Punt boats

 

— in this case, flat bottoms of the tension type are meant — in the form of a canvas tightly stretched between the sides of the boat.

The advantages of flat bottoms (both tension and inflatable) are simplicity, low cost, minimal draft (which is very convenient in shallow water) and the ability to easily go on planing. On the other hand, such bottoms are noticeably inferior to keel bottoms in terms of directional stability, besides, they are not able to “cut the wave”, which is why the shocks of the waves are felt more strongly (especially at speed). Therefore, flat-bottomed boats are intended mainly for shallow water and low speeds.

As for specifically tension bottoms, compared to inflatable ones, they are much simpler and cheaper, and besides, they are not afraid of small punctures and cuts. On the other hand, such a bottom requires additional coverage to ensure rigidity — otherwise it will be difficult to keep balance on it (especially when standing)