Rubber boats: types, rating of manufacturers and recommendations for choosing

A rubber boat is considered an essential attribute of an experienced fisherman, but such a convenient means of transportation on water will be useful for both hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. A boat made of rubberized fabric is easy to store, convenient to transport, some models even fit in a backpack, which makes them incredibly popular. It is worth choosing the right rubber boat, and it will serve faithfully to its owner for many years.

Small rubber boats undergo quality standardization in terms of strength, wear resistance, resistance to ultraviolet rays, various oils and solvents. The safety of the craft is determined by the strength of the material, its resistance to mechanical stress, the number of compartments in the inflatable sides - the more of them, the less likely it is to flood if one of the compartments is damaged.

Each boat passenger needs an inflatable vest, even if a person swims well: in order to increase safety on the water, special protection is needed, because a person can become confused in an emergency. When purchasing a motorboat, it will be necessary to pass special training courses and get rights. Also, each boat is assigned a state number.

A rubber boat with a motor must be registered with the territorial state inspection for small boats. To obtain a certificate of registration of a boat, it is necessary to provide a title certificate for the possession of this boat, a citizen's passport, TIN, a receipt for payment of state duty, a registration certificate for the motor and for the boat (two separate documents). After registration, it will be necessary to obtain a license plate and pay tax in a timely manner, as well as regularly undergo technical inspection of an inflatable motor boat.

No license is required to operate a simple rowboat, however you should independently study the instructions for it, the rules of behavior on the water and how to behave in case of unforeseen circumstances (for example, how to properly part with other ships).

Owners of rubber boats highlight the following advantages in their reviews:

• ease of transportation when folded;
• light weight of the craft;
• ease of management.

There are also some downsides.

• Rubber does not hold paint well, so it is best to give preference to practical boats, without attractive camouflage patterns. When the boat is heated in the sun, the paint may begin to flake off, and the beautiful camouflage will stain the owner’s clothes, bald spots will appear in the pattern and the gloss will quickly disappear.
• The stated number of seats often does not correspond to the real state of affairs: three people in tracksuits take up much less space than in full equipment, including waders, and have different weights.You should also take into account the place for tackle and bait, so often only two people fit in a three-seater boat.
• Single-seat models are unstable in the wind and often roll over in bad weather.
• The material is prone to rotting if stored improperly.

The main differences between boats made of PVC and rubberized fabric are due to the properties of modern materials.

• Unreinforced PVC (polymer material) - it is unstable to frost, stretches under prolonged exposure to sunlight, while it is cheap, has a low weight, does not rot, which makes it very popular with buyers. Another plus: the seams are connected by laser welding and are very durable.
• Reinforced PVC (three layers) - a material with a layer of synthetic material enclosed between two layers of polyvinyl chloride, which increases the strength of the material (it is almost impossible to pierce) and improves the performance of all parameters.
• Hypalon - denser than PVC (it has increased tightness), but can only withstand gluing, it cannot be connected with welds.
• Neoprene - cheaper than all of the above materials, but rarely used as an independent coating. It is easy to glue, and that's where the pros end.
• rubberized fabric more elastic, inexpensive, lighter in weight than PVC, easier to repair small punctures on it, remains elastic at zero temperature and with a slight minus. However, it is highly susceptible to rotting, cracking in the heat and requires particularly careful operation and more thorough maintenance than boats made from other materials.

According to the type of seam connection, rubber boats and those made of PVC are divided into the following types:

• welded – soldering of polymers under pressure by ultrasonic flow;
• vulcanized – splicing of rubber with the help of a special reagent;
• glued (overlap or butt) – manually joining the parts of the craft with glue.

PVC remains unchanged in its structure when exposed to high temperatures. Rubber is more plastic, in the heat the air inside the cylinders heats up and expands, microcracks may appear in the places of gluing.

PVC is afraid of low temperatures: during winter fishing and exposure to frost during storage, the material cracks.

The most comfortable fishing is obtained if a person fishes alone and the boat is 1-seater, this makes it possible to completely independently manage the watercraft, it is easier to keep quiet. Such rest is the most complete, and fishing alone becomes easier. For one person, a boat of 2.6-3 m in length is enough, if for two, it is worth choosing a vessel over 3 m.

The boat should be roomy (even single), the fisherman will need the ability to install a motor: it will be easy and fast to move from one bank to another on a river or a large lake and fish in different places. Oars and seats should be as comfortable as possible, because a fisherman or a hunter can spend a day on the water.At first, it is difficult for one person to manage a two-seater boat (since it has a length of about 3 meters), but with the acquisition of fairly simple control skills, the operation of such a watercraft will not cause difficulties.

The size of rubber boats directly depends on their purpose. The largest production ships are produced (they are used to transport goods). Fishing boats are smaller than average, and lifeboats are the smallest.

All inflatable boats are divided into pleasure and sports. Pleasure boats are considered to be boats with a capacity of 1-2 people.. Only a light, low-power motor can be put on such a boat. Sports boats are designed for extreme rafting on fast rivers.

An inflatable watercraft can be with or without a keel. The keel gives better controllability of a small inflatable boat in windy weather, but in the absence of dexterity, it can contribute to the collapse of the boat on its side.

A motorboat can develop a fairly high speed: about 50 km / h in open water, while large boats (about 4 m long) have an increased windage and the use of oars is meaningless. Motorboat oars are useful for mooring to the shore and when checking nets with fish.

The motor can not be put on every boat, but only on the one that has a transom mount. A glued transom is preferable to a hinged transom, the wall thickness for its fastening must be at least 2.5 cm, with a rubber frame and a plastic lining for the motor. Outboard motors should be light, about 5 kg, with a power of no more than 5 hp. with., an additional mounted transom is required.

Transom mounting method (for motors up to 5 hp and trapezoidal stern of the boat):

• on flexible brackets;
• PVC ribbons with lacing;
• metal bracket.

The glued transom is suitable for all types of jet engines (gasoline or electric).

It is worth considering that in some waters it is strictly forbidden to use a motor. The list of such lakes and rivers for a certain area can be specified in the fishing inspection.

Russia is a leader in the production of boats made of PVC and rubberized fabric. A multi-stage quality control system serves as a guarantee of the safety of the owner of the craft on the water and the absence of problems during operation during the entire service life.

According to the "popular" rating, based on the positive feedback from the owners of inflatable boats, the top 5 following manufacturers can be distinguished.

1. PKF Mnev and K LLC (St. Petersburg) - This company has been producing rubber inflatable boats since 1988. Excellent quality and a wide range of products from 2 to 8 meters in length (more than 70 models), including motor-rowing and motor boats, are very popular with buyers.
2. Plant "Fregat" (St. Petersburg) - Since 1991, it has been producing rowing inflatable boats and “under the motor”. The products are in demand not only among ordinary citizens, but are also supplied to the units of the Russian special services, which indicates the reliability and durability of the products.
3. Lotsman-SPB LLC - produces boats, awnings, as well as a wide range of components and accessories.
4. Solar Company (Novosibirsk) – since 2006 it has been producing all-weather boats (made of Finnish PVC material with improved characteristics).
5. Company Intex for many years it has been producing not only boats, but also inflatable furniture, swimming pools, and various accessories for water recreation.

Among the models of inflatable boats, there is also a popularity rating.

1. Intex Explorer 300 (58332) Set - rowing triple, with an inflatable bottom and built-in transom. It gained its popularity due to its low weight (only 3.5 kg), load capacity of 182 kg, compact length (about 2 meters). Among the advantages, the owners of this watercraft also note a wide valve, which facilitates deflation. Cons: paddles are not long enough, in fact only fit 2 people (by weight), more suitable for water trips than for fishing.
2. "Pilot M-290" - weight 32 kg, length 2.90 m, glued transom, rigid sliding seats, reinforced cylinders, oars included. Capacity - 3 people of average build.
3. Solar (350) – rowing boat with an inflatable bottom, material – reinforced PVC, built-in transom and inflatable keel, water drain valve, carrying handles, load capacity up to 500 kg. Designed for 3 large fishermen or hunters, hard seats, length 3.50 m, weight 52 kg. Minus - a rather weak pump in the kit.
4. Cayman N300 - a motor boat with a carrying capacity of 370 kg (power up to 10 hp), collapsible bottom, inflatable keel, built-in transom, removable awning, length 3 m, weight 46 kg. Cons - small, 2-seater.
5. Intex Seahawk 3 – triple seat with reinforced PVC oars, inflatable bottom and seats, load capacity up to 300 kg, capacity in fact 2 fishermen, rod holder included, length 2.95 m, weight about 10 kg. Minus - the absence of a keel.

An inflatable boat should be chosen based on how it will be used: hunting or fishing once a month or for tourist rafting on the river every week.

Many buyers take the capacity of a rubber boat as a fundamental factor - of course, this is important, but this is not the main criterion. You should always use the “+1” principle: if you need a boat for 1 person, then it is better to buy a doubleso that, in addition to the captain in full gear, fishing tackle, fish bait, a thermos with hot coffee or tea, a container with sandwiches, and a repair kit for a boat can fit.

It is also necessary to consider what the boat should be equipped with: inflatable keel, oars, motor, hard seat or something else. It is also important at what time of the year the operation of the boat is planned: on a river with a fast current or on a small calm lake.

The choice of motor depends on the estimated purchase price, power, maximum speed, maximum load capacity.

The floor of the rubber boat is soft and bends quite easily, it can be reinforced with aluminum or plywood plates, or you can choose a ready-made inflatable option. The aluminum floor is light and strong enough, it consists of several parts. This floor is made for boats over 4 m long.

A boat with a hard bottom is the so-called RIB, a rigid stable bottom allows you to literally fly over the water at cruising speed. For such a boat, a motor with a capacity of at least 15 liters is required.with., but to transport this boat you will need a trailer.

Boats are also produced with a fiberglass bottom. Such material has a huge advantage - it silently comes into contact with water and does not scare away the fish.

Folding boats are the most convenient in operation, which take up relatively little space during transportation and fit into a standard car trunk. A folding boat is produced exclusively with a plastic bottom, if the boat is not foldable - it is better to choose with an aluminum bottom.

An inflatable balloon around the perimeter allows the boat to be light and unsinkable. The more isolated sections inside the cylinder, the better: if one of them is damaged, the boat will suffer minimal damage and remain afloat.

You should also consider the manufacturer, according to your budget for this purchase. A cheap product will need additional equipment and strengthening of the bottom, so it is often more expedient to immediately buy a boat more expensive by a quarter of the cost, but with “native” additional options.

The hard bottom will need to be assembled and disassembled with each inflation and deflation, which is extremely inconvenient to do in frosty weather. It can be transported in assembled form only in a trailer.

Proper operation of an inflatable boat is only half the battle, it is also necessary to properly store the boat between uses. Ideal storage is in a dry, well-ventilated area, slightly inflated and fully extended (vertical storage is acceptable).

If you plan to store the boat in a folded state, placed in a backpack, then it is necessary to first clean out the debris accumulated inside, wash it from all sides with warm soapy water, and let it dry naturally. Then sprinkle the boat with talcum powder and gently twist (without pressure) in the direction from the back to the bow.

Storage in a garage may adversely affect the product. Mold, rot, the formation of microcracks under the influence of low temperatures in winter is far from a complete list of problems. If there is no other way out, after such storage it is necessary to carefully wipe it with a damp cloth and inflate the boat by half, then let it warm up in a place protected from sunlight (in an open garage or on the street in the shade of a building or a large tree).

A rubber boat is a great helper for fishermen and hunters, as well as a good recreational watercraft for outdoor enthusiasts.. Before buying, you should study all the nuances of choosing a boat, take into account the available budget and determine a place to store the boat between uses.

The video talks about inflatable rubber boats.