Being out on the water with your hair flying free and the saltwater encrusted on your face is always a recipe for a good time. That's why so many of us are looking to the British seas, rivers and waterways for a much-needed escape while getting back to nature – and inflatable boats are an easy and affordable way to get there.
With brands like Intex and Bestway putting safety and function first on their inflatable boat designs, you can rest easy and set sail in confidence whether you're a family of four or going solo. Amazon, Decathlon, Argos and eBay are stocking quality rafts, dinghies with motors and everything in between, so we've sourced the pick of the litter to suit an array of occasions.
Quick List - Top Inflatable Boats
Intex
An Immense All-Rounder That Comfortably Seats Five
Bestway
The Best Inflatable Boat for Fishing With a 10 Horse Power Motor
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Within this category of inflatable rafts and boats you'll find a wide selection of styles, but at the core of them all is one defining factor: they're 100% inflatable, so the floor, seats and sides will all need to be inflated.
They'll typically comprise of between one and four different air chambers with separate valves. A higher amount of chambers will normally equate to a sturdier boat, with most designs going for three. Another cool addition to the larger rafts is their ability to be mounted with a motor, making exploring all day a lot easier.
These inflatable rafts are the perfect addition to any time where being on, around or in water is the order of the day. They conveniently pack down into a nice and neat size to be stuffed into the accompanying carry bag, and coming in a few different sizes, there are rafts to suit the littlest of kids and the laidback lounging lizards of old.
Also commonly referred to as tenders, this style suits the more serious inflatable boaters. Their main advantage over most inflatable rafts is their ability to have a motor fitted to them, which allows for a wider range of water activities.
While most are only suited to 5 horsepower motors and under, this is still a huge win for people wanting to cover some distance in their inflatable. They're the perfect partners in fishing crime, while also suiting people wanting to explore their local waterways with a more sturdy craft.
Their design will typically feature a slated aluminium floor to allow for a smoother, faster glide across the water. The solid floor also has an inflatable U-shape wrapped around it, with space at the back to fit a motor mount and a motor onto. Think Baywatch and Hasselhoff-type boats, only not quite as robust.
If you enjoy other types of water sports, try our Best Stand Up Paddle Boards!
Every inflatable boat worth its weight in water should have a maximum weight accompanying it. This number in kilos will indicate the total amount of weight the boat can handle before its safety starts becoming questionable, and sinking to the depths of the trident is a real possibility.
Inflatable dinghies typically have a higher maximum weight than rafts. You will find most designs recommending around 250 kg, though the most robust dinghies can be comfortable with almost 500 kg. Their high weight load is a result of an increased buoyancy through a solid floor and a higher grade PVC inflatable construction.
Inflatable rafts, meanwhile, come in a wider range of sizes, heavily influencing their potential for weight-bearing. Put simply, with the smallest inflatable rafts handling 100 kg and the largest capable of a staggering 445 kg, it certainly pays to check.
There's no standard to an inflatable boat's recommended maximum persons, which is why it's even more important to make sure you understand who and what the boat is built for. Three consequential factors for every boat are size, weight capacity and number of seats.
As inflatable rafts have the greatest scope for difference, you'll find the cheapest and smallest options can suit one adult or two kids while the largest can seat an astonishing five adults. This doesn't always cross-correlate with the number of seats the raft has, though the fact that it's inflatable means there are worst places to sit than the floor.
Inflatable dinghies can also play host for up to five people at a time. Their designs benefit from an aluminium seat that can be fastened onto each side, enabling two people to sit comfortably side by side. The rest of the occupants can sit around the perimeter, soaking in all the sights and sprays that the sea or river has to offer.
For solo excursions, try our Best Kayaks for Beginners!
Pumps and Oars
Rod Holders
Seats
If you're looking to try something new, check out our Best Surfboards for Beginners!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Intex Excursion 5 Inflatable Boat Set With Aluminium Oars and Pump | ![]() | An Immense All-Rounder That Comfortably Seats Five | |
2 | Bestway Caspian PRO Hydro-Force inflatable boat | ![]() | The Best Inflatable Boat for Fishing With a 10 Horse Power Motor | |
3 | Intex Seahawk 3 Inflatable Boat Set | ![]() | A Deluxe Inflatable With a Motor Mount Included | |
4 | Intex Explorer Pro Inflatable Boat | ![]() | The Perfect Raft for Two Kids to Explore the Day Away | |
5 | Bestway Hydro-Force Treck Inflatable Raft | ![]() | Spacious and Fully Kitted for a Family Day Out | |
6 | Plastimo Horizon 230 S Inflatable Tender | ![]() | A Small, Easily Packed Option You Can Equip With a Motor | |
7 | Argos Hy-Pro 2-Person Dinghy | ![]() | A Bright Yellow Dingy to Spot the Kids From a Mile Away | |
8 | Bestway Hydro-Force Kondor Raft | ![]() | A Cheap and Cheerful Starter Raft – but You'll Have to Source Oars and a Pump |
The Excursion 5 from Intex is a marvel of inflatable boat design. With a weight capacity of 455 kg and a design intended for five adults, you can adorn the captain's hat and set sail across your local lake, river or seaway with four lucky friends or family members.
It also conveniently comes with two inflatable seats with super comfy backrests, which is market-leading seating that can't be found on any other inflatable online. Also in tow are two oars and a high output hand pump, plus it's compatible for a motor should you want to fit one. Need we say more?
This high-grade inflatable dinghy from Hydro Force is a force to be reckoned with. Capable of handling a 10 HP motor, you can bet this thing will zing along your local watering hole with you smiling ear to ear.
It's also an inflatable that can take a whole lot of weight and keep on moving, thanks to its generous weight capacity of 480 kg. Recommended for three adults, this is the perfect stallion to get you and your mates up into the secret fishing spots that no one else can get to. It comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect, making for an impressive all-in deal indeed.
If you're starting to see a running trend of Intex inflatables, then your eyes are not deceiving you. We didn't want to be biased, but we also couldn't ignore Intex's emphasis on quality deals for less.
This is their Seahawk 3 model, which comes fully equipped with almost everything you'll need – inflatable seats, oars, a hand pump, fishing rod holders, a repair kit and even motor mount fittings. It also has a high weight capacity at 360 kg and can safely float three adults, making all of this inflatable goodness for just over £100 an astonishing bargain.
Intex are an insanely popular stronghold of all things inflatable, and this is their small, child-friendly Explorer model. Being the number one best-selling inflatable on Amazon, you can tell that children are the real winners in the inflatable world.
The Explorer is recommended for a maximum of two people with a weight capacity of 120 kg, making it super comfortable for two kids to spend hours exploring their local spot of water (adult supervision is always strongly advised, of course). Despite the cheap price, it also comes with two oars and a hand rather than a foot pump. Well done Intex!
Here's another inflatable raft that's fit for the purpose of two adults and one child. With a maximum capacity of 225 kg, you could even bring lunch and drinks on board while you paddle to somewhere off the beaten track for the day. Just don't hold us responsible when it's time to paddle back!
This is a large boat that has three air chambers for a more than adequate amount of buoyancy. It also comes with two oars, a foot pump and a repair kit, making for a solid all-inclusive option to hit the water paddling.
The Horizon from Plastimo is a small and light dinghy that can be easily packed up into the boot and taken wherever you need it to. It's a great starter set, coming not just with two oars but also a pump, a repair kit, a carry bag and an aluminium seat for two.
You can also fit a motor mount and 3.3 HP motor to the back of the dinghy, which will allow you to go further afield with a lot less effort. The weight capacity of 270 kg is on the lighter side for a dinghy, though this would still suit a fisherman or two quite nicely.
This bright yellow number is certainly not going to get lost in the inflatable crowd – perfect for family days out. It's another affordable option and comes equipped with two oars and a repair kit for when the inevitable happens and pop goes the boat. You will have to source your own pump, however.
Having four separate air chambers should allow you to get this boat nice and buoyant, too. It's worth noting that with a weight capacity of just 98 kg and a maximum of two people recommended you would have to assume that raft is intended just for kids, although this isn't stated.
The Hydro-Force Kondor is a small inflatable boat that is more geared toward children than adults. It is recommended for just one person, however, with an unknown weight capacity, you would assume it's not going to be the most floatable boat to pile into.
That being said, for under £20 it's a very cheap option for providing plenty of summer fun with minimal investment. Just be aware that it doesn't come with oars or a pump, so it may be one to avoid if you're looking for the full package.
After getting a patch of PVC or Hypalon to cover the damaged area make sure that you sand down the back of the patch to help it adhere properly. Next, you’ll need the appropriate glue for the material; apply several layers until tacky, then adhere to the boat - ensure to push out any air bubbles afterwards.
In general, inflatable boats are very durable when used and cared for properly. However, you will find that boats made from Hypalon will not deteriorate as fast as PVC - though PVC is stronger than it used to be. Nevertheless, you should get a good 5-10 years of use out of either type.
No. 1: Intex|Excursion 5 Inflatable Boat Set With Aluminium Oars and Pump
No. 2: Bestway|Caspian PRO Hydro-Force inflatable boat
No. 3: Intex|Seahawk 3 Inflatable Boat Set
No. 4: Intex|Explorer Pro Inflatable Boat
No. 5: Bestway|Hydro-Force Treck Inflatable Raft
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