Hi there, my name is Tom Fontana, welcome to my site.
PumpupBoats.com is a site I created to help people navigate the world of inflatable boats. You’ll find loads of useful how-to articles, reviews on various products, and lengthy guides on everything that involves inflatable watercraft.
What are my credentials for creating such a site?
Well, I’m NOT a boat salesman, that’s for sure :-) Ever since I was 3 years old, water has been a part of my life. I was diagnosed with scoliosis and was forced to swim every day while my body was in growth.
During this time, I fell in love with “water”, which has lasted till this day. I have tried and experienced everything that involves the water:
Boating is one of the most enjoyable water activities I have experienced. It gives you the freedom to reach exhilarating speeds, go to places only a few get to visit, snorkel in remote locations, and have fun with my family and friends.
Traditional boating is an expensive hobby that only the privileged get to enjoy.
Modern inflatable boats offer everybody the chance to get out onto the water. They are accessible, inexpensive compared to traditional boats, compact and easy to move from A to B.
Over the years, I have accumulated a lot of experience with inflatable boats. This is the knowledge that I will share with you on PumpedBoats.com.
Please do leave a comment on the articles or get in touch with me if you like, or read my articles below.
Michigan has an abundance of water, ranging from lakes, rivers with rapids of various difficulty, scenic water trails, and nature at its finest. You are never far from a paddling spot in Michigan. Choosing where to go might be overwhelming, so here is a list of the best places to kayak in Michigan.
12 Best places to kayak in Michigan Read More »
Traveling to Wisconsin for summer paddling is a great, active way to spend a vacation in nature. There is LOTS of water in the state: 43,000 miles of rivers 15,000 lakes 659 mile of Great Lakes shoreline You can find a complete list of water trails and paddling locations on travelwisconsin.com, but I wanted to give a teaser of what
11 Best Places to Kayak in Wisconsin Read More »
Kayaking is up there with baseball and family game night as one of America’s great pastime activities. Every summer, millions of kayakers head out to enjoy a quiet afternoon of undisturbed tranquility and soak in the wonders of America’s countryside majesty. But being so much fun, is kayaking good exercise as well? Let’s find out.
Is Kayaking Good Exercise? Let’s See the Truth Read More »
The bowline knot is a knot to turn the end of your line into a fixed size loop, or tie around a fixed object. It is a very useful nautical knot and has been termed “the most useful knot in the world”, with sailor references dating back over 500 years. You can use it not just during boating, but also
Bowline Knot – Steps, Uses, Tips Read More »
Inflatable kayaks have always been a portable, storage-friendly alternative to hardshell kayaks, but they were lacking in one department: handling and performance. Why? As you might know, the air bladders of traditional inflatable kayaks cause the boat to sit high on the water. Even though their performance is adequate for most paddlers, it is not on par with that of
Full Dropstitch Inflatable Kayaks (Perform Like Hardshells?) Read More »
Most boat owners would agree that launching boats into the water down the beach or down the boat ramp is not an easy task. Just imagine how grueling it is to haul the entire boat along with your extra gear (motor, cooler batteries, etc.) on your own. There is a great solution though: installing launch wheels on your SIB! Transom mounted launch
Why you need launch wheels for your inflatable dinghy Read More »
After buying an inflatable boat, you need to get it to the water of course. How you will transport your inflatable will depend mainly on the type and size of your boat, and your car. How hard is it to transport your inflatable boat to the water? People with traditional boats have it tough. They either need to rent a
5 ways to transport an inflatable boat Read More »
Despite what a lot of people think, inflatable kayaks are incredibly durable and safe. They are built to withstand tough conditions these days, thanks to modern materials and manufacturing processes. You can take them on rivers, lakes or even out to sea without fear of them popping and sinking. If you’ve never sat in one before, I think you will
Are inflatable kayaks safe or dangerous? Read More »
River tubing is an insane amount of fun. If you have ever done it, you can’t help but rave about it. It is the perfect activity for friends and family, or even just for a date night. If you want to go river tubing, you need to make sure that you go to the right river. The United States provides
15 Best Rivers to Go River Tubing in the USA Read More »
The Intex Excursion family of boats are definitely among the most popular boats on the market. The Excursion 5 is among the biggest boats you can find. I had a chance to use one on the lake a while back, and think the Excursion 5 makes an excellent vessel for large families that are trying to find a portable and
Intex Excursion 5 review – A day on the water Read More »
