What Is an Inflatable Catamaran? A Plain-English Guide for Aussie Boaters
An inflatable catamaran runs two inflatable hulls instead of one tube. Here is how they work, how they differ from a RIB or dinghy, and who they suit.
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An inflatable catamaran is a boat with two inflatable hulls and an open deck between them — the stability of a cat, packed into a bag you can carry.
It is the fastest-growing shape in Australian small boating, and the question we field most often is simply: what actually makes it a catamaran, and is it better than the round-tube inflatable everyone knows?
The short definition
A traditional inflatable is one horseshoe-shaped tube wrapped around a floor. An inflatable catamaran instead uses two separate parallel hulls joined by a deck and a transom. The gap between the hulls is open at the bow — which is why you will hear them called open-bow cats — so water passes underneath instead of piling up in front.
Everything that follows comes from that one design change.
How it changes the way the boat behaves
1. It sits flatter
Two widely spaced hulls give a broad stance. Step onto the gunwale of a cat and it barely leans. That is the single biggest reason families and fishos move across — you can stand up and cast without the boat arguing with you.
2. It planes with less power
Less wetted surface means a 3.3 m cat gets up and going on 9.9 HP where a comparable monohull wants more. Smaller motor, less fuel, less weight to lift.
3. It drains and dries
Water flows through the tunnel rather than being scooped up. Beach launching in surf is far less dramatic than in a round-tube boat.
4. It packs down
Deflated, a 3.3–4.0 m cat rolls into one bag and fits in a ute tray, a wagon boot or a caravan locker. No trailer, no berth, no boat-park fees.
Inflatable catamaran vs RIB vs dinghy
| Inflatable catamaran | RIB | Round-tube dinghy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | Two inflatable hulls, open tunnel | Solid fibreglass or alloy V-hull with tubes | One tube, soft or slat floor |
| Packs into a bag | Yes | No | Yes |
| Stability at rest | Excellent | Good | Fair |
| Needs a trailer | No | Yes | No |
| Best for | Fishing, families, tenders, camping | Long offshore runs at speed | Ship-to-shore hops |
A RIB will always win a long, rough, high-speed passage. For everything most Australians actually do — estuaries, bays, harbours, sheltered coast, remote lakes reached by four-wheel drive — the cat wins on practicality.
What to look at before you buy one
- Fabric. Ask for GSM and millimetres together. Ours are 1100 GSM / 0.9 mm VALMEX® on the AeroCat range and 1500 GSM / 1.2 mm VALMEX® Heavy Plus on the Viper range. A spec quoted only in millimetres is hiding something.
- Seams. Hot-air welded, not glued. Glue creeps in Australian heat.
- Transom. Aluminium, with a genuine horsepower rating and a drainage grill. The WaveRunner-series transom sits at 380 mm, which keeps the prop buried in chop.
- Floor. Catamarans use a high-pressure air deck. The one exception in our range is the enclosed-bow Viper 400 Sovereign, which can take an aluminium floor.
- Certification. Ours are CE certified to ISO 6185-3 and EU Directive 2013/53/EU. Australian state Boat Code Certification is a separate step you complete on registration.
- Warranty. Five years on the hull, seven on the Viper 400 Sovereign.
Which size suits which job
- 3.3 m — solo fisho, tender duty, tight garage storage. See the AeroCat 330 at A$4,295 or the Viper 330 at A$5,195.
- 3.6–3.8 m — the family sweet spot. AeroCat 360 A$4,595, AeroCat 380 A$4,795, Viper 365 A$5,595.
- 4.0–4.5 m — four adults, gear, longer runs. Viper 400 Sovereign A$6,970, Viper 430 A$6,195, Viper 450 A$6,495.
Who an inflatable catamaran is not for
Be honest with yourself. If you run 40 nautical miles offshore every weekend at 30 knots, buy a RIB. If you need a boat that lives permanently rigged on a trailer and never gets packed away, a tinny is simpler. The cat earns its keep when storage, transport and stability matter more than outright top speed.
Next step
Browse the full range on the boats page, or compare shapes directly in the inflatable catamaran vs RIB guide.
If you want a straight answer about which hull suits your water, call the crew on +61 2 4335 1603 — we would rather talk you into the right boat than the expensive one.
Shop gear featured in this guide
Aerowave WaveRunner 380 Series 3 Catamaran Package
The WaveRunner 380 Series 3 is a premium 3.8m inflatable catamaran package built for Australian and worldwide families, fishing, and coastal day boating — ideal for snorkeling and spearfishing — offering serious stability and premium German Valmex® construction.
Aerowave Viper 400 Sovereign
Flagship 4m enclosed-bow inflatable catamaran. German VALMEX® 7321 Heavy Plus 1.2mm commercial-grade fabric, 10 PSI high-pressure drop-stitch air deck floor with VALMEX non-slip surface, LockPro wheels, full Bimini and FREE express delivery Australia-wide delivery included. Winter special — save $1,000 until 31 August 2026.
AeroWave AeroCat 360 Inflatable Catamaran
Same proven hull design, shape and look as our flagship Aerowave Viper catamarans — built lighter using 0.9mm Valmex® fabric instead of the Viper's 1.2mm. The AeroWave AeroCat 360 is our 3.6m inflatable catamaran built from 0.9mm Valmex® fabric — intentionally lighter than our 1.2mm Viper hulls so it folds smaller, packs lighter and is easy to handle solo. Twin-hull stability, 5-Year Warranty with global support and priced ~$500 below comparable 0.9mm imports.
Not sure which suits you? Talk to a real boat owner.
Before you spend a cent
Buying from Australia, delivered to United States
You have never heard of us, we are on the other side of the world, and the internet is full of fakes. Fair enough. Here is everything you would need to check us out, in one place — no forms, no chat bot.
Australian designed business
Easy Inflatables, Avoca Beach NSW 2251. ABN 96 856 548 613. International orders ship from our Hong Kong hub.
222 owner reviews, 4.8 average
Read them in full, good and bad, on our reviews page.
CE certified, 7-year hull warranty
ISO 6185-3 and EU Directive 2013/53/EU. Warranty honoured worldwide.
Tracked, insured, door to door
Freight included on our supported lanes. Duty payable on arrival, stated up front.
- Who am I actually buying from?
- Easy Inflatables, Avoca Beach NSW 2251, Australia. ABN 96 856 548 613. Sean is the owner and skipper, Gary Stewart handles sales on +61 2 4335 1603, Karen Matthews handles email. The boats are Australian designed; international orders ship from our Hong Kong dispatch hub so your landed price stays competitive. Phone us before you pay a cent — a real person answers.
- Is this really an Australian product?
- Yes — Australian designed and engineered on the NSW Central Coast. Manufacturing is done offshore to our spec, and international orders ship direct from our Hong Kong dispatch hub. If we routed every boat through Australia first, the freight alone would roughly double or triple your cost for the same hull.
- What do I pay, and what is not included?
- The price you see is the boat with freight already included on our supported lanes. Import duty and local taxes are payable by you on arrival — we do not hide them inside the price, and we do not pretend they do not exist.
- How do I pay safely?
- Card through Stripe (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay) or bank transfer. Card payments carry your bank's own dispute protection. We never ask for crypto, gift cards or payment to a personal account.
- What if it arrives damaged?
- Every boat ships fully tracked and insured door to door. Photograph the carton and the boat on arrival and email us — transit damage is claimed and replaced through us, not left with you and the courier.
- Is the warranty real outside Australia?
- Yes. The 7-year hull warranty on 1.2 mm VALMEX Heavy Plus and Orca Hypalon hulls applies wherever you are. Replacement parts are held in Australia and at our overseas hub and go out by express courier to your door.
- Is the boat actually certified?
- All Aerowave catamarans are CE certified to ISO 6185-3 and EU Directive 2013/53/EU. Certification paperwork is supplied with the boat — ask and we will send it before you order.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an inflatable catamaran?
- An inflatable catamaran is a boat built from two parallel inflatable hulls joined by a deck and transom, with an open tunnel between them at the bow. The twin-hull layout gives far more stability at rest than a single round-tube inflatable, and the whole boat deflates into a carry bag.
- Is an inflatable catamaran better than a normal inflatable boat?
- For stability, drainage, beach launching and planing on smaller horsepower, yes. A round-tube inflatable is cheaper and simpler; a catamaran is steadier underfoot and drier through chop.
- Are inflatable catamarans safe in the ocean?
- They are safe in sheltered coastal water, bays, harbours and estuaries when used within their rating and with correct safety gear. Multiple independent air chambers mean a single puncture does not sink the boat. For sustained rough offshore work at speed, a RIB is the better tool.
- What size inflatable catamaran do I need?
- 3.3 m suits a solo fisher or tender duty, 3.6–3.8 m is the family sweet spot for two to three adults plus gear, and 4.0–4.5 m carries four adults with room for camping or dive kit.
- Can an inflatable catamaran have an aluminium floor?
- Open-bow catamarans use a high-pressure air deck only. The enclosed-bow Viper 400 Sovereign is the exception in our range and can be built with an aluminium floor.
- How long does an inflatable catamaran last?
- A premium VALMEX® hull with hot-air welded seams lasts 10–12 years in Australian conditions. Ours carry a 5-year hull warranty, extended to 7 years on the Viper 400 Sovereign.
- Do you need a licence for an inflatable catamaran in Australia?
- If it is powered above your state threshold, yes — licence and registration rules follow the motor, not the hull type. Requirements vary by state, so check your local maritime authority before launching.
Ready to set sail?
Premium German-fabric inflatable catamarans with express courier delivery included in the price — 7–10 days door-to-door. Talk to our team or browse the fleet.
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