Advantages of Inflatable Canoes Over Traditional Models

Ruggedness and Comfort in a Small Package

Are you an avid outdoorsman that has always wanted to buy a canoe but do not enough storage space for one? An inflatable canoe may be an option that you may want to consider to fulfill your boating needs. These canoes when purchased come in backpack form and weigh approximately thirty pounds. This convenient pack also allows you to store your inflatable canoe in a garage or closet. You can also easily transport the canoe as the pack fits into the backseat or trunk of the smallest cars.

While inflatable canoes vary from models that seat one passenger to larger models that seat up to four, there still may not be enough room for everyone in your group. Because of the small amount of car space needed to transport these canoes, you can bring several of these inflatable craft in one vehicle in order to accommodate larger groups of outdoor enthusiasts, something that would be impossible with traditional canoes.

Another advantage that an inflatable canoe has over its aluminum or wooden counterparts is your ability to carry it for long distances. You can backpack these canoes to any isolated waterway that you would like, even those that are a great distance from the road. Once the canoes are inflated, they are still lightweight enough to be carried by one person. Because most of these models can be lifted above your head, you can put your canoe in the water anywhere instead of having to search for a clearing along the shore. This can be a bonus if you want to boat in a rocky area or an area that has thick foliage along the shoreline.

The weight of these inflatable canoes also enables you to enjoy nature as you travel downriver. You can stop off along your trip anywhere that you would like to so that you can observe wild life that you may not normally be able to see. You can just pull into shallow water and pick your canoe up and carry it as far as necessary to find a clearing to set it down.

Inflatable canoes can collide with rocks and other obstacles as you travel down a waterway, especially in white water, without receiving any major damage. Aluminum or wooden canoes can sustain quite a bit of damage under these same conditions. The durability of these inflatable canoes is due to the fact that they are more buoyant and flexible. They are also designed with separate air chambers, so if one chamber does develop a leak or a tear, the craft will remain afloat. The traditional canoes will take on water as soon as a hole appears in the bottom and results in you having to return to shore immediately.

Repairing an inflatable canoe is much easier also. You can usually just place a patch over the hole or leak with an inexpensive inflatable boat repair kit and be back on the water within a few hours.

So if you want to enjoy owning a canoe without the headaches of storage, transporting, and maintenance that accompanies having a traditional model, an inflatable canoe may be just what you are looking for.

See Also: Inflatable Rafts Offer Multiple Advantages over Traditional Boats

About The Author:
Cara Kelley is a successful author and regular contributor to best-inflatable-boats.com.