Whether you’re spending a weekend at the family’s lakefront cottage or floating along the river with friends, you’ll need a quality boat. But the problem is, most people aren’t out boating every single weekend. We don’t have the time or space to store a large canoe or kayak in our small apartments. Not to mention our car in the driveway can’t fit a full size boat! We’re going to guide you through the process of purchasing a brand new inflatable boat, so let’s go through some things to consider when choosing the best one for you.

Best Inflatable Boats

	Intex Mariner 4 Person Inflatable Boat	Intex Excursion 5 Inflatable Boat	Bestway Hydro Force Caspian Pro Inflatable Boat
Passengers:	4 People	5 People	2 People
Capacity:	1100 lbs	1320 lbs	568.8 lbs
Includes:	Oars, hand pump, 3 seats	Oars, hand pump, 3 seats	Oars, hand pump
Boat Weight:	70 lbs	50 lbs	45 lbs
Trolling Motor Compatible:	Yes	Yes	Yes

For more of my boating gear recommendations, have a look through these popular Outside Pursuits guide links: Trolling Motors, Trolling Motor Batteries, Life Jackets.

Quick Answer: The Best Rated Inflatable Boats

1. Intex Mariner 4 Person Inflatable Boat
2. Intex Excursion 5 Inflatable Boat
3. Bestway Hydro Force Caspian Pro Inflatable Boat
4. AIRHEAD Angler Bay 6 Person Inflatable Boat
5. Bris Marine Inflatable Dinghy Tender Boat
6. Shark Inflatable Dinghy 9.8
7. Newport Vessels Dana Inflatable Sport Dinghy

Inflatable Boat Reviews

#1 Editor’s Choice – Intex Mariner 4 Person Inflatable Boat

For the super affordable price, it’s pretty hard to look past the Intex Mariner Inflatable Boat that has room for plenty of people, gear and mounted equipment. With a reduced footprint, the boat is able to hold more solidly in form and function. I love that Intex prominently features the reinforced rock and abrasion guard around the inflatable hull. This is an area of significantly increased durability where the boat is made to handle bumps, scrapes and scratches. Overall, this 4-person boat features two rod holders for fishing, two rotating oar locks, battery and gear pouches.

It’s outfitted and engineered to handle a small transom trolling motor, which mounts up to preinstalled holes on the exterior of the inflatable boat. Because of the lightweight nature of the boat and relatively short frame, it makes a great candidate for a small electric trolling motor. Equipped with plenty of accessories, this boat really does it all. If you’re looking for an all-in-one boat that can take you and your friends for a day on the water, this is our Editor’s Choice!

#2 Best Budget – Intex Excursion 5 Inflatable Boat

Intex makes the Excursion 5 ready out of the box to support a crew of up to 5 people. With enough space for tons of gear, beer and all the required daily goodies, there’s a lot to like about this boat. It comes with 4 fishing rod holders on each side of the boat. These are placed next to bench seating that faces inward for spending time together whether you’re landing fish or drifting on the lake. The Intex inflatable boat is made of three inflatable chambers which independently hold air. No need to worry about having your boat “pop” and sink to the bottom like the Titanic!

Of course with an inflatable boat, you’ll need a way to pump it up. That’s why there’s an included high-pressure manual operated pump. There are aftermarket electric pumps, but with the stock Intex pump you’ll be pumping it by hand. While there are motor mount fittings included with the boat, some users worry that this PVC boat isn’t quite sturdy enough to handle a motor. Having said that, the Excursion is easily one of the best inflatable boats suitable for a family of 4.

#3 Best for Fishing – Bestway Hydro Force Caspian Pro Inflatable Boat

This 7.5′ long inflatable boat is made to outperform most boats when it comes to load bearing, motor mounting and fish-catching fun! With a huge weight capacity of almost 600 pounds for 2 adults, it’s a beast of a boat. There are 3 separate air chambers for safety and a puncture-resistant 1100 diner PVC hull, so you’ll always feel safe out on the water. You can even hook up a two-stroke outboard, or battery trolling motor, however you’ll need the optional motor mount. Two oarlocks hold the included paddles in place and can be adjusted into three separate positions.

The boat weighs a modest 38 pounds and features a drop stitch floor that, when fully inflated, is amazingly rigid – similar to a boat with a plywood floor. Unlike most inflatable boats, the Hydro Force Caspian has two floor drain plugs, which is a great feature to have. The key feature of the Hydro Force Caspian is versatility – you can use it for river rafting, fishing or leisurely days on the water.

#4 Best 6-Person Inflatable Boat – AIRHEAD Angler Bay 6 Person Inflatable Boat

With a 6-person capacity, you’d think this inflatable boat would hulk like a behemoth. But in fact, nothing could be further from the truth! This olive and yellow boat is ready to handle fishing, paddling or floating with any number of people. I love that they included several rotating oar locks so that people in the middle or rear of the boat can paddle, too. There are plenty of drink holders sprinkled around the boat and 4 separate drain plugs to dry it out when you pull up the boat for the night.

I like that the movable seat can be adjusted around the boat. This helps get it in the right spot, so you can put a transom trolling motor in the back and paddle from the front set of oar locks. Of course, you’ll want to leave room for fishing tackle and space for the kids to cast their lines without hooking you on the back swing! So don’t pack the boat too full, just in case.

#5 Best for Mounting an Outboard – BRIS Inflatable Dinghy Boat

Unlike the Intex and Airhead boats we reviewed earlier, Bris Marine makes this boat in true dinghy fashion. The four air tub design is resilient, so there’s no need to worry about sinking or failure of the air baffles – there are four of them to back you up! By far the dinghy style with the hard-backed transom is ideal for mounting up a motor. With a max load of over 1200 pounds, you can safely mount up to 10 horsepower motors onto this dinghy. There’s no problem loading on a two-stroke outboard motor to zip across the lake.

With a full crash barrier and triple layered PVC, Bris Marine wants to make users feel safe when loading this boat up and heading out fishing. Unlike the other boats, this inflatable dinghy is more purpose-built. It belongs on the water with a small outboard motor and is the perfect boat for an angler. There’s no reason you can’t use it for transportation, though! Make no mistake, the Intex boats we reviewed above make better “party boats” for lazy days with lots of people. But, if you want a high-quality fishing boat that you can count on, the Bris Marine is a far superior choice to anything we’ve reviewed so far.

#6 Best Inflatable Dinghy – Shark Inflatable Dinghy 9.8

This Shark inflatable boat is made to handle smaller loads with a focus on the ability to handle higher output motors. This time we can plug in a motor up to 15 horsepower! With a 15 horse motor on this lightweight 70 pound boat, you’ll be flying out to your favorite fishing spot each morning. Like most dinghy-style inflatable boats, there’s minimal storage when compared to the raft style boats for 5-6 people (like the Intex boats above). However, you gain significant improvements in rigidity and capacity. With nearly 1,200 pounds of max load and welded 1100 denier PVC construction, this boat will hold up to just about anything.

I like the removable seat bag and cushion. It makes it easy to add a little extra storage for taking another person in the boat, or zipping across the lake for a dinner picnic. When there’s just one person in the boat, however, you can easily remove the seat and gain tons of storage space for tackle and gear. The seats on the boat are made from aluminum and lend to a much more traditional feel compared to inflatable rafts. I also like the solid aluminum floor and included oars with oarlocks. However, these heavier and more sturdy features make the boat harder to pack, so you mightn’t want to break down this boat every day.

#7 Customer’s Choice – Newport Vessels Dana Inflatable Sport Dinghy

Newport is bringing us the last boat on our list which is another addition to the dinghy class of boats. Like the Inflatable Sport Boats Shark 9.8, the Dana Dinghy is made from advanced, tough materials and supports tons of load, options and power. This Newport boat comes in quite a bit cheaper than the Inflatable Sport Boats Shark 9.8. For that cheaper price, you get the same sturdy 1100 denier construction, aluminum floor, decking and seats.

However, you lose the ability to handle some horsepower. This boat is rated for a maximum of 10 HP, versus the Shark 9.8 which can handle 15. If that sounds trivial, then perhaps the cheaper price and lower motor output is a good choice for you. But when you consider that 15 HP is 150% more power and speed than a 10 HP motor, you may want to splurge on a more expensive boat.

Inflatable Boat Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best Inflatable Boat

• What Type of Inflatable Boat is Right for You?
• How Often Will You Use Your Boat?
• Catarafts or Regular Inflatable Boats?
• Construction Materials
• Decking Material and Design
• Conclusion

Inflatable boats are a relatively new addition to the options available for those who want to get out on the water. Traditionally, only hard-bodied canoes and kayaks were easy to find and buy. Not to mention the best inflatable rafts have to be sturdy, resilient and puncture-proof. With newer and better inflatable boats on the market today, it’s easier to find a boat to fit your needs. If you’ve never considered purchasing a new inflatable boat, there are a few things to look out for!

What Type of Inflatable Boat is Right for You?

Just like hard bodied boats, inflatable boats come in many varieties. Whether you want a kayak, canoe, single or tandem, there’s an option out there for everyone. But how do you know where to start?

Canoe-type inflatable boats are generally a good choice for 1-2 people with some gear. A canoe can handle enough gear to comfortably go out on a fishing trip or multi-day canoe camping trip. These boats aren’t as small and agile as a kayak, but the greater storage space provides more flexibility for boaters to choose their favorite activity.

Kayak inflatables are the smallest and most nimble boat available. They’re lightweight and will very easily fit in any vehicle when packed down. The smallest and lightest inflatable kayaks can even be packed into a backpack!

Rafts and larger inflatable boats can handle up to half a dozen people or more. These boats are usually known as “party boats”. Unless, of course, you upgrade to a full-on river raft. Most inflatable rafts for recreational use feature additions such as coolers, cup holders and often mounted oars.

How Often Will You Use Your Boat?

For those who may use their inflatable boat only occasionally, skimping on quality might be fine. Spending a few extra bucks to get a durable, high quality boat for regular use, however, is critical. If you plan to use your inflatable boat regularly, consider increasing your budget to accommodate. Getting an extra inflatable kayak for when the kids visit the cottage doesn’t need to break the bank. Buying a boat for weekend fishing trips might be worth investing in the most durable and rugged boats available, which could rapidly increase in price.

Catarafts or Regular Inflatable Boats?

Catarafts deserve to be in a category of their own. While they’re technically inflatable boats, they don’t quite fit the same bill. Catarafts are made of two inflatable bodies joined by a network of aluminum tubing and webbing. Catarafts are generally more agile and responsive than their equivalent sized raft counterparts. They’re inherently self-bailing since they don’t feature a full floor on the bottom. Instead, the bottom of the raft is usually open and sits up off the water.

While some traditional rafts can handle a motor, catarafts generally have a superior load bearing performance. They can be easily balanced and loaded with supplies or heavy objects like an outboard motor. Catarafts make a superior choice of inflatable boat if you have enough room to transport them.

Construction Material

Inflatable boats are generally made of just two materials. Fortunately, it makes things easy to distinguish when choosing. If you’re on a tight budget and need to keep prices as low as possible, you may prefer PVC boats. PVC inflatable boats are constructed with a coated PVC fabric. These fabrics are durable and dependable, although they fail to maintain the excellent properties of the superior Hypalon fabrics. There’s nothing wrong with PVC, and it will work great for occasional use.

Hypalon, on the other hand, is an advanced synthetic material which can be used to improve the performance of inflatable boats. Boats made with hypalon are heavier, but are significantly more robust than those made with PVC. If you want to keep your boat assembled and docked for long periods at the cottage, Hypalon might be a better choice for you.

Trade offs include the increased price of hypalon versus the lower cost of PVC. Hypalon is heavier and thus harder to pack and transport, so PVC might be a better choice for packing into the back of the car. Hypalon will also withstand more wear and tear than PVC.

Decking Material and Design

Decking underfoot in inflatable boats is usually designed either as a high pressure inflatable floor, or as solid aluminum planks that snap into place. Aluminum planks offer the added benefits of being more sturdy and rigid. They will perform more closely to an aluminum flat bottom boat compared to inflatable bottoms. These interlocking aluminum ribs or tubes form a solid feeling bottom, which might make many users feel safer in general.

Inflatable bottoms are generally high-pressure tubes that provide structure and rigidity to the boat. These floors can be a little “squishy” underfoot and may feel slightly unsafe at first. Usually the bottom of these floors is protected by design from being easily punctured from underneath. Nonetheless, you should be careful not to beach on sharp objects with abrupt force! Inflatable bottom boats tend to be more forgiving and absorb more of the shock of waves. If having a gentle ride or being easy on the knees is important, consider using an inflatable bottom raft.

Storing Your Inflatable Boat

Making sure your boat lasts long enough to enjoy is probably important, right? After all, you invested a lot of money into your boat so it stands to reason that you’d want to take care of it. As we’ve mentioned, sunlight can be harmful to inflatable boats. On top of that, storing your boat in a cool and dry area is important, as you need some ventilation to allow air movement. This will help prevent mildew which can severely damage inflatable boats.

FAQs

What is the best inflatable boat to buy?

The best inflatable boat money can buy is our Editor’s Choice, the Mariner 4 Person Inflatable Boat from the well-known brand Intex.

Are inflatable boats in danger of sinking?

It is possible that your inflatable boat could be punctured. Most inflatable boats are made from multiple chambers of air, which prevent the entire boat from losing air if a puncture does happen. If your boat does have a problem like this, repairs are relatively easy. Since most inflatable boats come with their own repair kits, you’ll be able to get things working again in no time!

How long will an inflatable boat last? 

Taking good care of your inflatable boat could mean that it lasts between 5-10 years. As plastics of any kind are susceptible to UV degradation, to keep your boat in good condition you should remove it from direct sunlight when not in use. If you’re not using it for over 24 hours, pack it up and store it away. At the very least, you could buy one of those cheap blue tarps and throw it over the boat if you don’t want to deflate it.

How do you clean an inflatable boat? 

The easiest way to clean your inflatable boat is to use a damp cloth with some mild dish soap and wipe down any dirt or stains. Never use harsh chemicals like bleach, as these can quickly cause the rubber to decay and crack. Make sure all soap has been removed and allow it to fully air dry before folding it up and packing it away.

Can I transport an inflatable boat in my car?

Each of the boats we’ve recommended above vary in size and weight. On top of that, their packed size is also quite different. For compact cars, the best boats will be fully inflatable, like the Intex options on our list. These boats don’t have rigid components, so they can be folded down smaller.

Boats with rigid components, like catrafts and many inflatables, may not fit in smaller cars. These rigid seats, floorboards, and transom mounts likely won’t fold down in size. For that reason, they may or may not fit in smaller cars or SUVs. However, any of these boats will most certainly be transportable in your average truck.

Conclusion

Ultimately, boaters have three main choices in the world of inflatable boats. You could choose an inflatable raft style, such as the models from Intex, for more relaxed, group fun at an affordable price. Consider a cataraft style for the freedom to choose between lakes, rivers and other hard to navigate places when it’s just one person and their fishing gear. And for the heaviest loads and largest motors possible with an inflatable boat, you’ll likely want a dinghy style boat.

No matter which boat you choose, remember to start by considering how you’ll use it. Will you need to transport it daily, or once a year? How many people will be in the boat, and what types of activities might you want to do with it? Some of the boats on our list are great for more than one type of adventure, while others are best for fishing. Your choice will depend on your personal preferences and budget, and we hope that this buyer’s guide was helpful to make your decision that much easier!

Recent Updates

April 6, 2022: Verified availability of all products. Awards have been assigned to each recommendation, additional FAQs have been included to address popular queries.

How We Researched

To come up with the top inflatable boats, we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as REI, Dicks Sporting Goods, Cabelas and Backcountry along with our own personal experience. We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot.com to make sure we only looked at genuine reviews.

With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options for the price. The author, Casey Fiedler has been an avid kayaker and leads kayak camping trips during the warmer months in his native state of Michigan, so he has a broad range of experience with watercraft. To help narrow down the selection he used his personal experience along with recommendations from outdoor activity organizers. After extensive research, we came up with our list to help you choose the right one for you.