[A.A.]

Took my dad on a guided trip for salmon on the Umpqua on Saturday. We had a great time and have some beautiful filets vacuum sealed in the freezer. I took the opportunity to ask the guide all my drift boat questions. We got on the topic of diamond plate aluminum. I thought it might be tougher, or to reinforce certain areas. Nope. Purely for looks. It's actually a softer aluminum that dents and scratches easier. And it's heavier too. Yet so popular on aluminum DB these days. Maybe there will be a day when the fad is over and people won't want to buy your used DB because it has diamond plate sides. Great material for floors though, better traction and doesn't need to be as tough as the sides. Thoughts?

(Secretly I think this is a sweet looking ride, but pretty overkill. Probably scare away a lot of fish!)

 

[jake-e-boy]

Where have you been from 2009-present?

 

[A.A.]

Where have you been from 2009-present?

Michigan, NorCal, Oregon. You?

Yes, I realize it's been used for a while. Just thought maybe it added something other than looks.

 

[Out of Here]

Makes your bobbers look bigger.

 

[jake-e-boy]

Michigan, NorCal, Oregon. You?

WA/OR, having not been to Michigan since 08 I don't know if it is a similar fad out there, think stealthcrafts somewhere over there

 

[shotgunner]

I haven't noticed anything like that lately. Could keep people back a bit due immenent blinding by reflection.. wow, she is BRIGHT.

Stealthcraft is a couple hours south of me in the little hamlet of Baldwin.. right on the banks of world renowned Pere Marquette Creek.

 

[Bjorn]

Window dressing IMO...............I'm a wooden boat guy!

 

[River Pig]

******* chicks dig it. looks cool behind your jacked up ford. Bjorn, you're going to attract a more liberal, NPR type of chick with your wood boat. Or maybe chicks with Ron Swanson fantasies.

 

[Gard Nale]

Much like our quarry, fisherman have small brains and are attracted to shiny objects.

Think some of that chrome spray paint will stick to my raft?

 

[A.A.]

Pavati

Umpqua marine

River wolf

Willie

But I can't find a Koffler with diamond plate yet. Good job Koffler, keeping it real.

 

[Jim F.]

When it comes time to de-funk the boat, diamond plate adds several degrees of difficulty to that already time-consuming task.

 

[IveofIone]

2nd generation metalflake......? Bass boat envy?

 

[Out of Here]

Like the bedazzled denim or those god-awful MMA inspired shirts, "Affliction" was it? Tap Out?

 

[Salmo_g]

I expect to see diamond plate cut out designs on rafts this coming year.

 

[River Pig]

What about diamond plate pontoons? Sure it's heavier but it would look bad to the bone.

 

[BDD]

What about diamond plate pontoons? Sure it's heavier but it would look bad to the bone.

Not pontoons but we used it for the floors.

Diamond plate is heavy and terrible on glare from the sun. We wound up coating it with Line X, which added more cost and weight. However, despite losing out on the "cool" factor, we are phasing it out and going with a high-tech poly floor. Much lighter in weight (but with a great strength to weight ratio) and easier to work with.

But it does look cool on drift boats, despite the disadvantages of standard aluminum, as stated by the OP.

 

[A.A.]

Not pontoons but we used it for the floors.

View attachment 125551

Diamond plate is heavy and terrible on glare from the sun. We wound up coating it with Line X, which added more cost and weight. However, despite losing out on the "cool" factor, we are phasing it out and going with a high-tech poly floor. Much lighter in weight (but with a great strength to weight ratio) and easier to work with.

But it does look cool on drift boats, despite the disadvantages of standard aluminum, as stated by the OP.

Diamond plate makes sense for flooring from a traction standpoint. Manufacturers will sandblast it for an additional cost to eliminate the glare. I would end up just covering it anyway with floor mats so studded boots don't chew it up. Post some pics of the new floor. Sounds cool. How is it for traction and durability?

 

[A.A.]

From their Facebook page...

 

[sroffe]

I think painted diamond plate is real cool looking....

However, my dad once said to me regarding fishing gear, "it's designed to catch the fisherman..." I guess that's what's it's all about.

 

[A.A.]

I think painted diamond plate is real cool looking....

However, my dad once said to me regarding fishing gear, "it's designed to catch the fisherman..." I guess that's what's it's all about.

Definitely designed to catch the fisherman. I never said I didn't think it looked nice. Was just surprised to find out that appearance was the only purpose. Although some claim it hides scratches better, others will say it scratches easier. Agree with the painted diamond plate, looks good in dark colors.