Inflatable boats have been around in some form for a long time, but it was only after World War II that the general public really began to take notice.  By that time the designs and materials used in their construction had advanced to the point that inflatables could be built for a fraction of the cost of a conventional boat and used for an amazing variety of commercial and recreational purposes.

When Alain Bombard, a French naval officer, designed a boat-shaped (as opposed to round or square) inflatable with a rigid ‘deck’ and outboard motor, the former airplane manufacturer Zodiac built the boat. In the 1960’s the British company Humbar was the first to build these inflatables in the U.K, and the name Zodiac has become almost synonymous with inflatable boats.

The sides or collar of the inflatable are usually made of rubberized synthetic (PVC) and the floor or deck may be soft or made of wood, fibreglass, aluminium or plastic sheets not rigidly connected. 

The smaller boats often have a soft deck that can be rolled up along with the collar for easy storage.  Those with rigid flooring are usually` designed to be easily disassembled. The most popular is the RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat), with a hard fibreglass, aluminium or plastic hull.

In the last few decades, inflatable boats have come into widespread use in industry as well as commercial and private sectors.  Besides the military, which uses them as tenders and equipment or personnel carriers as well as lifeboats, inflatables are used in rescue operations from the Royal Navy Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). from the beaches where lifeguards employ them to reach distressed swimmers and boaters.  They serve as tenders and lifeboats on all manner of commercial ships and aircraft.

The use of inflatables for white-water rafting and kayaking, water skiing and fishing is increasing rapidly as these versatile boats are re-designed again and again for greater durability, speed and stability.  With its shallow draft and light weight, an inflatable can easily hydroplane, and some can reach speeds up to 60 mph.

Though the French Zodiac is still the leading manufacturer of inflatable boats, other companies such as Avon (now owned by Zodiac) in the U.K., Achilles in Japan, Sea Eagle in Italy and Demaree in the U.S. all produce their own line of top quality boats. 

These range in size from about six to more than forty feet in length, and most of them are designed with a rigid transom to accommodate an inboard or outboard motor.  All are very shallow draft, but some have an inflated keel for easier handling and turning, and to cut through waves with less bouncing.

The best inflatables are made with a coating of Hypalon (chlorosulfonated polyethylene), a material that is highly resistant to chemicals, temperature extremes and UV light.  The light weight, stability and ease of storage and transport are all major attractions of the inflatable. 

Then there is the safety factor, as inflatables can handle rough water that would overturn or sink another boat.  In fact they are designed so that each section of the inflatable collar has a separate valve to add or release air, making them almost unsinkable.