Camping with an Inflatable Raft

Reconnect With Your Family

Camping can be a satisfying and rewarding experience for the whole family. For some of you, it is a chance to reconnect with your spouse and children who may have forgotten who you are with all the hours that you have been spending at work. It is also a chance for you to get some well-deserved rest and recreation. To get the fullest out of your camping experience, you may want to consider bringing an inflatable raft along.

The main advantage of inflatable rafts is the ease with which you can store and transport them. These watercrafts fit easily into the trunk of a car yet have much more space for gear and supplies than an inflatable kayak or canoe. This feature is especially helpful if you want to float to your campsite. You will have plenty of room for tents, sleeping bags, and any other equipment that you may want to take along. Some models can hold up to 700 lbs. and there are various models that can carry quite a few passengers.

Inflatable rafts that are on the market today are not like the ones that were available in the past. Those models were made of cheap vinyl material and only lasted one or two seasons at the most. They were also not very durable, often developing leaks the first time they collided with rocks or other obstacles. Most modern inflatable rafts are made of a urethane PCV alloy, which causes them to sustain little or no collision damage. So you are able to take them out on the still waters of a pond or shoot the rapids in white water.

There are cheaper brands of inflatable rafts that are fine for use on a pond or lake, and these craft are usually rowed with oars and have soft floors. These are perfect for the kids who want to just play around the pond, but are not really durable enough to shoot the rapids or to take on long treks downriver.  These craft are not very ideal for fishing either.

If you wish to use an inflatable raft for a fishing trip, there are a number of more expensive inflatable rafts available that offer extra features that add to their stability and maneuverability. Some of these inflatable raft models offer large diameter tubes, low-profile and center of gravity, and a wide beam that makes these boats more stable in white water. Several models of these rafts offer holes in the floor that you can put your legs through. You can wear a pair of fins and steer the raft with your feet. This leaves your hands free to cast out and reel in to catch that next big fish. This feature also makes these rafts more maneuverable. You can do a full 360 degree turn by just standing up, lifting the raft, and spinning around. You are also able to go upstream if you wish to. It’s as simple as walking in whatever direction that you desire. These models can also be used with oars if you would rather row than use your legs. The choice is totally up to you.

If you had a more classic raft design in mind, there are models of inflatable craft that offer solid floors, even wooden ones for those who want that option Most of these models are powered by rowing with oars, although there are some brands that offer mounting for a small motor. These rafts are ideal for shooting the rapids where you may not want to dangle your legs among sharp rocks and other obstacles.

Whatever style of raft that you decide to purchase, you’ll be glad you did.  An inflatable raft can be one of the most gratifying and rewarding investments that you can make.

See Also: The Best Inflatable Rafts for You

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