How tough are these pricey inflatables? Can I use them around sharp river rocks or coral beds without popping holes in them?
Just about every inflatable kayak (except for the afforementioned unreinforced vinyl boats) made these days is plenty tough enough for all types of use. Almost every single inflatable kayak these days is actually overbuilt. This being said, if you encounter things like freshly broken glass or branches, rebar, metal, or barb wire in your otherwise pristine waterway, yeah, you’ll likely be doing a repair. In real life though, boaters rarely have to fix rips these days.
