Both the Surtees 540 Workmate Hardtop Pro 2026 and the Surtees 575 Workmate 2026 are V-hull designs, both built in aluminium, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Surtees 540 Workmate Hardtop Pro 2026 at 17,7 ft versus Surtees 575 Workmate 2026 at 18,9 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Surtees 540 Workmate Hardtop Pro 2026 tips the scales at 2 646 lbs - 375 lbs more than the Surtees 575 Workmate 2026 at 2 271 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 115 hp for the Surtees 540 Workmate Hardtop Pro 2026 and 115 hp for the Surtees 575 Workmate 2026. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Surtees 575 Workmate 2026 carries 33 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Surtees 540 Workmate Hardtop Pro 2026. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 5 passengers - a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.