Those of us who work in the yachting industry have been involved in such discussions many times. What is better; What should I choose? Many times, friends will hear some nice words, inspired by friends' "wrong" choices. "Where are you going with your umbrella?" etc. But how can we draw conclusions? It is very difficult, it is impossible! Each type of boat has advantages and disadvantages. In this article we will try to compare as many objective criteria as possible...
These criteria are:
Purpose of Use
First, we should see what its main purpose is. For example, if we like to fish, it would be good to prefer a polyester boat, without the danger of hooks. In addition, we can easily adapt rod boxes, trolling or trolling motors and much more.
Purchase cost
Another key criterion is the price. In general, inflatable boats are more expensive than polyester boats, of course comparing equal measures in each category. The cost of the balloon raises the price of the craft as it is more difficult to build and obviously more expensive.
Spaces on board
Inflatable boats generally have less space than their polyester inflatable counterparts. Balloons steal spaces, especially in the width of the boat. The same applies to the storage space on each boat. In general, polyesters are more comfortable in terms of space.
Port or Parking
Another criterion is whether we want the boat to be in the water all the time or to put it in and out every time. Polyester boats are more durable if we want them to stay in the water, with a special anti-osmosis pre-treatment before throwing it into the sea.
Inflatable boats, on the other hand, can quickly break down if left in the water. Balloons are more sensitive to the weather, so we prefer to keep them in a boat park, trailer and covered.
Navigation
A big topic of discussion was and will be the sailing of each boat. The length and depth of the hull determine how good or bad the sailing will be. In an inflatable boat, it is easier to have a deeper hull because the stability of the boat is supported by balloons.
Therefore, in the polyester boat, the hull design should ensure the stability of the boat. This means that a high handrail should also be designed at the same time to prevent water ingress.
In recent years, the Greek public has been very fond of inflatable boats with long narrow and deep hulls, as they provide fast sailing without particular vibrations.
Security
Big advantage of inflatable boats. Consider that all vessels for the Coast Guard, Special Forces, rescue vessels, etc. they are inflatable. This is because inflatable boats have a low center of gravity, generally deep hulls, as well as air chambers that make them safer in adverse weather conditions.
The inflatable boat is ideal if you want to go around the Aegean, face the weather and be willing to put your boat in a slip every time.
You will prefer a polyester boat if you like the closest trips with family and friends, your budget is limited, you like spaces, you like fishing and water sports and you want to have it permanently on the water.
All of the above are always valid as generalities. If we looked at specific boats, we could find many that deviate from the above general rules. So in conclusion, we see that everything is so relative and there is no absolute best or worst. The choice is mainly about the use of the boat.
