Welcome to my inflatable boat blog. As a professional in this industry I hope to share with you my experiences and knowledge about this fast growing recreational boat. Inflatable boats are not only a must with yacht owners but are becoming the personal watercraft of the future.



Please visit our site frequently for new information on inflatable boats, outboards, davits and accessories.

                                                                                                           
How to Select an Inflatable              by Mitch Bernardo

Here is some quick information on the different types of inflatable boats on the market today. I hope this information allows you to select an inflatable boat best suited for you. The original inflatable boat,still sold today,consist of a soft floor and inflatable collar. These are called dinghys and are used by sailboat owners and small power boat owners. They don't have keels and usually allow for only small outboards up to 2.5 hp.

The next type of inflatable boat is the roll up. These are available in both high pressure air deck models and woodfloor deck models. These boats have keels and are considered sport boats,with enough horsepower these boats can come up on plane and achieve speeds up to 15 mph. These boats are best suited for sail and power boat owners who want to store the inflatable rolled up when not in use.When you want something quicker to assemble and disassemble the high pressure air deck is the right choice of the two types discussed. If you are not planning on disassembling the inflatable very often you might consider the wood deck model. They are little heavier  but the wood deck can be better for activities such as fishing. 

The next type of inflatable boat is the RIB.The stands for rigid inflatable boat. These boats have hard hulls with an inflatable collar. These boats are now the most popular type of inflatable. The RIB's provide the most stable ride and offer the best performance.  RIB hulls are usually made of fiberglass however you can find them made of aluminum which is lighter and in plastic which is also light and very strong. These boats range in sizes from 8' to 16'.

The last major group of inflatable boats and fast becoming the most desirable are the console RIB's.These boats offer deluxe seating with backrests and full consoles with steering systems. Typically with the outboards you will get electric start and power trim on this type of inflatable. These consoles RIB's are used on larger yachts as tenders,they are also purchased and towed to a destination by smaller power boats and sailboats. Many are also being sold to non-boat owners and  becomes there primary boat.

Well I have given you a quick guide on the different kinds of inflatable boats. The last  two item I want to share with you is the two major types of boat materials that are used in the making of the tube collar and the three types of hull materials being used today. Most of the boats sold in California,Florida and warmer climates are made from a combination of hypalon coating over a neopreme and vinyl material. The hypalon coated material offers the most UV resistance and carries the longest warranty, 10 years from some manufacturers. The other most popular coating is PVC, this is a type of vinyl with the PVC coating for UV protection,it is heavy duty and an excellent material for inflatables. It is somewhat less expensive than hypalon coatings, and it can be machine glued or hand glued. The major difference between the hypalon and PVC coatings is the ability of hypalon to hancle UV rays better than the PVC coating. Hypalon is the best coating  for any boat that is going to be stored outside on the deck of a yacht or on a davit system. The PVC material boats are best suited to the roll up boats I mentioned earlier... Well that's a lot of information in a small space. Please feel free to give me a call if you have questions...you can visit our website at www.sunsetinflatables.com for more information and pricing on several types and brands of inflatable boats.