Best Inflatable Boats: Buying Guide 2024
Before making the final step of acquiring a product, you need to go through all essential factors ensuring you’re buying the best product based on your needs.
And that’s precisely what we’re doing here. I’m going to lead you through every step to make it easier for you. And then you’ll be able to peacefully make the right buying decision, knowing that you’re currently investing in the best inflatable boat based on your needs.
Consider Your Purpose
First things first, find out why are you planning to buy an inflatable boat. Is it merely for chilling out, or you’re planning to head to rough waters and catch some fish? If it’s the latter, then make sure you buy a boat with a semi-rigid floor that delivers extra durability and performance.
If you relate to the former, then you might focus your attention on full inflatable boats. That’s simply because they tend to be more comfortable and easy to operate. Moreover, full inflatable boats can inflate and deflate in a matter of a few minutes and can be stored effortlessly anywhere.
Follow this simple rule of thumb: rigid inflatable boats are suitable for rough waters. Whereas full inflatable boats tend to be more comfortable in chilly waters where you’re having a cold beverage on a hot sunny day, and simply enjoying the moment.
Power And Load Capacity
Next, you need to find out how much motor power you need based on your preference and purpose. If you’re buying a family boat, then make sure it features at least 4 seats and comes with or has a place where you can put a powerful motor to speed up the boat.
Yet, if you are going to be the only user of the boat, then you can save a bit of money by buying a smaller boat with a less powerful motor. Besides, the lesser the baggage is, the faster the boat is going to be. So if you’re looking for a family boat, make sure you buy a powerful gas motor that will definitely deliver the speed you’re looking for. Keep in mind that semi-rigid boats tend to be more expensive.
Hull And Floor
We mentioned a bit about semi-rigid and inflatable floors earlier. Still, here we will provide you with a more thorough look. That’s because we want to give you a clarified vision of what your perfect inflatable boat looks like.
Let’s start with the full inflatable boats. As you already know, they are suitable for chilly waters and tend to be more comfortable. Moreover, they are even cheaper than semi-rigid boats. Yet, keep in mind that the full inflatable boats tend to perform less and are also less durable compared to the semi-rigid boats. That’s why if you’re regularly visiting the lake, the river, or the sea, and you’re fishing more often than not, then you should turn your attention on the semi-rigid boats.
Now, let’s check out what those rigid boats bring to the table. When it comes down to durability and performance, semi-rigid inflatable boats are simply unmatched. “But what’s the downside here” you’re probably thinking…
Let me explain to you what semi-rigid inflatable boats are known to lack. First of all, they are quite expensive. This means that if you’re on a budget, then you’ll have hard times buying a high-quality semi-rigid inflatable boat. Moreover, they also tend to take more time to inflate and deflate. Yet, if you’re a professional boater, you might be able to inflate a semi-rigid inflatable boat in 10 to 15 minutes based on the pump you are using.
As we mentioned above, follow the simple rule of thumb. If you are primarily buying an inflatable boat to chill, then the full inflatables are the perfect fit for you. Yet, if you’re planning to go fishing in rough waters, you can’t go wrong with the semi-rigid inflatable boats.
Price
Finally, make sure the boat you’re planning to buy fits in your budget. Do thorough research. Find out and compare prices from different websites. Also, check if the inflatable boat comes with a warranty. Make sure you also compare the warranties different companies and websites offer. Some are full warranties, while others are limited. Furthermore, it is also important to consider the cost of your inflatable boat’s storage–the boat’s dimensions definitely become a factor here, especially since keeping inflatable boats inflated during storage is recommended to ensure their longevity.
After following these exact steps in our step-by-step buying guide, there’s a high chance that you’ll definitely come up with an inflatable boat that perfectly suits your needs.
If you have any questions, drop them in the comment section below, and I’ll be happy to give you a thorough and specific answer that suits your query.
If you already have a Inflatable Boats or you just bought one, leave a comment in the comment section below and share your experience with it.
