I will admit I’m an inflatable boat junkie. I love inflatable boats. Why? Simple, inflatable boats are inexpensive, versatile, portable and usually easy to set up. In other words, the boats provide a multitude of uses, from fishing to recreational floating on a Montana river. How big of a junkie am I? I have three different inflatable boats, and only my budget and lack of storage space prevents me from having more.
The Sea Eagle 380 Explorer Kayak, an excellent all-around inflatable boat for fishing, paddling and river floating. See more Sea Eagle Explorer Kayaks.
Inflatable boats have come a long ways in their design, capabilities and function. In the bad old days, it was all too common to have an inflatable boat literally rip apart by the seams by summer’s end. And if the boat didn’t rip apart, a fingernail, lost hook, coke can top or anything else that was vaguely sharp would puncture the fabric, leading to annoying and sometimes costly repairs.
Well, those types of boats are still available. Wal-Mart still carries a big selection of junkie boats that will be lucky to survive a season on a pond, let alone a long voyage on a Montana river.
Thankfully, technology has struck the inflatable boat market. Today, there’s a large selection of high quality inflatable rafts, kayaks and canoes that can last decades—while still being remarkably affordable.
This section of Big Sky Fishing is all about inflatable boats and covers them in gory detail. My hope is that people looking for a boat, whether for fishing or simple recreational floating, will find this information helpful. This guide sorts through the confusing terminology, explains the different types of inflatable boats available, will help you select the right boat for your needs, explain why some boats are better than others for specific activities, and much more (perhaps too much more).
The Different Types of Inflatable Boats Available
There’s a multitude of different types of inflatable boats available today. These boats come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, sizes and prices. Because of this, boat shopping is often a confusing and sometimes frustrating experience.
For those who know little about inflatable boats – or don’t know what kind of boat best meets their needs – please read Help! How to Choose the Right Inflatable Boat.
To learn more about the different types of boats, click on any of the categories below.
Expedition quality inflatable kayaks top the list of my favorite inflatable boats. This type of kayak provides the most versatility of all inflatable boats. In short, while they may not “specialize” in one particular activity and thus lack a few activity specific features, these boats can “truly do it all” from hard core fishing, Class IV whitewater, to weeks long float trips through all types of weather and in almost all water conditions. If you can only own one boat and need to use the boat for a wide variety of activities, then this is the boat to get.
“Recreational Level” inflatable kayaks are ideal for individuals who simply need a great boat for multiple day to day uses. These boats aren’t meant to take trips of 100’s of miles. But they are ideal for playing around at the local lake and day float trips on rivers with whitewater rated to Class III. Recreational level kayaks are the most popular kayak and are also very affordable.
If running through rampaging whitewater is the primary reason for buying an inflatable boat, then an inflatable kayak designed specifically for Class V whitewater is what you want to get. These kayaks are super tough, maneuverable and can run the nastiest of whitewater.
Lake and flat water inflatable kayaks are, as the name suggests, kayaks optimized to make long paddles across lakes and other flatwaters quick and easy. These kayaks have a sleek design to cut down on water resistance. And their skeg keeps the boat traveling straight. These kayaks also work fine on rivers with rapids rated up to Class II.
Finally, at long last, inflatable canoes are available. Utilizing 100% drop-stitch construction, inflatable canoes are a perfect substitute for traditional hard-sided canoes. Inflatable canoes are perfect for people desire the form and function of a traditional canoe, but need an inflatable boat it is far more portable and much easier to store.
The quintessential fly fishing boat, the pontoon boat is the most popular choice for serious fly fishing. Lightweight, portable and extremely functional as a fishing platform, the pontoon boat has been taking anglers across lakes and down rivers for decades. While these boats are not for recreational floating, they are excellent fly fishing platforms.
Lightweight and truly portable, float tubes are decent fishing platforms for people who need portability above all else. Designed specifically for fishing, float tubes aren’t especially versatile. Moreover, weather and water conditions restrict their use to smaller lakes or sheltered bodies of water. Float tubes should never been used on rivers. Ever.
Inflatable rafts make superb fishing platforms, both on the lakes and in the rivers. This is doubly so if the raft has been enhanced with features anglers demand, such as comfy seats, rod holders, motor mounts and trolling motors.
Versatile and portable, recreational inflatable rafts are smaller than the huge rafts you see guided float parties using. Yet these rafts are mighty durable and fully capable of plowing through Class III whitewater. They are also very versatile, as motors can often be mounted on them – making travel across flat water a breeze.
Expedition level inflatable rafts are a frequent sight in Montana. These rafts, which are primarily used by fishing and river rafting guides, can run pounding whitewater, haul numerous passengers and all their gear, and take trips of 100’s of miles without missing a beat. Expensive and heavy, these rafts are far from portable but they are the “workhorse” of the inflatable rafting world. Smaller versions of these rafts work well for long floats for 1-2 people. Not designed for paddling across flat water, such as lakes.
SUP’s, also known as stand-up paddleboards, have come increasingly popular. While still somewhat rare in Montana, they are frequently seen in coastal areas since they can be used for surfing and wave riding, among other things. These are interesting boats and offer many diverse recreational uses…even floating through mild whitewater on a Montana river. They also pack down into a nice, tiny, easy to transport package.
Rarely seen in Montana, SUP’s (Stand Up Paddleboards) are common sights in warmer climates and in coastal areas. As such, it was inevitable that someone came up with the idea to convert a SUP into a dedicated fishing platform. Portable and lightweight, these SUP’s are interesting ways to fish. In Montana, stick with a raft or kayak or pontoon boat. But elsewhere…SUP’s might open up new fishing opportunities.
More Articles about Inflatable Boats
Help! How to Choose the Right Inflatable Boat – New to the world of inflatable boats? Then start here.
How to Choose the Right Inflatable Kayak for Your Needs – Know you want a kayak? Great! Now let’s get started on how to get one that best meets your specific needs.
Keeping Your Inflatable Boat Like New – Maintenance & Care Tips
Do You Need an Anchor? – Short answer, no. Long answer, read the article.
Expand Your Emergency Repair Kit for Long Trips – Sometimes bad stuff happens to even the best of boats.
Dressing Up Your Boat with Marine Rope – Marine rope + inflatable boat = floating and kayak organization heaven.
Sea Eagle Explorer Series Kayaks Compared – Breaking down the similarities, and differences, among these four excellent expedition level inflatable kayaks.
The Fishing Boat Guide – Where to start your search for a dedicated fishing boat (whether inflatable or not).
Why You Want a Paddle Leash – How to prevent your paddle from taking a float down the river.