Choosing an inflatable boat for fishing

Man has been using swimming facilities for more than one millennium. At first they were made from reeds, then they were hollowed out from tree trunks, sewn together from animal skins. With the development of wood processing, people began to build boats from planks. Further, various materials were used, and the main condition was the ability of the boat to stay well on the water.

Only a few centuries later, man managed to adapt the boat specifically for fishing. And only in the second half of the 19th century did the first inflatable boats appear, which immediately gained immense popularity among anglers.

Which boat is better: rubber or PVC?

PVC is more durable than rubber. It is resistant to aggressive environments and more elastic. Not afraid of water, after use, drying is not necessary, as is the case with rubber. But the biggest plus of PVC is the absolute absence of ductility.

When it is hot in an inflatable boat, the air expands, and the rubber seams may begin to leak (the adhesive cannot withstand the load). PVC boats do not have this problem, all glued joints hold very well.

It used to be that the main advantage of rubber is ease of repair.

Consider a typical example: gluing a large cut. The rubber must first be stitched with threads, then glued well, and all the same, over time, the gasket begins to lag behind. In the case of PVC, everything is much simpler - gluing takes place without problems due to good adhesion, and any repair kit immediately has everything you need.

The only disadvantage of PVC boats is that they do not tolerate low temperatures. Keep them only in a warm place.

A rubber boat can be stored in an unheated room all winter in any frost and nothing will happen to it, but PVC will begin to delaminate.

A separate niche is occupied by hybrid boats, or RIB boats. Such boats have a rigid aluminum or plastic bottom, fastened with inflatable balloons. Sometimes the inter-bottom space is filled with rigid foam and some RIB models do not sink even with fully deflated cylinders.

Dural boats for fishing

Dural boats are made of durable duralumin, and since it cannot be welded, all parts are connected with riveting.

Pros:

• It “holds a blow” well, the probability of making a dent or getting a hole in a collision with an obstacle is extremely small.
• Corrosion resistance.
• Long service life (more than 20 years).
• Easy maintenance.

Minuses:

• Weak points - rivets. Over time, due to heavy loads, they can be cut off.
• For transportation, you need at least a roof rack on the car.
• Increased noise when moving on water (the duralumin body itself serves as a sound resonator).
• All dural boats are subject to mandatory registration.

Which PVC boats are better?

The decision to buy a boat should not be made on impulse. It should, what is called "ripen".

The problem is that such an expected time very often does not come at all. The cheapest Chinese boats will not bring any joy or pleasure from fishing, and many beginners can generally be discouraged from moving on the water. This is not counting the fact that at one far from perfect moment with such a boat you can lose all the gear you took with you.

A good, reliable and solid boat is what a true fishing enthusiast needs. Without touching on expensive and exclusive models, you can choose a quite decent boat in the middle price range.

When choosing the length/width options, length should be preferred. True, the cost of the boat depends heavily on it. For example, the line of boats Badger: Classic Line 270 (length 270 cm) will cost about 20 thousand rubles, Classic Line 420 will cost around 50 thousand rubles. True, in the first case, the estimated power of the motor is 6 hp, and in the second it is already 30.

A good option would be a Yamaran boat. This brand, although produced in China, is under the full control of the Russian manufacturer Petroset LLC. For the manufacture of a special densely woven PVC is used, which makes it resistant to cuts, abrasion and punctures. But with an increased level of strength, it was possible to maintain elasticity - no problems when folding / unfolding boats even at near-zero temperatures. The service life of these boats is from 10 to 20 years at a price of 40 thousand rubles.

Many models in the middle price range are offered by the Admiral trademark. Here we decided to please the consumer with additional pleasant bonuses:

• The sharp parts of the cylinders are protected by tight plugs.
• There is the possibility of tuning, up to the most difficult.
• On motorboats - an additional elongated harness.
• Reinforcement of the keel with a special tape.
• Lik-rope (mobile) for additional equipment.
• The bottom is made of a denser fabric than the cylinders.

How to choose a PVC boat for a motor?

The larger the boat, the better it behaves on the water. In the inflated position, PVC boats visually appear large, but this impression is created by cylinders, and the working volume can be very small. For example, for a boat 270 cm long, the useful surface of the bottom will be ~ 170 cm long and ~ 66 cm wide. That is, a boat that seems large in a store can turn out to be very small for passengers on a pond.

Passenger capacity is indicated in the passport of each boat, but it must be borne in mind that this is the maximum allowable value, which does not at all mean the comfort of these same passengers. It's one thing to just sail somewhere for relaxation, it's quite another to be in a boat all day.

Plus, when choosing a boat, you need to take into account the weight, without overestimating your own capabilities, otherwise transporting the boat to the water will discourage all desire to use it. Here are approximate length figures for those who choose a boat for fishing:

1. For one, the range of 270-320 cm is quite suitable.
2. For two people - from 320 cm to 360. And you can carry it without much straining, and there will be enough space.
3. Three people already need a boat of 420 cm.

The transom on boats for motors can be either mounted or stationary. Mounted are used for low-power engines up to 3.5 liters. with., and stationary - for more powerful motors.

An important point is how the stationary transom is attached. If using pieces of PVC, then there is a risk that the mount will quickly fail due to vibration. The best mounting option is with a rim or rubber gasket, they dampen vibration.

A motor for a PVC boat also needs to be chosen wisely. Some beginners take a motor with minimal performance to get comfortable, with the prospect of replacing it with a more powerful one later. This leads to the fact that the money for the first engine is thrown to the wind with the dubious pleasure of listening to the roar of a choking engine during the first descents of the boat into the water. It’s better to collect money and immediately buy the right one for your boat, so that, like that mean one, you don’t have to pay twice.

Important! Each boat has its own motor, and if the motor is already there, then a boat is selected for it.

Although each boat indicates what power the motors are used on this particular boat, there is also a simple calculation: for gliding, you need to have 1 hp. for every 30 kg of weight. That is, for a boat of 320-330 cm with two passengers, you will need an 8 hp motor. For a normal, displacement mode, a 2-horsepower one is enough (the speed will be about 9 km / h), and with a 5-6 strong one it will be 13-15 km / h (two passengers on board). We should not forget about weight: an 8-horsepower engine will pull all 35 kg (one can no longer pull it), while a 2-horsepower one will weigh 12-14 kg.

Here are typical examples of boats of different carrying capacities (the number in the title is the length in cm):

Norvik 300T literally created for those who prefer privacy and at the same time intend to safely and quickly overcome significant distances on the water. Due to its low weight (completely equipped - 23.4 kg), it can be carried alone, but the maximum load of the boat is 250 kg. Recommended engine power - 3.5 hp.

Flinc 320L- a PVC boat, which organically combines such seemingly incompatible characteristics as speed, lightness and decent payload with excellent handling at high speeds. Its weight is 30 kg, the maximum load is 320 kg, and the motor is 6 hp.

Sirius-335 Ultra- a classic medium boat, which, despite the presence of stringers, belongs to the compact class boats. The body is made of German PVC fabric "Mehler texnologies". The transom is glued with the help of special holders and reinforced from below with a corner halt. Its weight is 44 kg, carrying capacity is 480 kg, the motor is 10 hp.

Sonata 285R– Reinforced 5-layer PVC material DURATEX, manufacturer – South Korea was used for manufacturing. The seams are joined end-to-end using a special polyurethane adhesive, which, reacting with the PVC fabric, gives the effect of "cold welding", therefore, in this boat the guarantee for the seams is 3 years. Its weight is 27 kg, load capacity - 220 kg, motor power - 5 hp.

Admiral AM-320S- the assembly of this boat will take literally 10 minutes, with a low weight (36 kg), it has excellent directional stability thanks to the cylinders narrowed towards the bow. Every detail is thoughtful and comfortable. Its load capacity is 450 kg, the motor is 10 liters. With.