Types of Inflatable Boat Fabric

A major component of an inflatable is obviously the fabric. Fabric technology has evolved greatly over the last 20 to 30 years, and now includes plastomers, polyurethanes and other fabrics, which can sometimes be stronger, lighter, thinner and less expensive to assemble than the original rubber fabrics. Of course it costs a great deal of money to develop new fabrics or even to switch manufacturing processes to use them. Many manufacturers, big and small, don't have the will or the resources to do this, and that's why they generally hide that fact by resorting to condemning new technological advances in fabrics.

Fabrics used for a small tender don't need to be the same as those for a large RIB, because the intended use is not the same. Some manufacturers do not have the means or know-how to employ different fabrics, so they just use one. In these cases the consumer, may end up paying too much or getting too little.

Most fabrics consist of a strong, close-weave mesh of polyester or nylon material which is sandwiched between 2 coatings to provide extreme flexibility, superior air and water tightness, as well as resistance to abrasion and the sun's UV rays.
 

Fabric Differences in Inflatable Boats

The basic difference between boat manufacturer's fabrics is the chemical composition of the materials used.

In supported fabric boats (those with threads in the material), the fabric strength is measured by the weight of the thread used. Denier or Decitex(metric) is the unit of measure, not a type of fabric.

1000 Denier = 1100 Decitex

The type of thread varies from Dacron to Nylon as does the tightness of the weave. Many heavy duty backpacks are listed at being made of 1000 denier thread. Most foul weather gear is 220 or 440 denier. Zodiac and Excedo boats are made of 1000 denier and up fabric (the HD's are as high as 1800). Some other companies vary the weight of the fabric with the weight of the boat. Some "light" duty boats are 200 denier.

The tightness of the weave is another measure. You may have a 9x9 weave (threads/square centimeter) or a 3x3. The weight of the thread is important when considering weave density. You can put many pieces of thread in a square centimeter, but a 2x2 weave of 1/8" line will
be stronger. Density must make sense with fabric weight.

The coatings and the process of applying the coatings separate the products as well.  Using long-chain plastomers ("polymers"), many compounds are formed. Nylon and Polyester are 2 examples. The alternative is to use natural rubber compounds. These are commonly Hypalon and Neoprene in the boating industry.

Synthetic materials allow compounds to be formulated for the specific application. The external coating can be designed for UV and abrasion resistance, while the inner coating can be focused on air integrity. With natural compounds, this becomes more difficult.

Natural fabrics have to be glued to assemble the boat. Zodiac uses a thermo-bonding technique, similar to electronic welding.

From a reality point of view, both are excellent materials. Each has its weaknesses. The most noticeable difference is that the natural rubber compounds will chalk in the sun. This means you' might get a red butt when going ashore in your dress whites.

Neither fabric should be treated with a petroleum or silicone based product. An example of such a product would be ArmorAll®. The product won't hurt the fabric, but it will prevent glue from adhering to the it. You boat will begin to come apart at the seams. There is very little that can be done once this happens. Repairs are difficult at best.

For all inflatables, we highly recommend 303 Protectant, available at automotive stores and the mass merchandisers. It is a water based polymer that inhibits the destructive forces of Ultra Violet rays and it seals the boat against the penetration of dirt. We found that 303 made our boats easier to clean at boat shows and in the display room. 303 can be used on fiberglass, plastic, dash boards, tires, etc. A major benefit is that is does not trap the UV rays inside the coating. This prevents heat build-up, which can be a problem with some other silicone based products. See the link below to order 303.
 

Heavy Duty Fabrics
Some inflatable boats are still made from a rubber-based fabric called Hypalon. While this is still a very good material, its major downfall is that it can only be joined by gluing, done manually. Problems including poor bonds, delamination of seams or fabric can still affect these glued fabrics. Today, many inflatables are manufactured from polyurethane fabrics, although larger inflatables (particularly RIBs used for rescue or military purposes) use hypalon because thicker hypalon fabrics are still considered to be stronger and more durable than polyurethane. There are some hypalon fabrics that are "2-ply" or a double unit made up of hypalon/weave/hypalon/weave/hypalon and are used for extreme situations including bumper padding, bow skirts, anti-chafe patches and similar applications.

        Excedo Boats Canada.....our Boats are inflated..... not our prices