| The earliest use of modern inflatable boats began | | | | wooden platform in between. This was a |
| in the mid 1800's, but the history of inflatable | | | | precursor to today's many inflatable sport and |
| boats reaches back much farther. In fact, | | | | recreational boats. |
| indigenous tribes around the world have, in | | | | One of the most famous ship wrecks in history - |
| centuries past, attempted to use inflated animal | | | | the downing of the RMS Titanic - also |
| skins or bladders to hold them up in the water. | | | | demonstrated the practicality of rubber lifeboats. |
| These were more like rafts than true boats, but | | | | The high loss of life on the Titanic was due in part |
| they demonstrate the early realization that you | | | | to an insufficient number of the wooden lifeboats |
| could fill a waterproof material with air and float it | | | | then in use. Had the Titanic been equipped with |
| on the water's surface. | | | | inflatable rubber lifeboats, many more lives would |
| The earliest recorded use of inflatable boats was | | | | have been saved. It wasn't until World War II, |
| in 880 BC, when the king of Assyria used | | | | however, that ships at sea began regularly using |
| greased animal skins inflated with air to move his | | | | rubber boats or life rafts. |
| troops across a river. Other history records show | | | | World War II and the History of Inflatable Boats |
| that during the Ming Dynasty in China, inflated | | | | Two developments led to the increased use of |
| skins were used to cross rivers. | | | | inflatable boats by the Army and Navy. First, |
| The Modern Era of Inflatable Boat History | | | | vulcanization processes for rubber had improved |
| The Duke of Wellington introduced the first real | | | | greatly, and second, warfare on the seas was |
| modern use of what would now be referred to | | | | leading to a high number of casualties. Naval ships |
| as an inflatable boat. Others soon followed, but | | | | and even submarines began keeping inflatable |
| these early boats were prone to leaking and being | | | | rubber boats to make quick evacuation possible |
| easily punctured. | | | | without taking up too much space on a ship or in |
| In the 1840's, several army and naval officers, | | | | a sub when not in use. By this time, most |
| including Britain's Lieutenant Peter Hackett, | | | | inflatable boats were actually shaped like boats, |
| developed inflatable boats specifically designed for | | | | with a pointed front or keel. |
| use in Arctic exploration. In 1848, U.S. General | | | | Inflatable boats were also used by the military for |
| George Cullum introduced an inflatable boat of | | | | amphibious landings in shallow water and to |
| rubber coated canvas that was used to some | | | | transport cargo, gear and even torpedoes from |
| extent in the Civil War. In 1866, three men | | | | sea vessels to the shore. Since inflatable boats |
| crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a three tube raft, | | | | could then be deflated, troops were able to carry |
| the first trans-oceanic crossing in inflatable boat | | | | them with them to be used again to leave a |
| history. It proved to many that inflatable boats | | | | beach head if need be. |
| were sturdy, reliable and worth further | | | | Inflatable Boats from 1950 to Today |
| development. | | | | After the war, inflatable boats continued to be |
| Vulcanized Rubber Changes History of Inflatable | | | | used by consumers, but they were basically rafts |
| Boats | | | | that could be paddled or rowed. It wasn't until the |
| In the early 1900's, vulcanized rubber | | | | 1950's, when Frenchman Alain Bombard attached |
| manufacturing took the inflatable boat to the next | | | | an outboard motor to an inflatable boat, that |
| level. Various developments popped in countries | | | | these versatile boats really moved into the |
| around the world. Two significant inventions were | | | | mainstream. One of the earliest proponents of |
| the inflatable boats developed by the German | | | | motorized, inflatable boats was Jacques Cousteau, |
| company A. Meyer Bau Pneumatic Boote. In | | | | the famous marine biologist and diver. |
| England and France, two different companies | | | | By the 1960's, inflatable boat history had turned |
| (Zodiac and RFD) developed modern versions of | | | | with the tide. They were now amazingly popular |
| the inflatable rubber boat at the same time. | | | | with everyone from fishermen to speed boating |
| Reginald Foster Dagnall, founder of RFD, is usually | | | | enthusiasts. A variety of new and improved |
| credited with developing and testing the precursor | | | | styles, including the V-hull, RIB and various high |
| to today's modern life rafts. He tried it out in | | | | performance inflatables hit the market over the |
| England around 1919. Zodiac's continuing | | | | years, proving that these lightweight water craft |
| development of inflatable rubber boats led to the | | | | can be used for almost any type of water travel. |
| use of these versatile craft by both civil and | | | | There is no doubt that the history of inflatable |
| military forces. Zodiac's Pierre Debroutelle | | | | boats will continue to include improved |
| developed an unusual U-shaped design that | | | | manufacturing and newer, more efficient styles. |
| integrated two buoyancy chambers with a | | | | |