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Inflatable boats are a huge hit among these days among avid boating fans. These so-called rubber ducks are lightweight and foldable, making them very different from traditional hard shells.

Aside from rafts, there are also kayaks and canoes that are either made of PVC or Hypalon which are most commonly used for recreation purposes. While hard-shelled boats seem to look more durable at the outset, there are actually more benefits to using inflatable boats. If you're thinking of buying a new boat or planning to change your current hard-shelled boat, here are the benefits of buying inflatable boats:

Portability ranks first on the list. These boats can be brought with you anywhere and everywhere you want to go. Trailers are not anymore needed since these are easily folded and can even be stored together with the rest of your stuff in a luggage bag for your out-of-the-country white water adventures. Highly flexible, these boats can be made small enough to be carried on your backpack for those nature trips where hiking/camping and kayaking are all integrated. This translates to lesser expenses since you don't have to spend extra fees at the airport or rent or buy a trailer on which to load your boat to.

They are also strong and very durable since they are made of high-quality PVC and Hypalon and have undergone the most stringent of tests before being released to the market. Because most inflatable boats are made of 1000 Denier reinforced material, they don't puncture or tear easily. In the event that these do tear while you're on water, your puncture kit can easily repair these holes. More extensive repairs, however, need to be done while the boat is on dry dock using a two-stage synthetic rubber coating process.

Another benefit of inflatable boats, especially for the avid boater on a budget, is they are more affordable compared to their hard-shelled counterparts. Where you need to spend tens of thousands of dollars for a raft made of solid wood, you only need to spend a couple of thousand for a good quality inflatable. Aside from the lower price of the boat itself, rubber ducks are also low-maintenance boats. All that is needed to keep an inflatable boat in top condition is to wash it with soap and water after each use, make sure that it is completely dry before folding it and storing it a place where it is safe from sharp or jagged objects.

Next, inflatables are also more stable, hence safer, compared to hard shells. Although a bit difficult to fathom, the two buoyancy tubes located on both sides of an inflatable make for a lower center of gravity lower for these types of boats.

As a result, inflatable rafts sit flat on the water and don't easily get turned over by regular waves. Inflatable boats are also so designed to bounce off rocks and other edges-hard shells can't really do this inasmuch as such situations can cause them to break or splinter easily

The final benefit of inflatables is that you don't have to worry about it getting stolen. Rubber ducks can simply be deflated after each use, folded and stored in your garage or even under your bed.