Chat with Capt. Bob — Find Your Next Inflatable Boat Near Des Moines. It's Free!
Tell Capt. Bob what you're looking for, and he'll connect you with a local Des Moines-area dealer.
What Makes An Inflatable Boat the Right Choice?
Inflatable boats and RIBs use air-filled tubes for buoyancy and stability, either on their own (soft-bottom) or wrapped around a rigid fiberglass or aluminum hull (RIB). That construction makes them exceptionally stable, light for their size, and — for soft-bottoms — easy to deflate and pack away.
Whether you need a simple, packable dinghy to tender out to a bigger boat, or a serious RIB for diving, patrol work, or fast open-water runs, talking it through with Capt. Bob narrows the search fast — no filters, no guesswork, just a real conversation about how you'll use it.
Des Moines's Two Favorite Wake Sports Lakes
Saylorville Lake and Big Creek Lake are the two most popular wake sports destinations for Des Moines-area riders, both with long open stretches for a clean pull.
An inflatable boat — a lightweight, packable hull that stores small and still gets a group safely to and from a bigger boat or a quiet cove — is tuned for exactly this kind of riding. Capt. Bob can help figure out what actually fits how you ride.
Inflatable Boat FAQ
What makes an inflatable boat different from a hard-hull boat?
An inflatable boat uses air-filled tubes for flotation and stability instead of (or in addition to) a rigid hull, making it lighter, more packable, and often more stable at rest than a hard-hull boat of the same size — a big reason they're the go-to choice for dinghies, tenders, and small workboats.
Inflatable (soft-bottom) or RIB (rigid-hull) — which is better?
A soft-bottom inflatable is lighter, cheaper, and easy to deflate and store — a good choice for a simple dinghy or tender. A RIB (rigid inflatable boat) adds a solid fiberglass or aluminum hull under the tubes for a drier, more stable ride, higher horsepower ratings, and better performance, which is why RIBs dominate the diving, patrol, and larger tender market.
How much does an inflatable boat cost?
Inflatable boat prices start in the low four figures for a small soft-bottom dinghy, while a larger, well-equipped RIB with a powerful outboard can run into six figures.
Is talking to Capt. Bob really free?
Yes — there's no cost and no credit card required to chat with Capt. Bob and get matched with inflatable boats from local dealers.