Abstract: Each keel panel for a punt-like boat is formed from aluminum sheet having a relatively low temper/high degree of extensibility and the bow portion is stretched formed over a die in a metal stretching machine. The hull construction of the boat has a keel, chines and gunwales formed from aluminum extrusions, interconnected by transverse ribs, where the keel panels are connected to the keel, chines and gunwales but are not connected to the ribs to permit limited movement relative thereto.