Does an Inflatable Boat need a Keel?

The keel is an essential part of a sailboat, and it comes in various forms. However, an inflatable doesn’t need a keel to stay upright and maneuver easily through the water. If you want to add keels to your PVC boats for extra stability or simply for aesthetic purposes, feel free! They aren’t a must-have, but they can be excellent additions.

While inflatable boats don’t need keels, we certainly recommend them for a bit of extra stability. For example, in primarily calm waters or during warm summer days, you might prefer to go without a keel if it means saving weight or increasing your speed. However, if you run into choppy waters while using an inflatable boat, some extra weight at the bottom of your craft will help balance out your ride and give you a little more control.