Top maintenance tips for caring for an inflatable boat

However, what if that seagull was also leaving a deposit on the inflatable boat used as a motor yacht’s tender?

Inflatable tenders tend to be one of the most abused bits of equipment on a motor yacht.

But just how long and well it serves you is entirely up to the way you treat it in between the trips ashore.

The most obvious way of caring for your inflatable tender is to cover it. Keeping it covered is important for a number of reasons.

First, seagull droppings are not good for inflatable boats. As it ages, seagull droppings turn into salt and ammonia, which in turn can etch into the inflatable boat’s surfaces.

It’s much better, then, to stump up for the annual cost of replacing a boat cover for an inflatable tender than having to take the risk of using a damaged boat.

But covering an inflatable tender has a secondary purpose, as it keeps out an inflatable boat’s other big natural enemy; dust and sand.

These abrasive materials can make their way into the rubber surface of an inflatable boat, causing wear and tear.

But dust, sand and seagull droppings pose an even greater risk to an inflatable boat’s longevity, in an entirely unexpected way – people tend to want to clean them with what’s on hand.

Cleaning an inflatable boat with harsh chemicals such as kitchen cleaners that contain carbolic acid can do more damage to the boat’s surface than good.

If the amount of dirt and poop is limited, a wash-down with a good inflatable boat cleaner will be all it needs, keeping in mind that in theory, the more you scrub away at the inflatable boat, the more it wears.

However, covering an inflatable boat comes with its own caveat. Poor air circulation and trapped moisture can encourage the growth of mould, which also encourages owners to get out those harsh chemicals that are not very kind to the inflatable’s surfaces to remove it.

If you regularly acid-wash the boat that the inflatable tender is attached to and use the tender to apply it, then don’t forget to wash the inflatable boat down at the end of the process to minimise the acid’s damage to the pontoons.

Speaking of acid washes, it’s important to cover an inflatable boat if you’re anywhere near places where acid rain is likely to fall, such as coal and iron ore loading facilities. Even dew will draw sediment out of the air and onto the inflatable’s surfaces, turning acidic dust into etching fluid.

Another key to extending the life of an inflatable tender is to keep it out of the water as much as possible. In the tropics, marine growth takes hold after just four days in the water.

Owners who leave their inflatable tender in the water for extended periods will then use one of the boat’s other worst enemies to clean it: a pressure washer. These high-force gurneys can do a heap of damage.

If you can, also limit the amount of sunscreen that makes its way onto the inflatable’s rubber surface, as getting it off is only bad for longevity.

The good way to extend the life of an inflatable tender is a good maintenance schedule using cleaners designed to be as kind to the inflatable boat’s surface as possible, and using post-cleaning products such as August Race - a product recommended by RIBForce Inflatables - that contain a protective wax to limit exposure.

Boatsales.com.au recently heard a whisper that the Gold Coast’s RIBForce Inflatables had an old boat tucked away in its loft that was somewhere around two decades old, yet still performing just as well as the day it was made.

The boat is also a seasoned traveller, having been used as an emergency replacement for owners needing an urgent, temporary replacement for their inflatable tenders, and has done at least 13 around-the-world trips.

We sprung it on RIBForce co-owner Neil Solomons to drag the old tender out of storage, pump it up and take it out on the water in a demonstration of just how well a cared-for inflatable boat can last.

As soon as the dust cover is pulled off it’s easy to tell this inflatable tender is an old one. Its grey surface is faded and slightly mottled with age, and some of the seams are a little frayed at the edges, giving it the look of a long-serving and well-loved piece of furniture.

Watch the video to see how well the old AB Inflatable tender performed.