XL Pro XS, the 2026 fiberglass 1850MS package is listed at $66,525 against $48,395 for the 2026 aluminum VS1882SC Reata. Both are boat, motor and trailer package prices before dealer prep and freight.
Aluminum boats do not corrode when they are built correctly, according to SAFE Boats, which builds aluminum boats. SAFE Boats adds that improper wiring can cause corrosion through stray current in the water. Xpress Boats advises rinsing a boat with fresh water after using it in salt water.
Fiberglass boats need wax on smooth surfaces as needed, according to Grady-White's care advice. Grady-White recommends gentle cleaners made for fiberglass, avoiding bleach, and using special non-skid waxes on non-skid surfaces so they protect without becoming slippery.
