Rafts: Inflatable rafts can be used on rivers and lakes for water recreation or fishing. An inflatable raft is commonly used for white water rapid rafting.

Europe | North America | Oceania

Inflatable rafts are typically used on rivers and lakes and white water rafting.  Rafts are flat bottomed using the buoyancy of its materials to keep it afloat.  Inflatable rafts use reinforced fabric made out of rubber or plastics that is capable to hold air pressure. The air inside the inflatable rafts maintains the buoyancy, even if the materials and the cargo above it are much denser than water.  Some inflatable rafts have aluminum or steel sheets as the flooring. This forms the keel or the main structure of the raft to which all materials are attached to.  Inflatable rafts can be manufactured from PVC detex nitrilon polyester, EPDM (Ethylene-propylene-diene) rubber, hypalon, neoprene, polyurethane and natural rubber.  The seams on an inflatable raft are normally heat welded.

English Terminology: inflatable rafts, raft, rafting, river, white water, PVC detex nitrilon polyester, EPDM (Ethylene-propylene-diene) rubber, hypalon, neoprene, polyurethane, natural rubber

French Terminology: radeaux gonflables, raft, rafting, rivière, l'eau blanche, Polyester PVC nitrilon dtex, EPDM (éthylène-propylène-diène) en caoutchouc, hypalon, néoprène, polyuréthane, caoutchouc naturel

German Terminology: Schlauchboote, Floß, Rafting, Fluss, Wildwasser, PVC Detex Nitrilon Polyester, EPDM (Ethylen-Propylen-Dien)-Kautschuk, Hypalon, Neopren, Polyurethan, Naturkautschuk

Spanish Terminology: balsas inflables, balsa, rafting, río, agua blanca, Detex PVC nitrilon poliéster, EPDM (etileno-propileno-dieno) de goma, hypalon, neopreno, poliuretano, caucho natural