| Historical records indicate that the first
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| | Depending on the size of the craft, an
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| inflatable boats were animal skins filled
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| | inflatable sport boat can be used with a
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| with air. Over the years, many cultures
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| | motor that generates up to 40 units of
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| have created various versions of
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| | horsepower They can be deflated and packed
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| inflatable watercraft, and in 1839, the
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| | away for easy transport or used with a
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| Duke of Wellington tested the first
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| | trailer to avoid having to inflate at each
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| inflatable pontoons. In the decades that
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| | use. Inflatable sport boats typically cost
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| followed, many new designs were introduced
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| | much less than their traditional
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| and some of them were utilized by European
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| | counterparts and, because they are
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| military forces.
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| | lighter, use much less gas.
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| The inflatable boats were used to
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| | High Performance Several companies also
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| transport torpedoes and other cargo. They
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| | make high performance inflatable boats
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| also allowed troops to make discreet
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| | that are used for racing, rescue, and
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| landings in shallow water, and their
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| | other activities where speed is essential.
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| compact size and storability made them
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| | These high performance boats generally
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| easy to bring with, even on overland
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| | have additional inflation tubes that lift
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| marches where it would not have been
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| | the boat up off the water and create
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| possible to bring a traditional boat.
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| | additional hydroplaning effects. They
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| One of the models, the Zodiac, grew to be
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| | typically use larger motors, sometimes up
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| very popular with the military and
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| | to 400 horsepower. Because of their speed
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| contributed significantly to the rise of
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| | they are more difficult to navigate and
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| the civilian inflatable boat industry,
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| | require an experienced captain.
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| both in Europe and in the United States.
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| | Inflatable Canoes, Kayaks, and Other
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| After World War II, surplus inflatable
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| | Personal Watercraft On the flip side are
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| boats were sold to the public and the
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| | the inflatable canoes and kayaks that rely
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| general population had a chance to
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| | on human power and are used by one or two
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| experience how easy and enjoyable these
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| | people at a time. These watercraft often
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| boats can be.
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| | look similar to their traditional
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| Since then, inflatable kayaks, sailing
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| | counterparts, but have inflatable bodies,
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| inflatables, inflatable canoes, sport
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| | making them much lighter and easier to
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| boats, and belly boats have been added to
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| | transport. They are often less expensive
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| the mix. Some inflatable boats run 45 feet
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| | as well.
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| in length or more and may include inboard
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| | In more recent years, inflatable sailboats
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| steering, luxury features, and even full
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| | and inflatable catamarans also have been
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| cabins. Inflatable boats have evolved so
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| | introduced. They usually range from 12 to
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| much that today, the only thing inflatable
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| | 14 feet in length and, like inflatable
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| on some boats is the collar around the
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| | canoes and kayaks, only accommodate one or
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| perimeter gunwales of the deck.
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| | two people.
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| Hull Designs & Types of Inflatable Boats
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| | Belly boats are yet another category of
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| Inflatable boats come in rigid hull design
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| | inflatable personal watercraft. These
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| and soft-bottom style. Soft-bottom boats
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| | floats are sometimes called pontoon boats,
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| have floors made of fabric and slats
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| | but are not to be confused with the large,
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| (usually wood) running across the beam.
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| | flat-bottomed craft often seen carrying
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| This design is generally found in smaller
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| | large numbers of people on area lakes.
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| inflatables ranging from about 6 to 8 feet
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| | Belly boats were specifically designed to
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| in length only.
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| | be used for fishing and often look like
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| Rigid hulls, or RIBs, were introduced in
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| | floating donuts with a seat.
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| 1967 by Tony Lee-Elliott and advanced by
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| | Some may have two small pontoons with a
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| Admiral Hoare and the Atlantic College in
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| | seating area suspended between. Most are
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| Wales. As opposed to soft-bottom boats,
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| | less than eight feet long and have room
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| which have a fabric hull with inflatable
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| | for just one person.
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| or wood keels, RIBs have hard fiberglass
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| | Yacht Tenders Falling in between
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| or aluminum hulls and large, inflatable
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| | inflatable kayaks and other personal
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| tubes. This allows for a combination of
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| | watercraft and the larger sport and
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| the best features from both types of
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| | performance boats are the Yacht Tenders.
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| boats.
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| | These are typically inflatable boats that
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| Some RIBs incorporate the V-shaped bow
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| | range in length from 6 feet to 20 feet
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| similar to that of a traditional boat.
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| | and, as the name implies, they are often
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| This design consists of a separate
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| | used as lifeboats and runabouts on larger
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| inflation tube running the length of the
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| | vessels. Yacht tenders can also be used
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| boat beneath the floorboards. Once
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| | for fishing, general boating, river
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| inflated, it pushes the floor materials
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| | rafting, and other activities where a
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| down to form the V-shape that helps in
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| | motor is not essential. Many tenders can
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| steering. The flotation collars on many
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| | be paired with a small electric motor if
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| RIBs are removable, making them easier to
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| | needed.
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| store and to clean.
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| | These categories of inflatable boats
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| RIBs typically range from 10 to 30 feet in
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| | provide a general overview of the choices
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| length and are propelled by either by an
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| | available. There are many variations and
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| outboard motor or an inboard motor turning
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| | unique designs within these categories.
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| a water jet or z-drive. They were first
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| | In addition, some larger models of
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| used as lifeboats in 1970, and later as
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| | inflatable boats have inboard steering
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| dinghies or tenders on larger pleasure
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| | stations, cabin areas, and other features
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| yachts. Many of today’s sport boats used
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| | similar to traditional yachts.
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| for fishing and water skiing are made with
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| | As the inflatable boat industry continues
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| RIB designs.
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| | to advance and grow in popularity, we are
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| Inflatable Sport Boats Inflatable sport
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| | likely to see many new and innovative
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| boats generally describe recreational
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| | designs in the future, providing even more
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| boats that are used for fishing, water
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| | opportunities to find the inflatable boat
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| skiing, and other activities where a motor
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| | that fits perfectly with your budget and
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| is required.
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| | boating needs.
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