Inflatable Boats: An Overview


Inflatable boats are made from flexible material, usually rubber, canvas, or neoprene, and hold air at high volume but low pressure. They need to be fitted with a frame to which an oarlock mount is firmly attached. Such frames are either made of metal or wood, or a combination of the two.

Inflatable boats with motors are high speed, maneuverable, stable and can be easily launched from a ship. For this reason, US Navy SEAL's use the inflatable boat small (IBS) for their operations.

Twenty-three foot long Rigid Hull inflatable boats are best suited for retrieving people stranded on rocky pinnacles among the waves, and are used by the US Coast Guard during Search & Rescue operations.

There has been a lot of development in Inflatable boats. The large inflatable boats have rigid boards in them, and are called Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB's). They can be driven by oars or outboard engines. The large ones are considered good enough to be used by the Lifeboat men.

The modern life raft is a well thought out, well-equipped, seaworthy fully inflated boat. However, if there isn't enough air inside, inflatable boats are apt to fold in the middle. Thus, they need to be pumped up to the proper pressure using bellows.

Most Inflatable Boats are portable rafts. An inflatable yacht that is 8 feet (2.4 m) long is rated to carry three people when used with a motor. It weighs 35 pounds (15 kgs.) when dry, which makes it a reasonable load for one person to carry for a long distance if necessary. The next size is 9 feet long, which does not sound much more, but the difference is great, in fact. The 9 feet boat is heavier and has much larger air tubes.

People use inflatable boats for exploring, and manually haul them to remote places. There are many brands of high quality inflatable boats available in the market, but whatever brand is chosen should be roughly 8 feet long, rated for 3 people, have a motor, be a reasonable load for one person to carry, and does not have a wooden floor, or other heavy parts.

Inflatable Boat Sales are taking place online. Inflatable boats are available for sales - both as new ones, and as used boats. Prices range from $25 right up to $2,800. The range covers 8-foot yacht tenders, fishing boats, and 14-foot inflatable sail boats.

Inflatable Boats Info provides detailed information on pontoon, rigid and fishing inflatable boats, as well as trailers, repairs, used inflatable boats and manufacturers. Inflatable Boats Info is the sister site of River Rafting Web.


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Outdoor Illinois magazine to publish final issue
The State Journal-Register
By CHRIS YOUNG The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will discontinue publication of its Outdoor Illinois magazine after the March issue. Outdoor Illinois, a full-color, slick-paper monthly magazine with a circulation of more than 26000, ...

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Macon Telegraph (blog)

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By LINDA S. MORRIS - lmorris@macon.com Texas-based Academy Sports & Outdoors has bought the former Kroger store at 2907 Watson Blvd. and other adjacent retail space and plans to open a 62000-square-foot store there before Christmas, said Doug Molyneaux ...

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Outdoors report: Feb. 8
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Good trout have been taken on the flats on the north end of the lake on Corkies and MirrOlures. Waders have scored on the edge of the channel on the moving tide. Winds were light out of the northeast. Water temperature at Eagle Point was 57 degrees ...

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By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn Nothing like waiting until the last minute to try and get the main ingredient for a squirrel meat pie. Given Ohio's squirrel hunting season started Sept. 1, the fact I procrastinated until the last day on Jan.



Outdoors: Nearly Picture-perfect
Arizona Daily Sun
The walls of Picture Canyon are nearly vertical and barely 10 yards apart in some spots. In winter, the full discharge from the Wildcat Hill wastewater treatment plant sends a torrent of water over a series of ledges in the canyon.

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Outdoors: Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition at DCU Center
Worcester Telegram
The 36th annual Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition runs Friday through Sunday at Worcester's DCU Center. Exhibitors will showcase tackle, hunting gear, boats, and exciting fishing and hunting trips. The expo is always fun for window shoppers, ...



The West Australian

Great outdoors beckons thrillseekers
The West Australian
The Peel Region, which includes Dawesville, Mandurah, Dwellingup and Pinjarra, has a number of outdoor activities for travellers looking to raise their heart rate. First stop for the adrenaline junkies is the Harvey Estuary for a jetski ride.

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New York Times

Sportsmen, Outdoor Industry, Conservationists Join in Opposition to CO ...
Public News Service
Today, groups representing sportsmen, the outdoors industry and conservationists are speaking out in opposition to the Colorado plan. Nick Payne is Colorado regional representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and his group ...
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