The Quest For the Right Inflatable Dinghy

Roll-up and air floor designs dominate the low end of the inflatable dinghy market. The key questions are, do you want to stow or tow, and how much size and weight can you handle?

By
Doug Henschen
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The choice between an air-floor dinghy and a roll-up comes down to a tradeoff: air-floor models offer a V-shaped hull for better tracking and speed, while roll-ups are lighter and compact enough to stow in a cockpit locker instead of towing. (Images/ Zodiac, Achilles, Highfield, West Marine)

The paradox of my experience with inflatable dinghies is that in trading up to a bigger sailboat, I found myself wanting a smaller support craft for coastal exploration and shore excursions. Needs change and sometimes you discover that less is more.

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Doug Henschen
Doug Henschen
Doug Henschen has been sailing in and around the waters of the lower Hudson River, New York Harbor, and the Long Island Sound since the 1980s. A career editor and journalist, Doug served as associate editor and managing editor of The Waterway Guide from 1984 until 1987 and as executive editor of Boating Industry magazine from 1990 to 1996. Doug is a member of American Sailing and is American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) certified on Marine Systems, Marine Electrical, Corrosion Mitigation, Disaster Avoidance, Outboard Repowering Considerations, and Boatyard Basics.

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