Choosing a swimming aid is always about finding a compromise between comfort, weight and cost. floatboatThe main stumbling block is the floor design, and it's the type of bottom that determines the performance, the speed of the planing set, and, importantly, the ease of assembly and transportation of your vessel.
Many newcomers get lost in acronyms and technical terms. Which is better: classic. plywoodlight aluminum modern estuaryThe answer to this question cannot be unambiguous, as it directly depends on your goals, engine type and operating conditions.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the design features of each option, weigh the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision, and learn why trolling is often one choice, and hunting is a different one, and how the type of floor affects the handling of a boat on the wave.
Design features of the inflatable floor (BND)
abbreviation NDMA It stands for "Low Pressure inflatable floor," a relatively new technology that has revolutionized the small boat market, and it's a complex system of cylinders that sit inside the main cylinder of the boat, and they're pumped up to the working pressure, creating a rigid plane.
The main advantage here is that there's no extra parts, so you don't have to carry heavy sheets of plywood or aluminum profiles, and the whole structure is assembled and disassembled by the pump, and that makes the NDNDT boats perfect for those who value it. mobility and minimalism.
⚠️ Attention: The inflatable floor is sensitive to punctures with a sharp stone or a snag in shallow water. Be careful when pulling a boat out onto unequipped shore.
Inside the bottom cylinders are often used special stringerAnd these are the ones that are stretched when pumped, which is the necessary rigidity of the profile, which allows the boat to keep its shape even when it encounters a small wave, but you have to understand that you can't get the perfect plane, like a hard sheet, because the surface will always have a slight wavy.
The other thing that's important is thermoregulation, because the air underfoot works like a great thermal insulator, and in cold weather, it's a huge plus, because your feet don't freeze from contact with cold water or metal, but in summer, in the sun, it can get warmer, even though modern materials have protection against cold water or metal. UV radiation.
When buying a boat with NDNDM, pay attention to the presence of overpressure vent valves, especially if you plan to leave the boat in the sun.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Hard Plyol Floor
The classic design, tested over decades, involves using a removable floor made of water-resistant plywood or aluminum alloy. paiolaThey are connected by special profiles to form a monolithic platform, which ensures maximum rigidity and stability of the housing.
Hard bottom gives the best drivingA boat with plywood or aluminum floors is easier to glid, better steers and more confident at high speed. Flat floor surface distributes the load evenly, which is especially important when installing heavy equipment or bait.
- 🚀 Speed: Less water resistance due to a flat bottom allows you to develop a higher speed at the same power of the motor.
- 🛡️ Defense: The hard sheet reliably protects cylinders from punctures from below in contact with a rocky bottom or ice.
- ⚖️ Sustainability: The wide base of the paillon floor provides excellent stability, which is critical when catching standing or when actively working with tackles.
But there's a downside to the medal. Weight. A floorboard boat will always be heavier than its NDNDL counterpart. A plywood, even moisture-resistant, can gain moisture over time, increasing the weight of the vessel. Aluminum is lighter, but it's cold and noisy. It also takes longer and requires more physical effort to assemble it.
The Hidden Problem of floorboards
Over time, the joints between the floor sheets can begin to creak, and to correct this defect, professionals recommend gluing the ends of the sheets with construction tape or using special rubber seals.
Comparison of driving qualities and controllability
When we talk about performance, we mean the behavior of a boat on the water under load and with an engine, and here the difference between the types of bottom becomes most noticeable. Boats with a hard floorboard bottom have clearer contours, because the hard floor forms the correct floor. balk and the angle of lifting the transom.
The inflatable floor, despite high pressure, still has some flexibility. At high speeds or when faced with a steep wave, the bottom can play a little, which reduces the efficiency of planing. The boat can sniff around slightly, requiring more frequent course correction. However, modern models with well-designed balloon geometry minimize this effect.
Manageability also depends on weight distribution. In a boat with NDNDM, the center of gravity is often slightly higher, because the bottom is volumetric. In a solder boat, the load is lower. stability: The solder boat seems more "grounded" and resistant to rolling in sharp turns.
For a fishing trip in a stagnant water or a moderate river, the difference may not be as tangible, but if you plan to go out into the open spaces of large reservoirs, where stability and point-to-point speed are important, a hard bottom will give you a tangible advantage.
Weight, assembly and transportation: which is more convenient?
This section will be crucial for many anglers, especially those who cannot store the boat in the garage or carry it on a trailer. float-bottomThe absence of heavy sheets allows the boat to be packed in a compact backpack weighing 15 to 25 kg (depending on the size), which can be carried to the water alone.
The process of assembling a boat with NDT takes 5-10 minutes: spread out, pump up the cylinders, and the boat is ready. In the case of a solder boat, you have to spread out the sheets, insert profiles, snap the locks, make sure the assembly is correct, and this takes 20-30 minutes and often requires two people, especially when installing the back sheet and inflating the cylinders.
| Parameter | inflatable floor (NDB) | Hard payroll bottom |
|---|---|---|
| Weight of kit | Easy 30-40%. | Much heavier. |
| Assembly time | 5-10 minutes | 20-30 minutes. |
| Transportation | Compact backpack | Extensive bags + long sheets |
| Comfort in the parking lot | Soft, warm. | Hard, it takes a mat. |
Transporting a solder boat by public transport or taxi can be a real problem because of the length of the rolled-up floor sheets (usually 1-1.2 meters). An inflatable boat can be rolled up into a more compact cocoon. However, if you have a car with a large trunk or trailer, this factor ceases to be critical.
Durability and maintenance of different types of sex
The question of life is often overlooked by focusing on price: plywood paioles, even treated with special compounds, can be layered over time; water that enters through microcracks in the varnish swells when it freezes, destroying the structure of the tree; aluminum profiles and sheets are more durable in this regard, but they are susceptible to corrosion (especially in salt water) and oxidation.
The inflatable floor is made of the same material as the cylinders - reinforced PVCIt doesn't rot, it doesn't rust, it doesn't fear moisture, but it has its own enemy, mechanical damage and ultraviolet light, and being in the sun without a tent can degrade material faster than protected paioles.
Maintenance of a solder boat requires regular drying of all the elements before packing. If you put the wet plywood in the bag, by next season you risk mold and unpleasant odor. A boat with NDNDM is easy enough to wash, dry and fold — there is nothing inside, because there is only air.
inflatable floor repair is possible in the field with a remix, but it's more time-consuming than replacing a single damaged sheet of plywood. If you tear the NDNDM section, the boat will lose its driving performance before it's repaired. If the floorboard breaks, it can be temporarily replaced with a board or a piece of plywood.
Financial aspect: price and feasibility
The cost of boats with different types of bottom can vary significantly. NDMA They cost more than the size of the unit boats, and this is because of a more sophisticated manufacturing technology, which involves high-strength fabrics, additional reinforcement tapes, and more complex patterning.
Pied boats are often a more budget-friendly entry into the world of water engines. The simplicity of design allows manufacturers to keep prices affordable. However, when buying a cheap boat, you should consider the cost of components: a quality pump, cofre bags, soft floorboard floorboard pads can increase the final check.
⚠️ Attention: For boats with inflatable floor, the minimum density of fabric should be 750-900 g / sq.m., otherwise the air pressure quickly deforms the hull.
If you go out on the water 2-3 times a season for a couple of hours, it may not make sense to overpay for NDNDT, but if the boat is your regular companion on weekends, the convenience of quickly assembly and ease of carrying will justify the investment.
The golden rule: the more often you plan to use the boat and carry it to the water, the more arguments in favor of an inflatable floor (BBB).
Summary: How to make the right choice
So to sum up, there's no such thing as a perfect boat, there's a boat that fits your needs. fishing From anchoring, trolling, or going out into the big water, where speed and stability are important, choose a hard payload bottom, which is the choice of pragmatists willing to sacrifice assembly time for performance.
If you hunterA tourist or mobile fisherman who needs to quickly reach a remote beach, drag a boat through the rubble or often descend from a steep shore, then NDMA It's going to be your best friend, and the ease and speed of field assembly is coming to the fore here.
- 🎣 For fishing: Better floorboard (stability, place for tackles).
- 🏕️ For tourism: Better NDND (weight, compactness, comfort of overnight stay).
- 🏎️ For speed: Pyol (best gleaming).
- 🚶 For hiking: Only the NDNDM (minimum weight).
And don't forget the size. On boats up to 3 meters long, the difference in performance between the bottom types is minimal. You can safely take an inflatable floor for convenience. At lengths of 3.2 meters and up, especially under engines of 5 hp, the benefits of a hard floor become apparent.
☑️ Final check before purchase
Can a boat with an inflatable floor (NDND) put a powerful engine?
Yes, but with limitations. It is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maximum engine power. On boats with NDM, due to the flexibility of the bottom, you can experience a yaw effect at high speeds with powerful engines. For stability, it is often recommended to use medium-power engines or install additional keel belts.
How long does plywood floorboard last in a boat?
When properly operated and stored (dry, disassembled), high-quality moisture-resistant floorboard lasts 5-7 years or more. The main enemy is storage assembled in a damp garage or in the sun, which leads to plywood stratification. Aluminum floors serve almost forever, if the protective coating is not damaged.
Is it true that the inflatable floor bursts in the sun?
The bottom itself doesn't burst, but the air pressure inside the cylinders increases when heated. If you leave a pumped boat in the direct sun unattended, the excess pressure can break the seams. Modern models are equipped with pressure relief valves, but the rule of "don't leave in the sun pumped" remains valid.
What to do if the inflatable floor is broken?
Don't panic. HPD is repaired in the same way as normal cylinders, you have to find the damage, degrease and put a patch out of the remix, the main thing is to let the glue fully polymerize (usually 24 hours) before re-pumping, unlike a puncture of the cylinder, the damage to the bottom is more critical, because without it, you can not operate.