Best Inflatable Boats: Your Ultimate Guide To Buying

Inflatable boats have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their convenience, versatility, and performance. They are commonly used as yacht tenders, fishing boats, or even luxury tenders, offering a range of features that cater to different needs. When choosing the best inflatable boat, it's important to consider factors such as size, weight capacity, durability, load capacity, capability, weight, performance, and price. Some popular brands in the inflatable boat market include Zodiac, Sea Eagle, Newport Vessels, and Saturn. Zodiac, with its flagship boats like the Medline 9, offers a combination of style and performance. Sea Eagle's FastCat14 is ideal for those seeking a spacious option that can accommodate up to two adults and a dog comfortably. Newport Vessels provides a range of hard floor models, ensuring stability and performance with their deep-V hulls. Saturn offers a budget-friendly option with its Saturn CB365, a versatile and safe choice for families. With a variety of options available, it's essential to consider your specific requirements and conduct thorough research before making a purchase.

Zodiac-style inflatable boats

Zodiac-style boats are known for their superior buoyancy, providing a safe and smooth ride for all passengers. The lightweight hull and inflatable tubes make these boats a breeze to tow and fuel-efficient, saving you money and maximising your fun on the water. With over 120 years of experience, Zodiac Nautic has perfected the art of inflatable boat design, creating models like the Medline, Pro, Open, Yachtline, and Nomad.

One of the most significant advantages of Zodiac-style inflatable boats is their exceptional stability. Their inflatable tubes provide superior buoyancy, ensuring a comfortable and safe ride even in rough waters. This stability is further enhanced by the V-shaped keel commonly found in hard floor inflatables, allowing the boat to handle big waves and high speeds with ease. The hard floor also provides a lower centre of gravity, improving stability and creating a better hull shape.

In addition to stability, Zodiac-style boats offer unmatched durability. With proper maintenance, these boats can last up to 10 years or even longer with the right care. The high-quality materials used in construction, such as PVC or CSM (Hypalon), ensure that your boat can withstand the test of time. The lightweight hull and tubes are designed to be robust yet easy to manoeuvre, providing a perfect balance between durability and performance.

Roll-up floor boats

One of the key advantages of roll-up floor boats is their portability and ease of setup. They can be easily carried and stored in small spaces, making them ideal for those with limited storage capacity, such as apartment dwellers or sailboat owners. The floors are typically made of lateral slats, which can be rolled up, but this design may hinder passenger movement and make the floor more susceptible to damage.

When it comes to performance, roll-up floor boats without a keel tend to have poor performance and are better suited for calm waters. They often lack directional stability, especially when navigating choppy waters or turning. Additionally, the lack of a keel makes it difficult for these boats to get on a plane, limiting their speed.

Major brands in the roll-up floor boat market include Achilles and West Marine. The smallest option available is the Intex 4.8' long inflatable, which can accommodate one small child and is powered by oars. On the larger end, the LS4-RU by Achilles measures 8'8" long, can hold up to four people, and can be powered by gas or electric outboard.

It's important to note that roll-up floor boats are typically less expensive than more advanced inflatables. However, their lack of durability and rigidity may be a trade-off for the convenience of storage. If you're looking for improved performance and durability, hard floor inflatables or air floor inflatables could be worth considering, although they come with a higher price tag.

Hard floor inflatables

The hard floor provides exceptional stability due to its lower centre of gravity, and it also supports the keel, resulting in an improved hull shape. This design enables the boat to adeptly handle rough waters, big waves, and high speeds with confidence and stability. Hard floor inflatables are constructed from high-quality materials, usually PVC or CSM (Hypalon), and occasionally TPU. The increased durability and performance come at a higher price.

While these boats are simple to assemble and disassemble, they require slightly more time and effort than roll-ups. A single person can typically set up a hard floor inflatable in 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the pump and floor installation ease. The additional time invested is well worth it, as hard floors enable higher speeds, enhanced stability, and better handling in challenging conditions.

It is important to consider the weight increase associated with hard floor inflatables. They tend to weigh around 15-25% more than equivalent air floor or roll-up boats. The weight difference depends on the overall size of the boat, the floor material used, and the number of floor pieces. Aluminium floors offer some weight savings but are more susceptible to dents and damage, while wood floors provide superior durability at a higher weight.

The size range for hard floor inflatables is quite extensive, starting from 7 feet and going up to 23 feet in length. The Mercury 240, measuring 7'3" and accommodating up to three people, is one of the smallest options. On the larger end, the Zodiac Mil-Pro Heavy Duty Series, with a length of 23 feet, a 20-person capacity, and a price tag of over $34,000, is an impressive example.

Air floor inflatables

The floors of these boats are typically constructed from two layers of synthetic fabric held together by small stitches. When inflated, the space between the fabric layers fills with air, creating a rigid and stable surface comparable to that of a plywood floor. The flexible fabric used in air floors also absorbs impact from the water, providing a smoother ride and better impact resistance than traditional wood or aluminium floors. Additionally, the air-filled floors offer more cushioning for riders, reducing vibrations and providing a more comfortable experience.

One notable advantage of air floor inflatables is their impressive rigidity, which allows the boat to accelerate faster and achieve higher speeds while requiring less horsepower than similarly-sized hard floor boats. This makes them a powerful yet efficient choice for boating enthusiasts.

However, it is important to consider the limitations of air floor inflatables. While they offer comparable performance to hard floor boats, they may not be suitable for speed enthusiasts or those who frequently navigate rough waters. Due to their reduced weight and higher centre of gravity, air floor inflatables can feel less stable at high speeds and may be more susceptible to the effects of wind and waves. Additionally, the air floor may need to be topped up when weather conditions change during use.

Despite these considerations, air floor inflatables remain a popular choice due to their convenience, performance, and versatility. They are commonly used for a range of applications, from yacht tenders to fishing boats, and can accommodate various activities on the water.

Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs)

RIBs are incredibly versatile and can be used for a wide range of applications, including commercial fishing operations, military and scientific research applications, and luxury yacht tenders. Their agility and lightness make them highly recommended for assistance, entertainment, and water sports enthusiasts. The hulls of RIBs can be constructed from various materials, including fibreglass, aluminium, or polyester, each offering unique advantages. For example, fibreglass hulls provide stability, while aluminium hulls are lighter and easier to repair.

When it comes to size, RIBs offer a wide range, starting from 7'10" and going all the way up to 41' in the commercial sector. The price of a RIB will depend on its size and material, typically starting at around $1,500 and going upwards of $30,000. It's important to note that with a solid hull, the portability of the boat is reduced, and they require a trailer for transport and a large storage space.

Console RIBs take the capabilities of RIBs a step further by incorporating a fixed steering console. These consoles can range from minimal designs with just a steering wheel and throttle to luxurious setups with vinyl-clad seating, inboard jet engines, and sound systems. While console RIBs enhance high-speed manoeuvrability, they also come with increased weight, reduced space, and higher costs.

Overall, RIBs offer exceptional performance, versatility, and comfort, making them a top choice for those seeking a high-performance inflatable boat without compromising on stability and buoyancy.

Frequently asked questions