PVC Raft Guide
PVC fabric grades
PVC is a range, not a material claim
Every inflatable boat in the programme is PVC, and they are not the same boat. The published grades run 0.7/0.9 mm on the light leisure line, 0.9 mm on the wholesale line and 1.2 mm on rescue and heavy-duty builds - and a listing that says only "PVC raft" has not told you which.
- Ask for the thickness on the tube and on the floor as separate figures; a stated 1.2 mm often applies only to the lower tube.
- The grade, not the length, decides whether a hull survives being dragged over gravel and stored inflated between uses.
- A DIY PVC raft is a project, not a boat specification - it cannot carry a rescue, rental or motorised claim without engineering checks.
What each PVC grade is built for
| Grade | Where it appears | What it suits |
|---|---|---|
| 0.7/0.9 mm | RSM dinghy line, 210-380 cm | Occasional leisure use, car transport, calm water |
| 0.9 mm | RSD line, 210-420 cm | Wholesale and rental fleets, repeated launches |
| 0.9/1.2 mm | RSD rescue configurations, 330-470 cm | Rescue and work use where carry weight still matters |
| 1.2 mm | RSA and heavy-duty builds, 380-550 cm | Debris-laden water, commercial workboats, stored inflated |
| Not stated | Most marketplace listings | Unknown - ask before comparing on price |
The number that is missing from the listing
PVC raft is a material description, and it covers every boat in the range. What separates them is thickness, and the published programmes are explicit: the RSM dinghy line is 0.7/0.9 mm, the RSD line 0.9 mm and above, the rescue configurations 0.9/1.2 mm, and the RSA and heavy-duty builds 1.2 mm throughout. Same shapes, same lengths, four grades.
A listing quoting "thickened PVC" or "heavy duty PVC" without a figure is quoting the adjective rather than the specification. Ask for the tube and the floor separately, because a stated 1.2 mm frequently applies only to the lower tube where wear is expected, with a thinner upper chamber above it.
Where the grade actually shows up
Thickness matters least on flat water in summer and most everywhere else: dragged over gravel or concrete at launch, stored inflated between uses, run in water carrying debris, or left in sunlight through a rental season. Those are the conditions that separate a hull lasting three seasons from one that softens in the first.
So the right grade follows use frequency rather than budget. A boat used six times a season and a boat launched six times a week are different products at identical dimensions, and specifying the lighter grade for the heavier duty is the most expensive saving available.
Where a DIY PVC raft stops
Building a PVC raft is a legitimate project and a good way to learn how the material behaves. It is not a route to a boat carrying a rescue, rental or motorised claim, because none of the things that make those claims defensible - a controlled seam process, a transom rated and bonded to a known load, documented buoyancy and material figures - come out of a home build.
The dividing line is whether anyone other than the builder will rely on the boat. If the answer is yes, the requirement is a specification and a document rather than a frame design, and that is the point at which the search should move to the factory programmes.
Turning a PVC question into a quote
Bring four things to the enquiry: the grade needed on tube and floor, the floor type, the intended use, and the quantity. The programmes encode floor type in the model code - AM for airmat, SL for slatted, AL for aluminium - so a reply naming a code has answered two of the four at once.
Then ask for the packed dimensions and the carton contents. On an inflatable those two figures decide the freight, which is priced on volume rather than weight, and they are the fields a price-led listing is least likely to publish.
What this page quotes against
Factory models behind this guide
These are the published series this page's advice resolves to. Lengths, power ratings and rated persons come from the factory model tables — bring the code you want into the RFQ and the reply can start from a real hull instead of a category.
RSD Inflatable Boats
The 0.9 mm wholesale line, with the floor options published per model.
- Length range210-420 cm
- Max HP range2.5-30 hp
- Capacity range2-7 persons
| Model | Length | Max power | Rated persons |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSD-AM210 | 210 cm | 2.5 hp | 2 persons |
| RSD-SL210 | 210 cm | 2.5 hp | 2 persons |
| RSD-SL245 | 245 cm | 6 hp | 3 persons |
0.9 mm PVC / airmat floor
See the full rsd inflatable boats tableHeavy Duty
What 1.2 mm throughout actually specifies, for comparison.
- Length range380-550 cm
- Max HP range30-60 hp
- Capacity range6-14 persons
| Model | Length | Max power | Rated persons |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-HD380 | 380 cm | 30 hp | 6 persons |
| RSA-HD420 | 420 cm | 40 hp | 8 persons |
| RSA-HD450 | 450 cm | 40 hp | 10 persons |
1.2 mm PVC / aluminum with EVA
See the full heavy duty tableNext RFQ paths
FAQ
What PVC thickness should an inflatable raft have?
It follows use rather than length. The published grades run 0.7/0.9 mm for occasional leisure use, 0.9 mm for wholesale and rental fleets, and 1.2 mm for rescue and heavy-duty work. Ask for the figure on the tube and the floor separately.
Is thicker PVC always better?
No. Thicker fabric adds weight and packed bulk, which matters if the boat has to be carried to the water or fit in a car. For calm-water leisure the lighter grade is often the better boat; for repeated launches in debris-laden water it is not.
Can a DIY PVC raft replace a factory inflatable boat?
Not where anyone other than the builder relies on it. Rescue, rental and motorised use need a controlled seam process, a transom rated for a known load, and documented buoyancy and material figures, none of which come out of a home build.