Hypalon vs. PVC Boats
Hypalon (Synthetic Rubber Coatings)
Hypalon is a synthetic rubber material patented by DuPont and is mainly used an exterior coating for inflatable boats. Hypalon can defy extreme temperature, corrosion, UV degradation, gasoline, chemicals and environmental contingencies and is considered the most reliable and durable inflatable boat fabric available. Hyside's 80/20 Hypalon coating typically will last for more than a decade even in the roughest environments.
PVC (Plastic Coatings)
PVC is a vinyl polymer chemically known as polyvinyl chloride. It has several applications in the leisure and construction industries: making inflatable pool toys, mattresses and beach balls. Because it is a type of plastic, it can be thermo bonded or glued. This allows the manufacturer to mass produce the boats on a large scale with machines and unskilled labor. But repairs can be difficult on PVC boats because thermo welding is not feasible outside of the factory and it is very hard to repair even a pinhole leak in a seam.
| HYPALON | PVC | |
| Highly resistant to environmental caustics (gas, chemicals, etc.) | YES | |
| Recommended for use in severe climates | YES | |
| Recommended for leaving boats inflated or for frequent use | YES | |
| Best properties for resisting abrasion | YES | |
| Fabric of choice for U.S. Military and Coast Guard | YES | |
| Easiest to repair leaks, etc. | YES | |
| Seam construction | Overlapped or butted, then glued* | Glued or fused together using welding** |
| Manufacturing process | Handcrafted | Mass produced |
| Weight (13 foot self bailing boat) | 75 to 115 lbs. | 115 to 130 lbs. |
| Colors available | 5-7 | 15+ |
| Expected life expectancy under normal river rafting use | 10-15 years | 2-3 years |
| Average cost (13 foot self bailing boat) MSRP | $4400 | $2000 |
*Hypalon boats are either overlapped or butted, and then glued. Butted seams produce an aesthetic, flat, airtight seam, without the ridge or air gaps left by some overlapped seams. In stress tests, Hypalon and neoprene glued seams are so strong and reliable that the fabric will fail before the seams.
**The seams of PVC-coated inflatables can be fused together using several different welding techniques. Despite many technological advancements, the heat used to weld the seams is not always distributed evenly across the seams—which creates pockets where air may escape—and welded seams tend to become brittle over time.
Fabrics coated with PVC are also more difficult to repair than those coated with Hypalon.
