Types Of Fabric Used in the Construction of Inflatable Boats
There are two main types of fabric used in the manufacture of inflatable boats. There is PVC and Hypalon. . Both PVC and Hypalon are used as a coating on fabric made of either polyester or nylon.
Hypalon is a type of synthetic rubber used to coat the outside of the fabric, often coated in the inside with neoprene.
PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride is a type of plastic which is used to coat both sides of the fabric.
Fabric is measure in denier or decitex. This is the weight of the fabric used. 1000 denier = 1100 decitex.
To give you an idea, an average sports bag is about 1100 denier, so imagine that fabric with 1.5mm of Hypalon or PVC on either side, the result is a very durable and resistant fabric.
How to tell which material your boat is
There are three ways to tell the difference of materials on inflatable boats. You can remove a valve and see if you can determine the colour of the inside fabric. Hypalon will be dark grey or black on the inside, where PVC will be the same colour on both sides.
You can sand the material. Hypalon when sanded will produce dust, where PVC will just scratch or melt. Or you can wipe the tube with MEK (Methyl-Ethyl Ketone) on a rag. PVC will become slightly sticky or tacky, where Hypalon will not but may discolour for a second until vapours evaporate.
Pro’s and Con’s of Hypalon V’s PVC
Hypalon pro’s:
- Durable
- UV resistant
- Resistant to fuel and oil, etc
- Flexible
- Abrasion resistant
- Holds its resale value
- Easy to repair
- Longer life
Hypalon con’s
- More expensive
- Can’t be heat welded, it must be glued
Life expectancy of a Hypalon boat is 15-20 years when maintained and cared for.
PVC Pro’s
- Cheaper material
- Seams can be heat welded, and when done properly this is stronger and lasts longer than glue
- Less labour required
PVC con’s
- Gets damaged by UV
- Lower resistance to abrasion
- Lower resistance to fuel and oil damage
- Doesn’t hold resale value
- Only the seams can be heat welded, all accessories must be glued on
- PVC glue can deteriorate rapidly when left in direct sunlight and/or high humidity
The life expectancy of a PVC boat when maintained and cared for properly is 7-10 years
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