How to Choose the Right Inflatable Boats for Fly Fishing

When you’re in the market for inflatable boats, there are a few things that you need to consider before making a purchase. How many passengers and how much equipment would you typically have out with you. Are you a fair weather fisherman, or do you brave any type of weather. Do you only intend to use the boat for fly-fishing, or could it be put to other uses.

There are three classes of inflatable boats to choose from: Collapsibles, Rigid Roll-ups and Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs). Collapsibles feature inflatable bulkheads with some type of rigid flooring typically wood, rubber, tough plastic, steel or aluminum. The flooring can be removed and the boat collapsed for compact storage. The larger floatation tubes tend to require more horsepower to move them through the water efficiently. Rigid Roll-ups by design, are significantly lighter, and made to be stored with the flooring system in place, making them less time consuming to assemble for use.

The seating capacity for most inflatables ranges from four to eight passengers - if you have a requirement for even more space, an RIB may be your best choice. RIBs are usually more stable and handle better at higher speeds. Their rigid hulls are usually constructed of fiberglass or aluminum, with floatation tubes attached for buoyancy. This hybrid design combines the advantages of inflatables and traditional powerboats. They are easy to transport and launch, have low maintenance requirements, and are fuel efficient, comfortable and safe to use. The multi-chamber designs found in most floatation systems make for easy repair, even while out on the water, so the prospect of putting a hook into your boat while you’re fly fishing isn’t as intimidating!