WindCheck Magazine

Caring for Your Inflatable

Inflatable boats have a well-deserved reputation for toughness, and with care, they can last a decade or more. However, because these rugged boats will shrug off the jostling at a crowded dinghy dock, many owners see them as indestructible workhorses that can take anything, subjecting them to unnecessary abuse. The sun’s rays are an inflatable boat’s worst enemy, and prolonged exposure to sunlight significantly shortens their lifespan. UV rays will cause the fabric to fade, discolor and eventually break down, and varnish to peel.

Sure, it’s easy to inflate a boat at the beginning of the season and leave it that way, but you’ll extend the boat’s working life if you deflate and store it when it’s not in use. If you’re going to keep the boat inflated for an extended period (in davits, for example), a fitted cover will keep it looking new by blocking UV radiation, sheltering it from bird droppings and dirt, and keeping water out of the cockpit.

There are bottom paints on the market made specifically for inflatable boats, including Pettit’s Hydrocoat and MDR’s Inflatable & Dinghy Bottom Coating. These water-based coatings can be applied to PVC or Hypalon fabric, and they’re flexible so they won’t crack or peel when the boat is folded. This paint sells for about $45 a quart (enough for two coats on an 8- to 10-foot boat), and it’s absolutely essential if you’re going to keep your inflatable boat in the water for an extended time. If barnacles are allowed to get a purchase on an inflatable boat, they’ll destroy the fabric.

Varnished plywood floorboards and transoms will require an occasional coat of varnish (on some boats, these parts are painted with hard epoxy coatings, which will last longer).