PVC or Hypalon: which material should you choose for RIB tubes?

Choosing the tube material is one of the important decisions when buying or restoring a RIB. Two materials dominate the market: PVC and Hypalon®, now technically referred to as CSM/CR.

The right choice does not depend on price alone. UV exposure, temperature, how often you use the boat, storage conditions, the risk of abrasion and how long you plan to keep the boat must also be taken into account.

So, Hypalon or PVC? Which material should you choose for a RIB tube? What are the advantages and limits of each? And when can the extra cost of Hypalon/CSM be worth it? Here are the main criteria to compare.

PVC or Hypalon: what are the differences?

Before going into detail, here is a comparison of the main characteristics of the two materials used for inflatable boat and RIB tubes.

So there is no single material that suits every boat. Above all, the choice should be matched to how you actually use your RIB.

PVC: an affordable, lightweight option

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a thermoplastic widely used in the marine industry. It is valued in particular for its production cost and relative lightness.

On tubes, PVC can be welded, which is one of its distinguishing features compared with CSM/CR fabrics, which are glued.

The main advantages of PVC

• A more affordable price: the cost of the material and its manufacture means boats and tubes can generally be offered at lower prices.
• Light weight: this can be useful on some small boats, especially tenders and easily portable models.
• Industrial manufacturing: welding the material makes it possible to assemble the different parts of the tube efficiently.
• Wide availability: PVC is very common on the inflatable boat and RIB market.

PVC can therefore be a perfectly sensible choice for a boat used regularly in controlled conditions, especially when it is properly maintained and stored.

The limits of PVC

The main limit of PVC shows when the material is repeatedly exposed to particularly demanding conditions. UV, heat and large temperature changes can speed up its ageing, especially when the boat is regularly left in the sun.

Storage therefore plays an important role. A PVC boat left outside all the time in a very sunny region will not face the same stresses as one that is rinsed, cleaned and stored under cover after each use.

Repairs to a PVC tube must also be carried out with products specifically compatible with flexible PVC. A glue or fabric designed for CSM/CR should not automatically be used on a PVC tube.

Hypalon® / CSM: a material designed for demanding conditions

Hypalon® is the trade name historically used for a family of materials based on chlorosulfonated rubber. The material used in boating today is generally referred to as CSM/CR.

CSM/CR fabrics are particularly valued in boating for their resistance to external damage and their ability to keep their properties in harsh conditions.

The main advantages of Hypalon® / CSM

• UV resistance: the material copes particularly well with prolonged exposure to the sun.
• Heat resistance: CSM/CR is suited to environments with high temperatures.
• Hydrocarbon resistance: particularly useful in harbours and when using a powered boat.
• Resistance to rubbing and abrasion: the material suits boats that are regularly exposed to contact and handling.
• Repairability: repairs can be made by cold gluing with a system suited to CSM/CR fabric.
• Customisation: repair fabrics are available in many colours and finishes.

ORCA CSM/CR fabrics come in several ranges suited to different boat sizes, with many colours and finishes available.

The limits of Hypalon® / CSM

Its main drawback is its higher price. The material is also generally heavier than PVC of comparable construction.

The manufacturing process is different: the joins are glued and require suitable preparation and know-how. This does not mean that a CSM/CR tube is weak at its joins, simply that its manufacture and repair rely on a different technique from welded PVC.

PVC vs Hypalon: which material to choose for your use?

The best way to choose between PVC and Hypalon/CSM is to start from your use rather than from the material itself.

You use your boat a few weeks a year

If your RIB is used mainly during the holidays and is stored away from sun and damp the rest of the year, PVC can be a perfectly suitable choice.

In this case, its more affordable price can be the deciding factor, as long as you follow the manufacturer's recommendations on cleaning, inflation and storage.

Your boat often stays outside

If your boat is regularly exposed to sun, heat and bad weather, the material's resistance to UV and temperature changes becomes much more important.

In this context, the properties of CSM/CR can justify its higher initial cost, especially for owners who want to keep their boat for many years.

You regularly go out in demanding conditions

For intensive use, rubbing, coming alongside, repeated handling and exposure to hydrocarbons can weigh more heavily in the choice of material.

Hypalon/CSM is particularly well suited to this type of environment thanks to its resistance to UV, heat, hydrocarbons and abrasion.

Your priority is a light, economical boat

PVC can be a good option when weight and purchase price are the top priorities, especially for some small boats and tenders.

The choice should still take into account the quality of the fabric, its weight, the construction of the tube and the manufacturer's recommendations. Whether a tube is PVC or CSM/CR is not enough on its own to determine how tough it is overall.

Which material for a RIB used in the Mediterranean?

This question is particularly relevant for owners who regularly go out in very sunny regions.

A RIB used in the Mediterranean can be exposed to a strong combination of UV radiation, heat, salt, rubbing and temperature changes. Outdoor storage for several months can also speed up the ageing of materials.

In these conditions, the resistance of CSM/CR to UV and high temperatures is a major advantage. That does not, of course, mean you can skip regular maintenance: no material should be left dirty, damp or unprotected for long periods.

How to tell a PVC tube from a Hypalon tube?

When you buy a used boat or need to repair a tube, it is essential to identify the material correctly before choosing products.

The first source of information is the manufacturer's documentation, the invoice or the model specifications. On an older boat, however, this information may have been lost.

Some visual clues can help, but they do not always identify the material with certainty. Texture, finish, joins and the look of the fabric can vary between manufacturers and generations of boats.

If in doubt before a repair, it is better to ask a professional to confirm than to apply an adhesive or fabric without knowing exactly what the material is.

PVC or Hypalon: which is easier to repair?

The repair depends above all on the material and the extent of the damage.

For a CSM/CR tube, a localised repair can be made by gluing on a fabric compatible with the tube. The glue system, surface preparation and working conditions are decisive for a lasting repair.

For a PVC tube, you need to use a repair system specifically designed for flexible PVC. The methods and products are not interchangeable with those intended for CSM/CR.

If the fabric is very old, badly cracked, porous or has a lot of damage, a simple spot repair may no longer be the best solution. In that case, a bigger restoration or replacing the tube may be worth considering.

For major damage, it is recommended to have the boat examined by a specialist repairer. Orca Retail also has a network of inflatable boat and RIB repairers.

Which material lasts longer?

It is hard to give a universal lifespan for PVC or Hypalon/CSM. How long a tube actually lasts depends on many factors: quality and construction of the fabric, how often it is used, UV exposure, temperature, inflation, storage, cleaning and the repairs made over time.

A properly maintained CSM/CR tube can keep its properties for many years. Orca notes that a tube made of Hypalon fabric can last up to 25 years when properly maintained.

Durability should therefore be seen as the result of a combination of factors rather than a property of the material alone.

So, PVC or Hypalon for your inflatable tube?

In the end, the choice depends on your boat and how you are going to use it.

• Choose PVC if price, light weight and leisure use in controlled conditions are your main priorities.
• Go for CSM/CR if your boat is heavily exposed to sun, heat, hydrocarbons or intensive use.
• Take storage into account: a boat protected from the sun and properly maintained will not age in the same way as one left outside all year round.
• Don't choose on price alone: the initial cost is only one of the factors to consider over the whole time you own the boat.
• For a repair, always identify the material before choosing the glue and fabric.

PVC and Hypalon/CSM can therefore both be good choices. The key question is which material best matches your boating conditions, how often you go out, your environment and how long you plan to keep the boat.

Repairing a Hypalon tube with ORCA

• All ORCA Hypalon fabrics by the metre
• Neoprene glue + hardener kit: everything you need to glue a patch onto Hypalon
• Colour sample fan: one sample of each colour
• Find an ORCA repairer: for major damage

Further reading

• Replacing or repairing a RIB tube: costs and methods
• All about Hypalon: a versatile and durable synthetic material
• Inflation guide for your RIB
• Restoring a used inflatable boat: costs and method