When you first think about buying a fishing or recreational boat, you often get confused by the names, and you hear dozens of choices in the public domain: rubber band, doughnut boat, PVC or just a puff. what's the name of the inflatable boat? Professionally, and how different types of designs are from each other, a mistake in terminology can lead to the purchase of inappropriate equipment that will not withstand the conditions of use.
The modern market offers a wide range of products, from simple rowing models to complex inflatable boats with a hard bottom. inflatable boat (inflatable boat) and RIB The key point is that in this article we will go through the classification, materials and design features in detail so you can determine exactly what you need for your purposes.
Official terminology and classification
Technical documentation and laws (e.g., GIMS regulations) use the term "inflatable vessel" or "inflatable floating craft" most often. However, a more specific distinction has been established among water engines. The main name you'll find in catalogs is PVC-boat It was this material that replaced the good old rubber used in the Soviet Ufimki and Kazanka.
It is important to distinguish between inflatable boat and inflatable boat. The boundary is defined by size, power of the permissible motor and the design of the bottom. If the product is less than 3 meters long and is designed for rowing or low-power electric motor, it is a classic inflatable boat. Larger models with a throng for an outboard motor from 10 hp are already often classified as inflatable boats or inflatable boats. Soft Boat.
⚠️ Note: When registering with GIMS, it is important to indicate the exact name of the model from the passport, since the terms “inflatable boat” and “PVC boat” may have different codes in the classifications of small craft.
There is also a gradation by type of cylinders: they can be low pressure (require minimum pumping) or high pressure (inflated to 0.25 atm or more, becoming hard as a stone). High pressure inflatable tubes allow you to create more seaworthy structures that can hold a wave that the usual “rubber” will not pass.
Boats RIB: hybrid inflatable and rigid
A separate and very popular category are boats RIB. the abbreviation comes from English. Rigid Inflatable BoatIn the Russian segment, they are often referred to as "hard bottom inflatable boats" or simply "ribs", the main feature here is the presence of a full-fledged fiberglass or aluminum hull at the bottom.
The RIB design combines the best of both worlds: inflatable boards provide unsinkability and softness of stroke, taking wave shocks, and a rigid body (keel) allows you to develop high speeds and go to plane with full load. Hard bottom It also allows you to install more powerful engines than on classic inflatable models with an inflatable floor.
It's worth noting that RIBs are divided into two subtypes: one-piece and one-piece. A whole body can't be folded into a bag, it needs to be stored on a trailer or in a garage assembled. Prefabricated RIBs have a composite bottom of several sheets of plywood or aluminum, which allows them to be transported in the trunk of a car, although assembly takes longer.
Body design: NDND, NDNA and paiola
When you think about what a type of inflatable boat is called, you can't ignore the type of bottom, because it affects the performance. bottomlessSlate (or floorboard) are hard sheets (plywood, aluminum) that are placed inside an inflatable balloon or on stringers, which are called "plyol boats."
A more modern and comfortable option is a low-pressure inflatable floor (LDPB) boat, which is a separate, complex cylinder with internal bulkheads, which becomes rigid when pumped, but retains some elasticity. inflatable floor It is much easier than the pile and is collected many times faster, since it does not require laying heavy sheets.
What is the secret to the strength of the NDND?
The secret is the drop-stitch technology, which allows you to pump the bottom to high pressure, making it hard as wood, but also light and compact when deflated.
The third option is inflatable keel boats (NDNA), where the bottom is flat, but the cylinders are inflatable elements that mimic the keel. This is a compromise between assembly speed and seaworthiness. For a quiet fishing trip on the lake, NDNA is perfect, but on a large wave, such a boat will behave less stable than a model with a hard or highly inflatable floor.
Materials: from rubber to Haipalon
The question of "what is the name of an inflatable boat" often involves clarifying the material from which it is made. rubber-reinforcedThese boats are heavy, afraid of ultraviolet light and oil products, but very cheap. Today they are almost replaced by synthetic fabrics.
Market leader - fabric based on polyester mesh with coating of PVC It comes in different densities (from 750 to 1100 g/sq.m.) For inflatable boats, the optimal density is about 900-1000 g/sq.m. The denser fabric is more resistant to punctures, but heavier. PVC is good because it is easy to repair, does not rot and holds glue perfectly.
- 🛡️ PVC (PVC) - the most popular, affordable and repairable material for the mass market.
- ⚓ Hypalon (Haipalon) - synthetic rubber, extremely durable, resistant to chemistry and the sun, but expensive and difficult to glue.
- 🚤 TPU Thermopolyurethane, lightweight and elastic, is often used in premium boats and rescue rafts.
When choosing, you should pay attention to the number of layers. The fabric can be two-layer (base + coating on both sides) or five-layer. The five-layer fabric with protection from ultraviolet light and mechanical damage is the “gold standard” for boats that are planned to be used with a powerful motor and on rocky shores. Cheap single-layer coatings quickly wear off and lose their tightness.
Rowing versus motorboats
The fundamental difference lies in the way of movement. Rowing boats (often called "fun") have a simple design: two cylinders and an inflatable or rigid seat-bank, they are lightweight, compact and designed to move short distances in calm. These models often do not have a translance (motor mounts), or it is made in the form of a removable board.
Motor modifications are necessarily equipped chunk It's a rigid plate in the stern, reinforced with fiberglass or plywood, and it's designed to fit the motor, and it's important to understand that you can't just screw the motor on a rowing boat unless you're designed to, because the cylinders can't withstand vibrations and loads, and the keel can't get on plane.
If you plan to use a motorized boat, choose models with an inflatable keel or a hard bottom at once.
There are also combinations where the transom is removable, which allows you to use a boat for both paddle-cruising and electric-powered fishing, but the versatility here has a limit: it will be heavier than a pure rowing boat, but less seaworthy than a specialized motor boat.
Comparative table of boat types
To get a sense of the information, and to get a definitive idea of what the type of inflatable boat you want to use, let's look at the basics, and this chart will help you quickly navigate the variety of sentences.
| Type of boat | Underbody material | Weight (average) | Assembly speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic (Peed) | Plywood/Aluminum | 30-50 kg | Slowly (15-20 mins) |
| NDND (inflatable floor) | Inflatable balloon (Drop-stitch) | 20-35 kg | Quickly (5-10 minutes) |
| RIB (Rigid housing) | Glass-plastic/Aluminum | 40-80 kg+ | Midway (boards only) |
| Rowing (Okantivka) | Inflatable/Tissue | 10-15 kg | Very quickly. |
And you can see from the table that the choices are based on the priorities of assembly speed and weight or seaworthiness and load capacity. NDMAFor serious fishing with a lot of equipment, a RIB or a heavy solder boat is better suited.
The choice of the type of bottom is more important than the choice of the brand: it is the design of the bottom that determines whether you can get on plane and how the boat will behave on the wave.
Care and operation of inflatable vessels
Regardless of what your inflatable boat is called, its life is directly dependent on proper care. PVC materials are sensitive to long-term storage in a deflated state in the cold season - cloth cloth can form. It is recommended to keep the boat in a half-deflated state at room temperature.
After each operation, especially in salt water, the product must be washed with fresh water, the salt crystallizes and can damage the valves and seams, and contact with open fire and sparks from the fire should be avoided, as PVC burns instantly.
☑️ Annual maintenance of the boat
⚠️ Warning: Never leave a fully pumped boat in direct sunlight unattended for long periods of time. The pressure inside the cylinders rises when heated, which can cause seams to rupture or deform.
To repair punctures, use special remixes that come with the kit. PVC glue requires a certain temperature and humidity to polymerize. Violation of the gluing technology will cause the patch to fall off at the most inopportune moment.
Conclusion
Now you know exactly what an inflatable boat is called, depending on its design and materials, whether it's a lightweight PVC for fishing from the shore or a serious RIB for seafaring, the right terminology helps you find exactly what you need. The market offers solutions for any problem, the main thing is to clearly understand the conditions of operation.
Don't chase for maximum length or power unless it's necessary. A compact inflatable floor boat is often more comfortable to operate than a bulky boat. Remember safety, use life jackets and enjoy the water element responsibly.
Do I need to register an inflatable boat?
Registration with GIMS is mandatory if the weight of the curbed boat (with an engine) exceeds 200 kg, or if the engine power is more than 8 kW (about 10.88 hp). However, if the boat is lighter than 200 kg, but the engine is more powerful than 10 hp, registration is still required.
Can I pump a boat with a car compressor?
Yes, but with caution, car compressors often produce high pressures that can break the valve or seams if you don't control the process, and it's better to use compressors with auto-stop function or pump them manually in the final stage.
What is the difference between a PVC boat and a rubber one?
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a synthetic material that is lighter, stronger and more resistant to the sun than old reinforced rubber. Rubber is heavier, afraid of fuel (gasoline, oils) and will eventually dry up.
What is the life of an inflatable boat?
When properly operated and stored, a quality PVC boat lasts 10-15 years, and cheap models may require repairs in 3-5 years of active use.
What are stringers in a boat?
Stringers are longitudinal inflatable tubes or rigid elements that run along the bottom, which give the boat rigidity, form a keel and improve driving performance on the water.