More Australian recreational boaters are beginning to appreciate what Surf Clubs and the Defense Force learned years ago about the unique advantages of inflatable boats over their hard-sided counterparts. Whether used for leisure or sport, the innovative design of inflatables make them easy to transport, easy to launch, fuel efficient, comfortable, safe and easy to maintain.
Here is a quick rundown for those who may be new to the inflatable boat market. There are two basic types of inflatable boats: Soft-bottom and hard bottom. Inflatables referred to as soft-bottom, use inflatable hulls. Flooring options include the traditional floorboards, high-pressure air floors and slat floors.
Rib’s, also known as hard-bottom inflatables, always use solid hulls, such as fiberglass or aluminum. Inflatable tubes are fitted to the top of the hull to create rigid inflatable boats (Rib). Rib’s are generally considered hybrid vessels that combine the benefits of traditional powerboats and inflatables.

Safety: The large, shock-absorbing buoyancy tubes of inflatables create a highly stable boat that is nearly impossible to capsize under normal conditions. With several independent air compartments in each buoyancy tube, the boat is stable and unsinkable, even with one of the air chambers deflated.
Buoyancy: Because of the large buoyancy tubes, the load capacity of an inflatable is far greater than that of a traditional rigid boat of similar size.
Mobility: Once deflated and folded, the space taken up by an inflatable is so compact that transporting and storing it is extremely easy. Even Rib’s are easier to transport and launch than comparable traditional boats because of their much lighter weight. Cars that could never tow a traditional boat can easily tow a RIB.
Fuel efficiency / power ratio: Because of their light weight, inflatables achieve excellent performance with smaller engines than would be required on traditional boats of similar size. That means greater fuel efficiency and lower purchase cost for engines, at a time when fuel prices are soaring.
Smoother, drier ride: The buoyancy tubes on these boats do a remarkable job of absorbing impact when cruising at high speeds, and they also deflect spray for a drier ride than most traditional boats.
Simple maintenance: Upkeep on an inflatable is simple and cheap - soapy water keeps it clean, while proper inflation is a breeze with either a foot pump or available auto inflation pump on some models. The buoyancy tubes also mean no worries about dings and scratches during docking and other maneuvers.
And finally They look cool! The crisp, modern designs and sharp colors and graphics of today's inflatables stand out against a crowd of traditional boats. That alone draws many buyers who simply want a different, sharp-looking boat without a custom-boat price.

Knowing and defining your boating needs is imperative. Ask yourself, what type of boater am I? For example do you plan to take your boat across a sheltered bay, lake or on open water? Do you want to tender out to a larger boat or do you want a family runabout. These are some of the considerations that will help ensure that you are able to obtain a boat that works for you.

Keep in mind that the type of flooring you choose will have a direct bearing on the time it takes to assemble the boat and get you on the water. There are three basic floor types for soft-bottom inflatables. For occasional or seasonal usage, a traditional removable floor board is best. However, you may find it less time consuming to pick a floor that can be left in place without assembly. With some models, you can choose slats or a high-pressure airdeck floor that becomes very rigid when inflated.
If you're in the market for a Rib, look for a well defined hull.

Performance is yet another vital area of consideration. How fast do you want to go? The more performance you have, the more you will have to pay. Do you intend to take your boat for fishing trips with several friends? If so, then a larger boat powered by a larger outboard will be required. Will you use it primarily as a one or two person craft, for personal needs only? If so, then you should purchase a smaller craft, which will help increase speed and performance, without the need for an enormous outboard.

Polymer - Perfectly air-tight and durable, this type of material is made from a polyester or nylon core with an outside PVC coating. It is by far the most popular material for inflatable boats. It’s light, puncture resistance and has the ability to be high frequency welded (Thermo-Bonded) for exceptional air retention.

Advantages:
Economical to produce
Easy to repair
Can be inflated to a high pressure for good rigidity
Durable and long lasting
High resistance to punctures

Disadvantage:
Offers moderate UV protection

Hypalon - Based on a rubber compound and made principally the same way as polymer, it is generally used by the military or in a commercial application. Not as popular as Polymer in the recreational market due to its weight and high cost.

Advantages:
Can be inflated to a high pressure for excellent rigidity
Extremely durable and long lasting
Very high resistance to punctures
Offers exceptional UV protection

Disadvantages:
Expensive to produce
Prone to wicking and loss of pressure
Repairs can be more difficult
Heavy
Can not be welded

You may be surprised with competitor's claims, all of whom will promise they have the best or longest warranty. There was even a lifetime warranty offered some years ago by an inflatable boat company that soon enough disappeared. A lot of manufacturers use attractive warranties as a substitute for quality or proper boat design, or simply to shore up a lack of product features. You should also be sure in your own mind that the company will be around long enough to deliver. Waves Overseas have been in business for nearly 50 years and offer comprehensive warranties on all their products.

The reputation of the dealer is vitally important. Whether its parts, repairs or just technical support and friendly customer service, a good dealer can be a close Allie. In particular, as a new boat owner and perhaps someone who is new to inflatable boats, you may have questions, need to claim warranty, or just need to service your boat. Any way you look at it, a good dealer is critical.

First, what type of paddling are you going to do? Where are you going to paddle and for how long? Kayaks are specific to use and come in few basic types. Whitewater Kayaks for fast moving rivers, Touring and Recreation Kayaks for sheltered water, and Sea Kayaks for open ocean paddling. What style kayak, Sit-in or Sit-on-top? Your choice will depend upon the type of paddling you intend to do and your own personal preference.
Sit-on-top kayaks generally are very popular with paddlers who want a very stable paddling platform, who like to play in the surf and on flat water and have not progressed to having a fool proof Eskimo roll. Almost all sit-on-top style kayaks are self bailing, no need to worry about swamping the boat along way from shore! Sit-on-top style kayaks are a great all-rounder.
Sit-in style kayaks generally have a more efficient hull design, allow for greater gear storage, are dryer and allow for an extended paddling season for most paddlers. A properly fitted cockpit will allow the paddler to very effectively use his or her body to control the boat. A properly fitted white water, sea, or touring kayak should become an extension of the paddler's body. Some would say you wear the boat rather than sit in it.
Whitewater Kayaks have no keel and don't track in a straight line. This makes them very maneuverable and agile. The cockpit is tight and designed to keep you in the boat even in rough conditions. These boats are usually short, less than 3m.
Recreational Kayaks attempt to combine tracking and turning in a smaller hull that will appeal to beginner or low intensity paddlers. These kayaks usually have high initial stability and large cockpits. These boats are perfect for flat water, lakes, gentle rivers and creeks but usually not whitewater. Many serve as excellent platforms for fishing, hunting, or photography.
Touring Kayaks have a well defined keel for tracking, have fair initial stable and high secondary stability, turning is enhanced by "edging" to one side. These boats generally have a large cockpit area for comfort on long paddling excursions. Most will have bulkheads and large access hatches which allow for safe dry storage. These boats are perfect for flat water, lakes, gentle to moderate inlets, bays and wide rivers. Some are fitted with rudders and some even have for provisions for a sail. They are well suited to the more serious weekend paddler
Sea Kayaks are designed for open ocean paddling. They are usually low in the water to reduce effects of cross winds and measure 4.8m or more. Most have smaller cockpit openings, many will have bulkheads and smaller access hatches. Rudders are generally a standard feature to help compensate for the effects of a wave or a cross wind. They normally have other features such as extra comfortable seating, deck lines and compass housings

An important consideration when purchasing any boat is the level of stability you require. Stability is defined in two ways. Initial Stability and final stability, final stability is the sensation of left to right movement that a boat has while at rest. This will influence the ease with which one can enter or exit the boat. This will also determine how comfortable the boat will be in low motion activities, such as fishing. Final or secondary stability is the sensation of left to right movement a boat will exhibit when the boat is underway. Generally speaking, a boat with high initial stability will not be as stable in rough conditions as a boat with low initial stability. Conversely, a boat that feels “tippy” while sitting still will feel more stable while being paddled and will increase in seaworthiness as conditions build.

The length of the boat is important for several reasons. The longer the boat, the faster and more efficient it will be in the water. The volume of the boat is important depending on how much gear you are going to carry, and how big you are.

All of us have to get the boat to and from the water, on and off the top of the car, at these moments weight becomes significant. There is no easy way around it; you will just have to work out the best technique for you. Thankfully, constant advances in design and materials seem to result in lighter boats each year. Kayak carts are very handy to help you move your boat around.

The choices are plastic, fiberglass, inflatable and fabric with frame.
Plastic is the heavier of all the popular materials, but by far the most resistant to damage. Polyethylene is the most common plastic used. It can be recycled from post consumer and industrial scrap and is easily recycled again after its useful life. Polyethylene requires welding or use of mechanical fasteners to repair a leak. Fiberglass is lighter, but is two to three times the cost of Polyethylene. Almost all of the major manufactures use Polyethylene as the material of choice in there recreational and touring boats.
Fiberglass is more rigid than plastic, but can crack on impact. Fiberglass can not be recycled. Exotic materials like Kevlar or Carbon-fiber are lighter still, but are even more costly. Wood boats are rare. They are attractive, but are sophisticated and labour intensive to produce
Fabric over a folding metal frame offers a light portable option. The metal frame boats are good for hiking because they can be collapsed into a small carry bag. On average these boats are generally more expensive to buy than any other kind.
Inflatable boats are another option for a more portable and storable kayak. These boats are well suited to still, whitewater or surf conditions, however most will not track as well as a hard shell kayak. Prices range from very inexpensive to very expensive. As with anything the quality and performance generally follow the price curve

This is one of kayaking's great debates. Most touring kayaks don’t need a rudder or a skeg. For bigger sea kayaks (over 4.8m), a rudder is useful to go straight in a cross wind. Some people like to use a rudder to steer, but that is easily accomplished with your paddle. If you must have a rudder, look for a design that is durable and easily stowed. An alternative to a rudder is a retractable skeg. It will not steer as a rudder, but will help you trim the boat to be more controllable in varying conditions. Remember that any mechanical system such as a rudder can be damaged and is no substitute for learning effective boat control.

A common mistake of many new paddlers is to under rate the importance of their paddle. Your body is the engine; your paddle is the transmission, your very connection with the water. The best car in the world is useless without a good transmission. Your paddling enjoyment and ability is closely related to the quality of your paddle. Although high price is not always a guarantee of high quality, low price is a usually a good indicator of low quality. Besides your PFD, your paddle is the most important piece of paddling gear that you will buy. Get the best paddle you can afford!
Set aside a reasonable amount of your paddling budget for a good paddle, you won’t regret it. Enjoyable paddling begins with proper paddling technique and good equipment. A light paddle will allow you to maintain your technique resulting in less effort and better boat control.
Paddle shape and length will vary with the type of paddling you do, the boat you paddle, and your paddling style. A recreational paddler with a wide boat and very relaxed paddling style will typically use a blade with a moderate surface area and slightly longer length, about 2.2m. The touring or sea kayak paddler will typically use a narrow blade. A white water or surf paddler will use a very large blade and short shaft, allowing for better grip on aerated water and quicker acceleration.

You need, at minimum, a paddle and a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Please give some thought to how you will remove unwanted water from your kayak, consider having a pump and sponge with you. It is highly recommended that you learn the skills required to safely handle your boat before you go out on the water. There are several good videos and books that we recommend.