Inflatable Boats – Practical and Affordable
There are two main benefits that enthusiastic boaters get from inflatable boats. These two lie in the area of practicality and economics.
In fact, these are the reasons why inflatables are already a part of the complete line of research and rescue equipment of government and private agencies or organizations. Scuba divers even prefer inflatables as diving platforms because of their inherent stability.
Inflatable rafts, pontoons, kayaks and canoes are practical because they are easy to store. Once it is deflated, you can store your boat anywhere you want. Whether you want to pack it at the trunk of your car after your water adventure and store it later in your garage or stow it under your bed, it’s possible with these inflatables.
Where storage is easy, transport is a cinch as well. Owners don’t need a trailer to bring their boat places if their inflatable is considered a featherweight or one that weighs below thirty kilograms.
You’ve probably seen pictures of two or three people carrying a colored blow up and taking the time to pose for posterity. Boats that weigh between thirty to a hundred kilograms can be carried without effort by people of this number. While there are inflatables that would require wheels or a trolley, when you compare their weight and take ease of transport into consideration, hard shells are no match for inflatable vessels.
The fact that inflatable boats are affordable, easy to maintain and have a high resale value makes them very economical vessels. While a top-of-the-line recreational inflatable rig can cost as much as $6,000, you can get one of good quality for only $1,000 to $2,000. These quotes are far more favorable compared to the tens of thousands of dollars that you would have to save for if you want to buy the traditional but expensive hard shells.
Maintenance is essential so you can keep your boat operational for a long time and it’s fairly simple to do, too. Heavy boat users need to clean their boats at least once a month and all boat users should make it a point to clean their rigs before storing it away for the winter. Acids, mineral spirits and strong cleaning agents are not recommended for your boat. Follow manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean and what cleaning agents are necessary although soap and fresh water will do just fine.
Dirt, sand and other foreign objects can be removed from your boat using a hose but be careful not to use high-pressure hoses as these can damage your inflatable. Dry the boat thoroughly before storing it to avoid mold formation that can damage it. Choose a rat-free area in your home to store your rig inasmuch as rodents can and do bite through your inflatable.
Another reason why inflatable boats are economical is because you don’t have to spend extra dough on mooring charges since they can be “parked” right in the comfort of your home. Finally, the market of inflatable boats has gone up in recent years and you can always sell your boat if you want to upgrade to a newer model.
Last but not least, be sure to check out our inflatable boats review and this information on the Sea Eagle 440fc.
July 22, 2011 | Posted by Danny Matterson
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