Test Your Nautical Knowledge & Get to Know Your New Inflatable Boat

If you’re a boating enthusiast, you’ll need to know all about your boat, including its specific parts. Knowing your boat inside and out allows you to better understand how your boat works, how to use it safely and what you can do to ensure it is maintained properly. So without further ado, let’s get to know your inflatable boat parts!

What Are the Different Parts of a Boat Called?

1. Seat

An inflatable boat can have several fancy features, but what truly makes it a catch is comfortable seating. After all, you may be using your inflatable boat for cruising or fishing purposes, and both these activities require good seating. Our Island Inflatables boat bench seats are designed to maximise comfort and ease of use. The simple bench-like design provides you with enough room to manoeuvre the boat and move around, even in the case of our 2-person boat seat.

2. Oar

Every boat typically has an oar or set of oars to paddle along and help manoeuvre the boat more easily. Oars are long poles or sticks that usually have a wide and flat edge at one end to help row the boat. Our inflatable boats usually come with two lightweight oars.

3. Oarlock

Oarlocks, also known as rowlocks, spurs or gates, act as braces which secure the boat's oars to the side of the boat while rowing. Since boat oars can be quite heavy, an oarlock can help support its weight and adjust the angle according to the water resistance. Oarlocks can also come in handy in the event that your oars are caught by sudden underwater currents. The oarlocks will allow you to twist the oars and reduce the chances of them being knocked out of your hands.

4. Oar Stopper

An oar stopper is normally made of rubber and keeps your oar shaft from sliding through the oarlock. Without an oar stopper, the oar will keep slipping through the oarlock and its weight can make it difficult for the rower to hold it in place. The rubber oar stopper makes this a lot easier.

5. Transom

A transom is the flat end at the back of the boat where the motor is normally attached. It is a form of vertical reinforcement, usually above the waterline, which strengthens the back of the boat. The height of the boat transom is what decides the size of the outboard motor. Since the motor is what powers the boat, the transom hence becomes a crucial part of the boat’s structure. If the transom’s height is not right, complications can occur when attaching the outboard motor.

6. Transom Holders

Transom holders, otherwise known as transom savers, help keep the engine from drifting from side to side. They are also good to ensure that the engine is in place while it is being transported on a trailer. Since they hold the transom in place, they help protect it from any damage that can be caused due to the weight of the outboard or travelling over rough seas.

7. Outboard Mounting Plate>

Outboard mounting plates or jack plates are a mechanism that is placed in between the outboard engine of a boat and the transom. These mounting plates give the boater the ability to raise and lower the height of the engine on the transom without altering the engine’s mounting height.

8. Internal Rear Carry Handles

The rear carry handles of the boat allow the boater to carry it out onto the water or transport it onto a trailer for storage. Our inflatable boats have all been designed in such a way that the rear carry handles are placed in the internal part of the tube, allowing for the boat to be easily carried by a single person. Furthermore, this strategic placement of the carry handles will reduce the possibility of scratches or marks from forming on the side of your cruiser if the boat bumps into it.

9. Air Floor

An air floor is designed to be solid and rigid enough to allow the boat to be inflated to a high pressure without coming apart. A great reason for having an air deck floor is that you can save a lot on weight and storage. As it is made from flexible material, the boat is easy to simply roll up at the end of the day.

10. Tube Inflation Valve & Floor Inflation Valve

The inflation valve is used to inflate the tube of the boat and seal it off so no air escapes. It is usually made with a rubber diaphragm which helps hold the air in during inflation and a screw-on cap that seals the tube. The inflation valve is designed to help regulate the pressure and prevent it from increasing to the point where the tube splits or a seam rips. Though our inflatable boats use High Frequency Thermo Welding and can withstand high pressure, the inflation valve acts as a precautionary measure to prevent the tube from blowing a seam. Similar to the tube inflation valve, the floor inflation value helps regulate the pressure while inflating the air deck floor of the boat.

11. Bung Hole or Drain Plug

If you’ve got an inflatable boat, you’ll definitely need to know what a bung hole is. The bung, otherwise known as a drain plug, is a small rubber plug that functions like a stopper. When in place, it helps stop the water from getting into the boat while in use. When the boat is in storage, removing the bung makes it easy to drain out any water that may have accumulated on the boat floor. It is essential to remember to put the bung in as soon as you can in order to avoid difficulties while on the water. Make sure to take a good look at your inflatable boat, identify the bung hole and plug it in before you go out on the water.

12. Tow Rings

Tow rings or tow hooks are specifically designed to easily connect your inflatable boat to a tow, or your cruiser or yacht. The strategic placement of the tow rings at the lower part of the front end helps reduce ‘heeling’, which is the temporary incline of the boat due to external forces like wind, waves or turning.

13. Lifeline/Grab or Safety Rope

The ‘lifeline’ quite literally is a line that may very well save your life while out on the water. It is a strong, robust rope or cable that is stretched from the end of the boat to the front. You can attach your harness lanyard on to this rope, so you can move back and forth across the boat safely without falling off. It also comes in handy for when the boat is travelling fast, and you need something to grab on to for maintaining balance.

Choose an Inflatable Boat for Your Next Trip!

Now that you know all the important parts of your inflatable boat, it’s time to set sail! With our quality inflatable boats, you’re sure to have the best boating adventure of your life!