Inflatable Boat Maintenance

Inflatable boats require a minimum of maintenance to retain their good looks and life expectancy, however you can maximise their life with a few simple precautions. The biggest threats are generally from the sun’s UV, foreign contaminants, and excessive heat (excluding crocodiles and white pointers of course!)

So, some simple 'dos' and 'don'ts'

  • When you finish for the day, wash it down with fresh water and deal to any scuffs with “Jiff”
  • Keep the boat covered when not in use. If you are an average user at around 30 days per year you should get 5 to 10 years out of your investment so long as you don’t leave it lying in the sun the rest of the time. A quality sun-cover is a good investment and should be light grey coloured and breathable, so UV is blocked and mildew discouraged. A quality custom all-over cover will set you back $300 to $600, but even a $20 tarp from Bunnings is better than nothing. If you are cruising and covers are not a realistic option you can get form fitted covers for the upper pontoons for $500 to $1000.
  • Suntan creams and oils like coconut plasticise the fabric and make it go sticky, so get the girls to place a towel between them and the pontoons. Wipe off fuel spills immediately.
  • Use a water based “sunscreen for inflatables” like “Protectant 303” on a regular basis. This is a good option for someone using their inflatable for say two to three months at a time. It needs to be applied every 3 weeks or so.
  • A new concept is to have the boat sprayed with a UV protective clear varnish specially designed to protect vinyl signage from sun damage. Cost for a new boat ranges from $300 for a 2.5m to around $500 for 3.8m. Older boats need to be cleaned and prepared first so will cost a bit more depending on their state. The process enhances the appearance while it is claimed by the manufacturers to give up to 8 years continuous protection based on their experience with the flexi-sides of large trucks and existing inflatables done in 2003.
  • Heat encourages the plasticizer in the fabric to migrate to the surface where it can cause stickiness and even loss of adhesion of the seam bonds. So keep your boat as cool as possible (without freezing it) and well ventilated. Don’t stow it next to the main engine, or a water heater and don’t leave it on deck under a dark cover, especially in the tropics. If you are heading to the tropics for an extended period you may be better to consider a “Hypalon” fabric for your tender as this chlorinated rubber product copes better with heat and UV; it just costs a lot more.
  • If your boat is already discoloured or sticky or both, don’t despair it can generally be brought back to almost new condition with a bit of elbow grease, a pack of “Jiff” and a scrubbing brush and sponge. (see picture showing small area cleaned in about 30 sec)  For friendly, no pressure advice call Bruce or Lloyd at Aakron Marine Ph 0800 4 boats (0800 426 287)

How to Clean and Store Your Inflatable Boat