Compare inflatable boats made of rubber and PVC

Inflatable boats sold today in many stores differ not only in a diverse price range, but also in the materials used in the manufacture. The most popular among connoisseurs of hunting, fishing and water tourism are products made of rubber-fabric material and PVC. Which one is better and what is the difference between them? Our experts figured it out.

About rubber boats

The basis of the material used in the creation of rubber boats is a fabric fabric, connected by a special technology with rubber. The rubber shell provides the fabric with reliable protection against moisture and maintains the tightness of the structure. The degree of durability of a rubber boat and its functionality in general depend on the type of fabric base used.

Do not forget that any fabric, regardless of strength, begins to decompose over time, losing its bearing capacity. The rubber outer coating is gradually covered with cracks under regular exposure to sunlight and temperature changes, and moisture entering through the cracks further enhances the process of tissue decomposition.

With proper operation, a rubber boat will last about 10 years, although some owners manage to swim on such products much longer (do not forget that this significantly increases the risk of sailing in an expired structure).

ON A NOTE. There are two things to keep in mind when operating a rubber boat. First: with significant temperature fluctuations, a change in the volume of air in the cylinders is possible. And this, in turn, is fraught with a rupture of the boat. Second: rubber is not very «friendly» with salt water — the rubber-fabric material, upon prolonged contact with sea water, will simply delaminate and become unusable.

Rubber boats require special care:

1. After use, the product must be thoroughly dried before being placed in a backpack;

2. When storing a rubber structure, we recommend periodically taking it out and inflating it for thorough drying (an alternative is to store it inflated, which is not always convenient);

3. It is not allowed to store the product at low temperatures (meaning minus) or high humidity;

4. To prevent delamination / overdrying of the material, we recommend periodically sprinkling the product with talcum powder.

About PVC boats

PVC inflatable boats are similar in manufacturing technology to rubber boats: a fabric is used as a base. Only instead of rubber, it is covered on both sides with polyvinyl chloride. This material is characterized by high strength and high chemical resistance.

The main indicator of the quality and durability of a PVC boat is the density of the fabric used. Manufacturers of quality products use extremely practical reliable material with a density of 750 to 1200 g/m². Such a fabric is highly resistant to mechanical tearing, but at the same time it has a significant weight, is rather inconvenient in transportation, and is difficult to lay.

Unlike rubber, PVC fabrics are more compact, are not afraid of moisture, fungus, do not rot, and tolerate low temperatures perfectly. What are PVC boats actually made of? In their manufacture, reinforced fabric is used, which is tightly connected synthetic fibers coated with several layers of polyvinyl chloride. The latter are fixed to each other with an adhesive substance, which makes it possible to achieve a connection at the molecular level. As a result, the material is incredibly dense.

Boats made of PVC have a number of positive characteristics:

1. Durability — due to its high strength, inflatable boats made of PVC can be used in conditions close to extreme;

2. High load capacity — the product has a fairly compact size and at the same time has good physical «endurance»;

3. Ease of maintenance — PVC products are not afraid of moisture, dust, can be stored folded for a long time, do not need special care conditions;

4. No settling — a product made of PVC can easily overcome shallow areas with floating vegetation.

Comparative characteristics

Having considered the features of both types of inflatable boats, our experts have compiled a detailed comparative description.

What to choose?

When choosing the right inflatable boat, you should first of all be guided by personal preferences, and not by extraneous advice. An incorrectly selected product and thoughtless operation will lead to the unusability of the purchased boat, regardless of whether it is made of rubber or PVC.

If we are talking about the operation of the boat under extreme conditions, there is nothing to think about — feel free to opt for a PVC product, and far from cheap — it is better to pay attention to famous brands.

If an outboard boat is a priority, again, all the attention is on a PVC product, not rubber, since the latter cannot boast such a strong frame. It is PVC boats that are more maneuverable, dynamic and safe.

If you need a boat for water tourism or fishing, and at the same time will be used only a few times a year, choose the rubber option without hesitation. The same product will be quite appropriate when used for walking on open water.