Which is better: PVC boats or rubber? This question torments the minds of even avid fishing enthusiasts. Indeed, the choice in favor of some option is not so simple. Today we will consider all the features of each of the options, weigh all the pros and cons.
Which boats are better: PVC or rubber?
So do not immediately say. This is a very difficult question. There are fans of PVC boats, there are those who are for rubber inflatable boats. This is an eternal dispute between two fisherman camps. Both options are quite common, and both options in a wide range can be found in specialized stores.
The first thing that comes to mind is to compare their practicality. Compactness is about inflatable, rubber boats. PVC is cumbersome. PVC is a material that, with the same volume of boats, will form more voluminously. In this aspect, the victory for the "rubber".
The next moment is storage. In this case, the answer to the question regarding which boats are better: PVC or rubber, the victory will be for the option of PVC. Since a rubber boat cannot, for example, be stored folded all winter, it must be hung out and other manipulations made with it. The PVC boat is stored without any problems, you do not need to shift it or perform any other tricky gestures with it.
But to find the truth, you need to more specifically consider each type of boat.
PVC fabric properties
Material for PVC boats is taken special. Unlike rubber materials, PVC fabric is much lighter, and at the same time it does not decay, and also does not absorb moisture. In addition, the material is not afraid of frost and is not exposed to fungi and other microorganisms. Compared to rubber boats, PVC fishing is more practical. Due to the fact that PVC can be operated in a wider temperature range, this is undoubtedly a plus.
There is another point when rubber boats lose: PVC under the motor is ideal, because this material is not afraid of an aggressive environment (gasoline, engine oil, etc.). Also, PVC materials are not afraid of ultraviolet radiation. Those who have a rubber boat know that under the rays of the sun, rubber cracks.
But there are times when a PVC boat loses. This is the price and repair. A rubber boat is easier to repair. The price of rubber boats is always much lower, although in recent years there have been options made of PVC, which cost almost the same as an analogue of rubber. These are the simplest models.
Also, do not forget that if you are a smoker, then any cigarette butt can make a big hole in your boat from PVC, in the case of rubber the trouble will not happen so quickly.
PVC boats are made of special reinforced fabric, which has several layers. The layers are woven together with special fibers, and the outer layer is coated with a special deposition of polyvinyl chloride.
Features of rubber boats
Continuing to search for the truth in the question regarding which inflatable boat is better: rubber or PVC, it will be correct to talk about the properties of classic "rubber bands". An important point of such boats is the base, which is subsequently rubberized.
Rubber is just a shell that protects from water and makes the product airtight. The whole strength of the boat depends only on the base.
Over the years, the fabric rots and the rubber cracks. The life of such a boat is within ten years, sometimes such boats serve longer, but each trip on them may be the last for this “ship”. Also, when you operate the “gum”, you always need to control the pressure in the cylinders. If there is heat on the street, then the pumped cylinders may burst, this is a real fact, such cases are recorded. This is often seen on boats that have already served ten or more years.
The basis of a rubber boat is a multilayer fabric (cotton or synthetics). The base is coated on both sides with rubber. Two or more layers of rubber combined with neoprene are made on each side. If you operate such a boat at sea, then very quickly there will be a detachment of the rubber layer from the cord. It is worth saying that in freshwater reservoirs such problems are also possible, albeit less frequently. After using such a boat, you need to dry it well, from time to time to shift and remove the detected moisture in order to avoid the formation of mold and destruction of the entire product.
Ideally, rubber boats should be stored at home (at room temperature), it is also not always convenient, especially if the apartment is not too spacious.
Boat dynamics
Which boats are better: PVC or rubber? There is no answer, because the dynamics of your boat depends solely on the shape of its bottom, but not on the material of execution. The fastest boats have an inflatable bottom (floorboards), they almost do not experience water resistance when moving. Sometimes the bottom is made of aluminum or carbon. These options are good too. All of these bottom varieties are better than the so-called sagging classic bottom.
Comfort
The most comfortable models are PVC boats with a rigid thick hull. They are much more comfortable than thin-walled PVC boats with rigid walls or rubber options. The price of boats corresponds to their level of comfort. There are very budget "gum", but there are very expensive PVC boats, but they are very comfortable in operation. The choice is yours.
The choice
Which boats are better: PVC or rubber? Which one to choose? The choice must be made, not only based on the material, but also other aspects must be taken into account. Consider also the size of the reservoir on which you will fish. Also important are the fishing conditions and the number of people in the boat.
Today, the market is extremely saturated with a wide variety of types of boats from this category. Make a choice based on your financial capabilities in the first place, and only then look for the answer to the question regarding which boats are better: PVC or rubber?
Selection recommendations
The first moment is a feature of the reservoir. For fishing in low water (a pond, reeds, bay, quiet rivulet, etc.), cheap unpretentious rowing models of boats made of rubber are suitable, you can consider domestic options.
For fishing in large waters (reservoirs, large stormy rivers, lakes, seas, etc.) it is better to give preference to PVC boats with a transom, that is, those boats on which you can install a motor.
For active extreme fishing, choose models that are durable and quality. The entire hull of your boat for such purposes should be tough. Ideal are boats with bulwarks. The number of cylinders also plays an important role. The more of them, the safer and safer to travel on a boat.
Also pay attention to the driving performance of your future boat and its stability on the water. But how to do it before the purchase? If only to test the boats of your other fishing friends. It is advisable to choose models with an inflatable or hard bottom, but they will always cost more than options with a conventional bottom.
Owner reviews
Fishermen leave positive feedback on both rubber and PVC boats. Regarding rubber products, they say that you need to carefully care for your boat, store it correctly, in which case it will serve faithfully for a very long time.
PVC boats are characterized as durable and reliable options, their only minus is the high price. Experienced owners recommend buying rubber (cheaper) boats for rare fishing trips, and for avid fishermen PVC options are suitable if you can afford them.