Oh Yeah! Inflatable Boats!

By Author: chineeadmin
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Oh Yeah! Inflatable Boats!

   Zodiac is a trade name for a make of inflatable boat, but often has become a generalized trade name used to mean any rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB).

Uses

    Inflatables are commonly between 2 and 7metres (6 to 21 feet) long and are propelled by outboard motors of 5 to 80 horsepower (4 to 60 kW). Due to their speed, portability and weight, inflatable boats are used as:-

rescue craft dive boats for scuba diving tenders for larger boats and ships in port and at sea luxury yacht tenders recreational water skiing for racing commercial or recreational fishing for military purposes, such as transporting soldiers from a vessel to shore Inflatables up to 6 meters in length can be towed on trailers on the road.

    These boats are often used by special-operations units of the armed forces of ...
... several nations, for such purposes as landing on beaches or submarines. They have also been used by special operations soldiers without government sponsorship, such as guerrillas, pirates, and terrorists.

Repairing 

    Should a section puncture it can be repaired while still underway. More extensive inflatable boat repairs - due to pinholes, punctures, peeling, leaks or worn fabric - can be done in dry dock using two-stage synthetic rubber coatings (SRC).

Subject to a great deal of wear and tear from the elements - both water and sun - inflatable boats are often replaced when they could be restored or even repaired. Products that aggressively adhere to the damaged Hypalon or PVC shell can fix virtually any surface damage through a unique chemical bonding between the undercoat and topcoat that permanently vulcanizes the two rubber coatings together to make the inflatable as good as new. However since the Hypalon material increases the cost of the inflatable up to 15% not all manufactures provide the option.