You are interested in buying an inflatable boat? Maybe you have read our article in which we compare inflatable boats with conventional boats and now you are convinced to that an inflatable is preferable for you. This is certainly not a bad decision, because inflatable boats are used all over the world for a variety of purposes by many professionals such as the military or on research expeditions, due to their unique capabilities. We differentiate between Soft Inflatable Boats (SIBs) and Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs). SIBs can be completely disassembled, and the floor is usually made of wooden or aluminum plates, which are linked together and fixed in their position once the air chambers are inflated, thus giving the inflatable boat stability. RIBs, however, have a completely solid hull on which the tube is then attached. The hull itself is usually made of GRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic) and sometimes aluminum.
Now you are probably asking yourself whether a SIB or rather a RIB is more suitable for you. Well, this is exactly the question we want to deal with in the following.
SIBs
The Soft Inflatable Boat (SIB) can be completely disassembled, as it does not have a rigid hull. Instead, the hull of SIBs is constructed either from floor plates that are linked together (usually made of aluminum or wood) or, on smaller SIBs, sometimes even from a high-pressure inflatable floor. By inflating the tube, the SIB still achieves incredible stability and is in no way inferior to many rigid hull boats of the same size.
SIBs find many applications due to their enormous flexibility, from use as a dinghy to a fast speedboat. It is also particularly popular with newcomers to the world of boating.
Advantages
Ability to Disassemble
The first and truly unique advantage is obvious: SIBs can be completely disassembled and reduced to a small package size for transport or storage. This is especially relevant for people who use their boat only seasonally or for those who like to take the boat on a trip without having to rely on a trailer.
Light as a Feather
In addition, SIBs are extremely lightweight, which also makes them easier to transport, launch, and to handle in general. People who plan to launch their boat on their own will appreciate the light weight.
Low Draft
In many cases, the draught is also less than with a RIB, since there is no deep V hull. The draft may be negligible in smaller boat sizes, but in some applications, this can be an advantage.
In circumstances like those shown in the image below, a SIB is certainly advantageous.