What are the key differences between plate and pressed aluminium boats?

[toyota1515]

Hi All,
What are the key differences between plate and pressed aluminium boats?
thanks

[SpbPTSml]

Hi, a very loaded question but as simply put as possible it mainly comes down to sheet thickness. The industry mainly regards anything 4mm and up as plate and below as pressed. You do get some manufacturers that take 4mm / 5mm plate and have presses bigger enough to press planing strakes into the sheets so that not only makes them stronger than unpressed 4mm/5mm plate, but helps with ride, tracking and lift.

The structure under the floor can also make a difference between what I would call a good plate boat and a average plate boat. It is like anything, you get good brands in both styles of alloy boats.

In terms of what it means for the end user, again a good quality plate boat will always ride better than a good pressed boat, becasue they are heavier and can offer a deeper deadrise. That said I rate the ride of some production "so called" pressed boats (3mm thickness or less) as better than some "so called" plate boats.

As with anything mate, get a short list and then water test and make up your own mind as to what suits you.

Cheers,