🕐 Read time: 10–12 minutes

Welcome to Boatworld’s guide to Small Inflatable Boats – or SIBs, as they’re often called. Whether you’re new to boating or looking to upgrade, this article covers the basics of what SIBs are, the main types available, and what to consider when choosing the right model for your needs.

With so many options in our inflatable boat range, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed. Whether you're after something lightweight for a solo river cruise or a rugged model for sea fishing, this guide will walk you through the key differences — just like in the video below.

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⬇️ Jump to a Boat Range:

• Round Tail 240
• Lite 220
• SL & SLD Range
• KAT Tender Range
• Air Deck Range
• Air V Type Range
• Kayak Range
• KAT Sport 330
• Pro Range
• Carbon Pro Range
• Cruiser 380

What is a SIB?

A SIB is a small inflatable boat designed for easy transport, simple setup and versatile use. They’re popular for:

• Leisure trips and days out on the water
• Fishing on lakes, rivers or near the coast
• Holiday use – they pack down small to fit in the boot of your car
• Acting as tenders for larger boats or yachts

❗ Key Detail: The ability to pack a boat into a car boot is what makes SIBs so accessible. You don't need a trailer, a tow bar, or special storage space, opening up boating to many more people.

SIBs are a great starting point for beginners, but they’re also widely used by experienced boaters thanks to their practicality.

What Makes a SIB Stand Out

• Inflatable construction means it’s lightweight and easy to store or transport.
• Multiple floor options to suit how you’ll use the boat.
• Choice of lengths, from around 2.0m up to around 4.0m.
• Can be paired with outboard motors for greater range and speed.

⚠️ Warning: Always check the maximum engine horsepower (hp) and weight rating for your specific SIB model, which is usually found on the transom plate. Overpowering a boat can be extremely dangerous, affect your insurance, and can void your warranty.

Our Boat Range by Activity

We’ve grouped our boats into five categories to make it easier to compare them based on how you’ll be using them. Scroll down or skip ahead to the activity that suits you best.

Small Cruisers

Round Tail 240

A classic flat-hull slatted boat that gives you all the benefits of a slatted floor — quick setup, low weight and easy packing. But unlike traditional designs, it has no fixed transom or sponsons. Instead, the tube wraps fully around the back, maximising usable space. This clever layout offers internal room similar to a 3m boat with sponsons, despite the boat being only 2.4m long. Ideal for solo or two-person river trips and compatible with small petrol or electric outboards.

🔗 View Round Tail 240

Lite 220

The Lite 220 is the lightest inflatable boat in our lineup, weighing just 18kg. Despite its small size, it offers excellent performance thanks to its inflatable floor and keel, which form a V-shaped hull. This design cuts through the water more efficiently than a flat-bottomed boat, making it ideal for calm rivers and canals where tracking and stability matter. It’s also incredibly quick to set up and pack down, making it ideal if you’re boating solo or with one other person.

🔗 View Lite 220

SL & SLD Range

The SL and SLD models are simple, lightweight inflatables with a traditional slatted floor that rolls out in seconds. They're ideal if you want something easy to store and carry.

💡 Pro Tip: Slatted floors are the quickest to set up. You simply unroll the boat, and the floor unrolls with it. They are best suited for calm water as they offer less rigidity and a flatter ride compared to an air deck or aluminium floor.

SL models (230 and 330) offer basic, no-fuss boating. SLD versions (230, 250, 280) include fixed davit rings, making them perfect for lifting onto a larger boat or yacht. Same layout, but with tender-ready features.

🔗 View SL & SLD Range

Tenders

SLD Range (230, 250, 280)

These models use a traditional slatted floor and a flat hull, offering a straightforward design that’s easy to inflate, handle and pack down. What sets them apart is the inclusion of fixed davit lifting rings, which allow them to be hoisted easily onto davits or storage platforms at the stern of a day yacht or larger boat.

❗ Key Detail: Davits are small cranes on the back of a larger yacht or cruiser used for lifting a tender out of the water. Having fixed davit rings on your SIB is essential if you plan to lift it this way.

Despite being incredibly lightweight and compact, they feel stable when stepping on and off — ideal for short transfers to and from the shore.

🔗 View SLD Range

KAT Tender Range (230, 275)

The KAT Tenders' standout feature is the catamaran-style hull, which offers excellent lift, reduced drag, and outstanding side-to-side stability. This makes them ideal when you’re frequently boarding and disembarking.

❗ Key Detail: A catamaran hull has two parallel hulls (the tubes), creating a wide, stable base. This design traps air between the hulls, which helps the boat lift out of the water and plane more efficiently with less power.

They also include a high-pressure drop-stitch floor, giving you a firm, stable surface to stand on. The open bow is especially useful, making it easier to climb in and out of the boat.

🔗 View KAT Tender Range

Fully Inflatable Boats

If you’re after a fully inflatable boat that’s quick to set up but offers more space and capability than our smallest models, this range is a great choice. These boats feature high-pressure floors and inflatable V-hulls, making them ideal for family outings, longer day trips, or just cruising with a bit more comfort and performance.

Air Deck Range (270, 320, 360)

The Air Deck models offer a soft yet stable ride thanks to their inflatable keel and high-pressure air mat floor. This gives you a V-shaped hull without the need for rigid panels. The floor is lightweight, quick to inflate, and comfortable underfoot — especially useful if you’re kneeling, standing, or sitting barefoot. They pack down easily and remain relatively light, making them manageable for one or two people.

🔗 View Air Deck Range

Air V Type Range (250, 270, 300, 330, 380)

The Air V Type boats take the inflatable design further with a two-panel drop-stitch floor that creates a more pronounced and rigid V-shaped hull. This results in improved tracking, planing ability, and stability at speed compared to other soft-floor inflatables. With a choice of five sizes from 2.5m up to 3.8m, there’s a model to suit everything from quick solo trips to larger family adventures.

🔗 View Air V Type Range

Sport SIBs

If you want an inflatable boat that’s a little more dynamic, the Sport SIBs range is built for fun. These boats offer faster handling, unique layouts, and extra features that make them ideal for more active use — whether that’s solo exploration, paddling, or planing at speed.

Kayak Range (295, 365, 435)

This unique hybrid design is part SIB, part kayak. Its narrow profile, pointed bow and V-shaped inflatable keel make it fast, responsive, and highly manoeuvrable on the water — especially when paired with a small outboard. For slower outings, you can also use a kayak paddle thanks to its slim shape and paddle-friendly seating position. All sizes pack down easily and fit in the car boot, ready for spontaneous days on the water.

🔗 View Kayak Range

KAT Sport 330

Designed with speed and stability in mind, the KAT Sport 330 uses a catamaran-style hull that planes quickly and tracks straight. The open bow makes it easy to hop in and out, and it also features a collapsible transom, which allows you to remove the engine bracket and fold the back end for easier storage. As standard, it comes equipped with launch wheels and fishing rod holders, making it ready for action straight out of the bag.

🔗 View KAT Sport 330

Pro & Fishing SIBs

If you’re heading further afield, spending longer on the water, or want maximum deck space and durability, the Pro and Fishing-style SIBs are built to go the distance. These are our most capable inflatables, perfect for anglers, sea-goers, and those who want a serious all-rounder.

Pro Range (280, 330)

💡 Pro Tip: Aluminium floors offer the most rigidity and a durable, flat platform, making them ideal for fishing, carrying heavy gear, or for anyone who wants the firmest possible footing. They take longer to assemble than other floor types but provide superior performance.

Carbon Pro Range (365, 400)

❗ Key Detail: A GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) or fibreglass transom is stronger and more water-resistant than a standard plywood transom, making it better suited for heavier engines and frequent use in saltwater.

Cruiser 380

Summary

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