Are inflatable boats safe for 200 pound people like myself?

Question

I am seriously dying to buy one and I wonder if it will hold? I am afraid that it will sink once we get into the open water since it is literally just a ballon. Yet we can't transport canoes, so these boats are our only option.

Answer 1

You are a lightweight by N. American standards.

Answer 2

Peter G is on the right track.....high quality is the answer....there are "pool toy" boats at hunting camping stores made of a lightweight PVC material that looks and feels and is chintzy that you wouldn't get me in at the point of a gun.....

now REAL inflatable boats........and Avon and Achilles are the top of the list.....have a data plate on them that says how much they can carry.....I will put my 200 pound body, 100 ish pound girlfriend, dog, outboard motor and a bunch of stuff in a 10 foot AVON with an inflatable floor and not think twice about it for an open water trip.....

if you are carrying this thing in a car to somewhere, you have three choices for floorboards....plywood, fiberglass slats and inflatable....the inflatable doesn't carry the same payload but is 900% eeasier to deal with.

Answer 3

A vinyl inflatable is about as safe as those little floaties that kids wear on their arms ... A proper inflatable like a Zodiac or Caribe or others are very safe and difficult to puncture. I have fished up to 40 miles offshore for tuna in a 26' inflatable and it was quite safe. There are many inflatables in use by military, law enforcement and other civic agencies. I have a smaller 2.8 meter inflatable that we use for our tender and it is difficult to puncture. A little care with your hooks, knives and other sharp stuff and you will be fine. Your repair kit - don't leave shore without it !!

Answer 4

200lbs is childs play for a high quality inflatable like an Avon or Achilles. I once had 6 people in the lowest end Achilles who I took from the dinghy dock to my boat in Catalina with no problem. They are multi chamber boats and hard to damage.

Answer 5

inflatable boats have a max weight capacity tag on them. Just make sure you don't overload it.

Answer 6

HAH i dont think it will those things should hold up to at least 400 pounds