Fishing Frenzy

The idea of an inflatable canoe seems to most of us like it's so smart an idea that it would have been invented in recent times. The most interesting fact regarding this is that the method of using a flotation device as a boat was first conceived by cavemen - their paintings of this evident on cave walls. The flotation methodology was made from animal skin and inflated by the mouth

Charles Goodyear picked up on this 'not-so-new' idea when he experimented with rubber and created a process of vulcanizing the compounds to a point that they became flexible and durable.

In 1839, an Englishman - the Duke of Wellington tested out the very first inflatable pontoons and more of the inflatable floating concepts began to materialize - with very interesting inventions like the "boat Cloak" that served as a waterproof cloak or poncho and then, when inflated, became a one man boat - quite ingenious. The development of the inflatable boat was centered around the activity in the Arctic with many exploration expeditions in the mid 1800's.

It was more from necessity, in a military sense, the flotation device began to evolve rapidly. Both the American and English were using it in war efforts and an American general utilized a pontoon bridge as early as the Mexican-American war. This was also used in the American Civil War.

Moving on 150 years and the actual concept of an inflatable boat remains pretty much the same. The materials have been changed and are more advanced then bygone days. Now you can get an inflatable canoe as a one man, two man and some larger vessels. Foam floors are common due to the rigidity and stability they supply, however the drawback is the loss of portability (you cannot just fold up the boat and forget till next time). Fabric floors allow for the portable aspect but naturally will not be as stable a craft.