Aluminium & Polyethylene Dinghies

The market

Australia's hard dinghy market deserves as much attention as the inflatable sector. A pressed aluminium punt or a polyethylene tender will outlive three sets of PVC tubes, costs less, and does not care about UV. It is heavier, noisier alongside, and needs somewhere to live — but for marina work, estuary fishing and mooring tenders it is very often the correct answer.

What decides this purchase

• Polyethylene is kind to gelcoat, pontoons and painted topsides; bare aluminium is not.
• Pressed hulls are light and cheap; fully welded hulls are heavier and far tougher.
• Check hull weight against how you will actually launch it — a 114 kg punt is a two-person lift.
• Car-topper ratings and maximum HP vary enormously across apparently similar 3.5 m boats.