Choosing what will be your new boat is always exciting: this applies to the novice, who
has never owned a hull before, as well as to those who have already had several boats in their life, and
who relive the same emotions every time they return to the market. However, there are always many doubts,
both small and large. Those who are moving among the various offers to purchase an inflatable boat, for example,
might wonder what the ideal length to aim for is. There are many factors to consider, from ease of handling to
mooring rates in tourist ports:
today we present a list of elements to consider when choosing the size of an
inflatable boat!

Factors to consider when choosing the size of the inflatable boat

The presence of tubes
This advice is mainly aimed at those who are buying their very first inflatable boat,
as well as those who, before this moment, have not owned an inflatable boat, but rather a classic
boat. In these cases, it’s worth emphasizing one thing: a distinctive element of an inflatable boat –
whether it’s a small hull or a large and luxurious RIB – is that it has tubes, which
necessarily occupy space. So, on a 6-meter inflatable boat, you’ll typically have
a little less space than you would find on a motorboat of the same size.
It’s better to take this factor into account before choosing the size of the inflatable boat to
purchase!

The distinction between small craft and vessel
Another very important factor to consider when purchasing an inflatable boat is that
dictated by regulations, which as we know draws a clear line between small craft and
vessels. This aspect is governed by Law No. 50 of February 11, 1971, “Rules
on recreational navigation” and Legislative Decree 171 of July 18, 2005 “Code of recreational boating”,
in Article 3. Here it can be deduced that a boat – whether it’s a sailboat or motorboat – under
10 meters is classified as a recreational small craft; above this size, we enter the
realm of recreational vessels (up to 24 meters, beyond which we speak of ships). The big
difference is that for vessels, there is an obligation to register with the Central Telematic Archive
of Recreational Units (ATCN, which has replaced the old RID Register of vessels).
In case of doubt, if you have no particular requirements, it’s better to choose an inflatable boat of 9.90 meters
rather than one of 10.10 meters!

Engine power
The size of the inflatable boat inevitably influences the power of the engine that will be necessary
to mount at the stern. And as we know, varying the engine power brings with it several consequences,
from fuel consumption onwards. It should also not be overlooked that for a smaller inflatable boat, below
5 meters, a 40 horsepower engine might be sufficient, while above this size you
will inevitably have to mount a more powerful engine. And as we know: the 40 horsepower threshold is
what defines the requirement for a boating license. This aspect should also be taken into
consideration!

The activities you’ll do on the boat

What will you do in the new inflatable boat? If you’ll use the vessel for freshwater fishing alone,
a semi-rigid under 4 meters will be perfectly fine, while for sea fishing something larger will be necessary.
The dimensions will need to be more substantial for Sunday tourist outings, and significantly larger in case of an inflatable boat to be used for cruises.

The people you’ll bring on board
The solitary fisherman doesn’t need large spaces. The situation changes if the inflatable boat is to be
used for Sunday outings with the family! It’s better to inquire about the number of people
that can actually be transported – safely and comfortably – on various models of different lengths.

Maintenance costs
When choosing the size of a new inflatable boat, it’s also good to consider maintenance costs,
which increase with the length of the hull. As the inflatable boat grows, the engine
will be more powerful, with higher costs over time; you’ll need to buy more antifouling
paint, more cleaning products; hauling and launching services, painting will increase
proportionally.

Mooring costs in tourist ports
And certainly, when deciding what the dimensions of the new inflatable boat will be, it’s good to consider that
mooring rates in a tourist port, like in our Marina Porto Antico in Genoa,
increase with size. Every tourist port has a table showing the
prices for various lengths, with daily berthing rates that obviously cannot
be the same for an inflatable boat under 8 meters and another of 16 meters.
Ease of handling and mooring
Let’s set aside regulations, costs, activities that will actually be done, engine
power. When choosing the length of an inflatable boat, it’s necessary to remember that as its length and width increase, so will
the difficulties related to handling and mooring, simply because you’ll be maneuvering a more cumbersome vessel. Port
maneuvers can, for example, be very simple with a 4-meter inflatable boat, and
require much more attention with a 12-meter Maxi Rib!
Transporting the inflatable boat
Finally, the dimensions of an inflatable boat should also be chosen based on the type of
transport intended. There are those who leave the inflatable boat moored in the tourist port
of reference all year round, and who don’t have any problems of this type. Then there are those who want an inflatable boat
to be placed on a trailer behind the car, and there are even those who, armed with a substantial automobile,
want to mount the inflatable boat – typically deflated – on the roof of the vehicle. Well, in all these
cases, it is certainly necessary to carefully evaluate the dimensions of the inflatable boat, so as not to find yourself having
to drastically change plans!