22/10/2026
No inflatable tubes. So what keeps a SALTender afloat?
It’s a question we hear regularly.
A SALTender relies on its structure and dedicated buoyancy volumes:
Our design includes three watertight volumes, together with the peripheral foam protection, to provide buoyancy.
Those watertight volumes can also be filled with foam for additional safety or equipped with an inflatable bladder when weight reduction is a priority.
And on a RIB, inflatable tubes aren’t the only factor contributing to stability:
Initial stability depends primarily on hull shape and the volume of water displaced.
Tubes can provide additional stability when they come into contact with the water, but a stable tender doesn’t necessarily depend on them.
At SALTenders, buoyancy and stability are designed into the boat itself.