The Full BoatsToGo History: From First Inflatable Dinghies to a Complete Portable Fleet

BoatsToGo’s story is best understood through a practical boating problem: how do you get a capable craft to the water without a trailer, a large storage footprint, or a complicated launch routine? The answer has grown from accessible inflatable dinghies into a portable fleet that includes compact KaBoat™ micro skiffs, reinforced fishing boats, and the accessories that help owners rig, protect, and use their boats for real days on the water. Across the lineup, the theme remains consistent—packable designs, inflatable floors, motor-ready transoms, and materials selected for dependable use.

Portable Boating Starts With a Better Dinghy

Inflatable dinghies gave many boaters an alternative to storing and towing a conventional rigid boat. A boat that can be deflated for transport can be carried to a launch area, stored in a garage or vehicle, and used as a yacht tender, fishing platform, or family runabout. That basic advantage remains central to BoatsToGo’s approach.

Today’s 11' SD330 inflatable dinghy is a clear example of how that early portable-boat concept has been refined. It is an 11-foot model with a high-pressure drop-stitch air deck floor, rather than a fixed heavy floor system. When inflated, the floor can be pressurized to 9 psi for rigidity; when deflated, the boat ships in a 41 x 26 x 15 inch package. That is the practical formula behind an inflatable dinghy: useful floor stiffness on the water, with a manageable package when the trip is over.

The SD330: A Modern Take on the Everyday Inflatable Boat

The SD330 has become BoatsToGo’s best-selling model because its specifications suit a broad range of uses. It has 16.5-inch tubes, 3+1+1 chambers, a 4+1 person capacity, and a fiberglass-covered transom that accepts a 15 HP short-shaft motor up to 125 pounds. With a 10 HP motor and two adults, its approximate speed is 17 mph.

For owners, the important point is not simply top speed. The combination of a stable air deck and 1100 denier reinforced German Heytex PVC makes the boat adaptable. It can serve as a tender alongside a sailboat or yacht, carry anglers using an electric trolling motor, or provide a compact recreational platform for exploring protected water. Quadruple-overlap seams and recessed one-way air valves reflect the focus on practical construction details, not just portability.

At $899, the SD330 also represents the accessible end of a portable fleet: a full-length inflatable boat that can accommodate up to five people while avoiding the storage demands of a similarly sized rigid hull.

2006: The KaBoat™ Added a New Kind of Portable Craft

A major milestone in the BoatsToGo lineup came in 2006, when BoatsToGo introduced and developed the KaBoat™. KaBoat™ is a registered trademark of BoatsToGo, Inc. The concept was different from a conventional wide inflatable dinghy: combine the narrow, efficient profile and paddle capability associated with a kayak with the transom and motor options of a boat.

The result is a crossover craft designed for boaters who want to travel light, paddle into confined water, and still have the option to use a small electric or gas motor. The narrow hull profile is inspired by Asian Dragon boats and is intended to move efficiently with modest horsepower. This is an important step in the broader BoatsToGo history because it expanded portable boating beyond the traditional tender format.

The 12' SK396 KaBoat™ Micro Skiff

The 12' Saturn SK396 KaBoat™ Micro Skiff shows what the crossover idea looks like in a current model. It has a 13-inch tube diameter, 2+1 air chambers, an air deck floor, and a 2+1 person capacity. Its fiberglass-covered transom is rated for an engine up to 2.5 HP.

Its portability is especially notable. The kayak packing size is 34 x 21 x 10 inches, while the shipping size is 35 x 24 x 12 inches. That compact format makes the SK396 a sensible choice for anglers, campers, travelers, and paddlers who do not want a dedicated trailer setup. The boat can be paddled with a kayak paddle, helping it reach shallow water and tight areas that are less convenient for larger craft.

At $559, the SK396 provides a lightweight entry into the KaBoat™ category. It is not simply a smaller dinghy; its purpose is different. The design favors a streamlined route to quiet coves, narrow waterways, and fishing spots where portability and maneuverability matter more than high horsepower.

From Everyday Dinghies to Heavy-Duty Fishing Boats

As portable boating needs expanded, BoatsToGo also developed more heavily protected inflatable fishing craft. This part of the lineup addresses a different real-world requirement: anglers and working-minded boaters often need more room, greater tube diameter, more motor capacity, and additional protection where a boat contacts shorelines, gear, and rougher launch surfaces.

The 13' Heavy-Duty FB385 represents that more robust direction. The V2 PRO version is longer and wider than the FB300 and FB365 models, with larger tubes for added space and buoyancy. It uses an aluminum transom, heat-welded seams, and a double-layer air deck floor.

FB385 V2 PRO: Built Around Protection and Carrying Capacity

The FB385 is made with commercial-grade 1100 denier German Heytex PVC, plus several specific reinforcement measures. It has extra-wide, extra-thick rub protectors along the bottom of the tubes, over the keel, and on top of the tubes. A second 1.5 mm PVC layer runs along the bottoms of the tubes up to the rub strakes, and the vessel bottom is made from extra-heavy-duty 1.5 mm PVC fabric. There is also an additional protective layer on the high-pressure air deck floor.

Those details matter to owners who fish with tackle, coolers, anchors, and other equipment. The FB385 also uses a patent-pending cargo lacing system on top of the tubes, moving gear out of the interior and helping preserve usable cockpit space.

With 18-inch tubes, 3+1 chambers, a five-person capacity, and a maximum 25 HP short-shaft motor rating up to 130 pounds, the FB385 occupies a substantially more capable position in the portable lineup. Its tube shipping size is 45 x 26 x 16 inches. Priced at $1,749, it is aimed at boaters who need a reinforced inflatable platform without giving up the ability to transport and store it more easily than a rigid fishing boat.

How the Portable Fleet Has Expanded

The progression from the SD330 dinghy, to the KaBoat™ crossover, to the FB385 heavy-duty fishing boat is not a move away from portability. It is an expansion of what “portable” can mean. Some owners need a tender that can handle a 15 HP motor. Some want a narrow, paddle-friendly micro skiff that packs into a medium-sized bag. Others need 18-inch tubes, a 25 HP rating, and extensive bottom protection for serious fishing use.

Practical Design Details That Made Launching Easier

Portable boats are only useful when the transition from vehicle to water is manageable. The BoatsToGo designs described here address that routine with a few recurring choices:

• Air deck floors: The SD330, SK396, and FB385 all use air deck flooring, reducing the need to handle a permanent rigid floor structure.
• Motor-ready transoms: The SD330 supports up to 15 HP, the SK396 up to 2.5 HP, and the FB385 up to 25 HP, giving owners options from electric propulsion and light power to more capable outboards.
• Packable dimensions: A 34 x 21 x 10 inch KaBoat™ packing size and 41 x 26 x 15 inch SD330 shipping size show why these boats fit travel-oriented boating plans.
• Multiple air chambers: The models use compartmentalized construction, from the SK396’s 2+1 chambers to the SD330’s 3+1+1 arrangement.
• Protection where it counts: The FB385 takes the concept furthest with rub protectors, reinforced tube bottoms, and a 1.5 mm PVC vessel bottom.

Choosing Your Place in the BoatsToGo Story

The best portable boat is not necessarily the largest one or the one with the highest motor rating. It is the boat that matches how you actually launch, transport, and use it.

Choose the SD330 if you want a versatile 11-foot inflatable dinghy with room for up to 4+1 people and the option of a 15 HP short-shaft motor. Choose the SK396 KaBoat™ if compact packing, paddling capability, and low-horsepower exploration are the priority. Choose the FB385 V2 PRO if your days on the water call for larger tubes, a five-person capacity, a 25 HP rating, and serious abrasion protection.

That range is the real BoatsToGo evolution: portable watercraft are no longer limited to a basic inflatable tender. They can be stable air-floor dinghies, kayak-boat hybrids, reinforced fishing platforms, and complete on-water setups supported by the right accessories. The common goal has stayed the same—spend less effort getting a boat to the water and more time enjoying what happens once it is there.