With the introduction of inflatable boats, a lot of people have opted to buy them instead of the traditional boats we’ve been accustomed to. With their many advantages, it’s no surprise that more and more consumers are acknowledging these portable boats as good equipment for various water activities.
But how do you get an inflatable boat to the water? How do you transport it? What do you need? In general, there are two ways you can transport a soft inflatable boat (SIB): deflated and inflated.
Deflated transportation of your SIB is a hassle-free way to go. A deflated boat can fit in your SUV’s cargo hold or the back of your pickup truck. However, if you’re going with a pickup truck, it’s best to have a cover prepared. This will help protect your SIB from inclement weather conditions. If you don’t have one yet, there are many high-quality tonneau truck covers in Utah stores.
Transporting an inflated SIB, on the other hand, isn’t as hard as you may think. Because it’s lightweight, your car won’t have a hard time dragging a trailer with your boat on it. Some even opt to carry it on the roof of their cars.
Regardless of the method you choose, here are helpful tips.
Deflated Transport
Before loading up your boat, you have to make sure that it’s folded properly. To prevent it from unraveling along the way, you should also store it in its case. This usually comes with your boat upon purchase. You can also throw in dryer sheets and moisture absorbers in the storage bag, especially if you’ll have to travel for a many hours.
- Trunk Space – Because your SIB can be folded compactly inside a storage bag, you can easily fit it in your trunk. Your deflated SIB will most likely weigh 10 to 15 pounds. Nevertheless, the largest SIB can fit even in the trunk of a small car, more so at the back of a pickup truck.
- Hitch – There are instances, however, that your trunk space can’t accommodate even a folded SIB. After all, you may have your entire family’s luggage in the trunk. In this case, you can simply install a hitch. Think of it as an extension of your trunk.
Inflated Transport
Now, this is the tricky part. Inflated SIB is, ultimately, very light. However, it does consume a lot of space. So, an inflated boat will have to be transported the way you transport a traditional boat.
- Trailer – Trailers are good equipment for hauling your inflated SIB, especially if you have a small vehicle. Not only is it a good way to transport your inflatable boat, but also a nifty ramp that can be useful in launching it on water.
- Pickup Truck Bed – If you have a pickup truck, installing a bed will be useful in transporting an inflated SIB. You can use the inside of your SIB to hold your luggage as well. Just be mindful not to load it up with anything sharp.
- Car Roof Rack – If you don’t have a trailer or a pickup truck bed, you can opt for a simpler transporting method. You can just load up your inflated SIB on the roof of your car. Just make sure that your inflatable boat is securely attached. You wouldn’t want to have it fly off your roof.
One of the best properties of an inflatable boat is its portability. With a lot of methods to haul it, it’s understandable why a lot of people are choosing it over a traditional boat. But regardless of the transportation method you use, always make sure that your SIB is placed in an area away from tools and objects that can damage it.
