TYPES OF INFLATABLE BOATS
- Paul Brock
- Jan 3, 2017
- 2 min read
SLAT FLOOR
This style of inflatable boat is not very popular these days.Advantages
of this style of boat is they are light weight in most cases.These boats
have a single layer hull with timber slats inserted into it. There is not a
lot of support to stand on and the timber slats tend to break.When there
is water in these boats it will pool around where you are standing and
give you wet feet. This style of boat is mainly used as tender boats and
rolls up with the timber slats inserted.
SPORTS FLOOR
Sport floor boats have an insert timber or alloy floor with an inflatable
keel between the floor an the fabric hull. The inflatable keel gives the
boat a v hull which allows the boat to plane. Water in the boat will sit
under the floor and give a dry surface to stand on.These boats can be
rolled up after the insert floor has been removed. This style of boat will
make a good fishing boat or work boat.Not so good as tender boats as
they tend to be heavy and the floor has to be removed to roll it up.
AIRDECK FLOOR
Airdeck floors are very popular as these boats give a lightweight boat
with a v hull and a firm base to stand on.They are the same hull design
as the sports floor but the timber or alloy deck has been replaced with
the airdeck. To roll up deflate all the chambers, roll around the
transom and put it in the bag. Airdecks are great as tender boats and
people touring in caravans as they are light weight and there is
very little assembly.
RIGID INFLATABLE BOAT
Rigid hull boats have either a fibreglass or alloy hull with the inflatable tubes
attached to the top of the hull. A rigid hull will give better performance as there
is no flex in the boat and usually have a deeper v hull.As tender boats these boats
are a bit harder to carry as most of the weight is in the hull which throws the
balance off. Very popular as tender boats. This style of boat can not be rolled up
but the pack size can be reduced by deflating the tube and folding them into
the hull
There are other styles of boat but these are the main types. I hope this helps you understand inflatables a little better.
Safe boating
Brocky