If you’re considering buying an inflatable boat, be it a dinghy, pontoon boat, kayak, or just an inflatable raft, you are probably curious about its lifespan, so in other words, how long you can expect your boat to function safely.
Knowing how long inflatable boats last is especially important if you are considering buying a used inflatable watercraft.
Average lifespan of inflatable boats
It’s hard to give an average lifespan, because there are several factors at play that will shorten or lengthen it.
Here are the factors that can lengthen, or reduce the lifespan of an inflatable:
- age of boat
- material used (PVC vs Hypalon)
- hand glued vs machine welded seams
- amount of UV rays the boat was exposed to
- how the boat was stored when not in use
If I have to give a number, I would say
the average life expectancy of a properly kept inflatable boat is 10-15 years.
