One of the main reasons people choose an inflatable boat for their trips/holidays at sea or the lake is the feeling of safety and stability that it transmits. In fact, it must be remembered that the boat is totally unsinkable thanks to the buoyancy ensured by the tubulars (divided into many independent air chambers) and by the hulls.
Thanks to the immersed tubulars and a larger wet surface, the navigability of an RHIB in the rough sea is way more stable than that of many boats.
The boat’s tubular thus represents a sort of fender that creates less worry during maneuvers, an important element for inexperienced drivers evaluating which RHIB they could choose.
Conversely, boats need fenders to avoid damage and protect themselves from shocks on the quay (for example, while docking for mooring).
Therefore, the only way to truly understand if an inflatable boat is the best solution for your needs is to try it out in the water!
How to handle your inflatable boat in rough sea
You can be sure that if your inflatable boat is reliable and in perfect condition, it can also be managed in a rough sea, especially if you choose a model design to withstand this type of condition. Joker Boat’s Coaster range ensures all these requirements.
As a matter of fact, the RHIB’s real enemy is not the rough sea but the wind. So let’s see what sea conditions can occur with an inflatable boat and how you should manage them.
How to navigate with a bow sea
In bow sea conditions, it is necessary to accelerate extremely gradually so as not to impact too hard against the waves and reach them by accelerating as soon as the crest has been climbed and you have reached the descending phase.
The latter is called the back of the wave. This means moving forward with a zig-zag movement, mascon-turning in the cable’s free zone without being overwhelmed by the wave’s crest.
How to navigate with the sea on the beam If the waves are rounded, we can feel a little more at ease compared to the rough sea, but it is also important not to be surprised by breakers.
If we are sailing areas with continuous surfs, it is better to look for gaps where the waves break less frequently and navigate with numerous pulls to the luff, keeping to the foamy areas that the breakers that have already passed keep behind.
How to navigate with a stern sea
Stern sea is deceptive: it looks like you can experience the most comfortable sailing while, in fact, it is the most dangerous since the breakers’ speed and strength cannot be perceived in this condition.
With its rational motion, the wave causes the stern’s speed to increase more than the bow’s.
This is what happens to three boats out of four: grading the speed while keeping on the back of the wave without climbing the crest is complex, and this navigation should require training on a calm sea to be ready to face a stern sea.
The quality of your inflatable boats is what makes the difference
Whatever rough sea conditions you might find yourself sailing in, it is always pivotal to choose an inflatable boat of excellent quality and able to ensure stability and safety.
