Neoprene, PVC and Hypalon are coatings for inflatable boats for them to be air tight and waterproofed. These chemicals have nothing to do in strengthening the inflatable boat itself. What makes the boat strong is its base fabric to which neoprene, PVC and Hypalon are bonded. The traditional materials were cotton and silk. However, synthetic fabrics- polyester and nylon- have displaced the traditional materials of silk and...more
When first-generation life rafts were produced during WW II, they were yellows as manufacturers thought that the yellow was the easiest color to spot in rescue missions. For decades, yellow was the color of choice for serious inflatable boats whether they are life rafts or not. However, research shows that orange is an even more effective that most life rafts today have orange canopies.When neoprene and Hypalon were came out as a...more
It is not unusual to buy second-hand boats. Some prefer second-hand boats as they are cheaper. However, buying a new inflatable boat is easier than buying a used boat. For one thing you don't have to worry if the boat is in good condition. The boat should be in good condition as it is brand new. If there are defects you can easily return it under warranty. The only foreseeable problem is that the boat is manufactured by some obscure company.It is always safe to buy a branded name. There are plenty of inflatable boats that can be rightly picked right off the display of a boat trade show. The boats displayed are so loaded with freebies and add-ons that one is tempted to buy the boat right off. With discounts that are jaw-dropping low, with a 0% interest available right then and then, a 5-year warranty and a cooler full of free beer, who would not buy that boat even if you can't even pronounce the manufacturer's name.One of the easy-to-spot flaws of this boat is foot pump. Most are so small and inadequate that you need to energetically pump the whole thing for 30 minutes to inflate the seat- maybe another hour or so to pump up the rest of the boat. To get...more
There are plenty of online stores that sell inflatable boats nowadays. You have a wide array of choices that sometimes choosing the best one for you is quite a task. In some cases, it is better to source for a used inflatable boat.How do you choose a used boat? Here is a checklist of the things that you need to inspect when buying a...more
If you are looking for a set of boat building plans there are a few important things to consider before purchasing.Designers ExperienceThere's a lot of detail and information involved in designing a boat. Make sure the boat plans you purchase have been designed by an experienced designer. Do some research online to find out what the...more
When it comes to trout fishing in small lakes, rivers and streams you can't beat the versatility of inflatable pontoon boats. When you compare them to wading pontoon boats allow you to cover a lot larger area in order to find where the fish are hiding.Pontoon boats are lightweight and easy to transport, but provide greater stability and are higher off the water than a canoe.A pontoon is located on each side of the boat connected together by a frame that contains the anglers seats.The boat is paddled in a manner similar to a canoe.Canoes are narrow and very easy to capsize while the much wider inflatable pontoon boat is extremely stable but easily manoeuvred around.The majority of pontoon boats have an inflatable bladder but there are some models with solid bladder pontoons.The pontoons have a V-shape that makes the boat easy to manoeuvre through weeds and around deadfalls or tree branches that might be hanging over the water.Inflatable pontoon fishing boats are also rather spacious when compared to a canoe, while much lighter and less cumbersome than a rowboat. The extra room comes in handy especially if there is more than one angler on the boat.One advantage of these fishing boats...more
Paris is possibly the only city in the world which has been called by great many names. Everybody has a different way of describing the city. Some refer to it as the fashion capital of Europe; some call it the most romantic city of the world. But...more
I thought it would be of interest to write this article about the history of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race as It's one of the most famous boat races in the world and is one of England's greatest sporting Icon competition's.The...more
Antifoulant Paints - How They WorkAntifouling paint keeps marine growth such as barnacles, mussels and sometimes oysters, and plant growth from attaching to your sailboat, trawler or motor yacht. Most antifouling paints use the dispersion of metals...more
When you think of shipping vehicles, you probably think of cars. We've all seen the big transport trailers loaded up with cars, but what about boat transportation or motorcycle shipping? These are a couple of things that people frequently need to...more
Now, if you have read any of my other articles on boat building designs, you will have seen that I rate high quality boat plans at the top of the list for the amateur boat builder. However, today you'll be shocked to see me going off...more
Repo auctions are great places to find cheap boats for sale. It is a matter of luck to find a good quality boat in repo auctions. But it is possible only if you know the right places to look. The newspapers are full of auction dates and are very good...more