On a 24 ft bowrider, the question is whether a dock fits under the seat. On a 40 m motor yacht, it’s whether the crew can launch the dock, the jet skis and the Seabobs before the guests finish breakfast. Both owners are buying an inflatable dock for a boat, but the list of questions is different. This page is the buyer’s guide for owners, captains and crew. An inflatable dock is a type of floating dock: it floats on air chambers instead of plastic cubes or foam-filled pontoons.
In short: on a boat, packed size, weight and how the dock attaches matter as much as deck size. Small-boat owners usually buy a consumer dock about 10 ft long; yachts usually order docks from specialist makers by quote, shaped to the stern and the toy list. Ask about rated loads per craft, inflation source, sheltered-water use, and warranty terms if the yacht charters.
What owners need from a dock on board
| Boat | Usual need | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon, bowrider, fishing boat | A swim and boarding deck at anchor that stows aboard | Boat docks, boarding |
| Cruiser with a jet ski or tender | A PWC bay or tender landing as well as a deck | Jet ski docks |
| Motor yacht or superyacht | Stern dock, toy island, multi-craft layout | Yacht docks |
| Any boat with paddle craft | A low launch deck | Launching kayaks and toys |
Stowage and handling
Ask for the packed size and weight before anything else. Published weights we found: Island Hopper’s 10 x 3 ft Mini Mate rolls up at 32 lb and its 10 x 10 ft Mega Yacht Dock at 75 lb; Jobe’s Infinity Dock is 19 kg and its PWC Dock 21 kg; Henshaw’s single jet ski dock is 35 kg and the twin 54 kg; Yachtbeach’s 8.20 m platform is 78 kg. Then ask how it inflates: Henshaw docks take a ship’s airline or a 12/24 V pump, and NautiBuoy says its largest units inflate in under 4 minutes.
Questions to ask the maker or dealer
- Rated loads per craft and per bay. Name your jet ski, Seabob or tender and its weight. A people rating is not a PWC rating.
- Attachment. How it ties to your stern or rail, and what happens when the boat swings at anchor. RAVE’s manual, for its consumer dock, warns that tethering to boats increases injury risk.
- Sea state. What conditions it is designed for. No maker we checked publishes a wind or wave limit; yacht docks are presented for sheltered anchorages.
- Material and repair. PVC or Hypalon (Henshaw uses a Hypalon tube base), welded or glued seams, and who repairs it where you cruise.
- Ballast. Whether ballast bags are included; NautiBuoy’s fill on launch and FreeStyle includes ballasts and pumps.
- Warranty. Jobe and FreeStyle state 3 years. Ask how charter use affects it.
Charter yachts: guests on the dock
Inflatable jet ski docks are already used on charter yachts, as charter-industry press reports. Once paying guests use the dock, three more questions come up: does the warranty cover commercial use, does the yacht’s insurance cover the dock and toys, and what do the rules of the cruising ground say? Some marine authorities regulate passenger landing platforms; Singapore’s, for example, requires them to be certified by a classification society. Set crew procedures for launching, supervision and recovery, and keep engines and generators off near the dock, since the CDC warns carbon monoxide collects near the stern.
Insurance questions for owners
- Is the dock covered as equipment aboard, or does it need its own listing on the policy?
- Are injuries to guests on the dock covered, and does it matter whether crew are present?
- Does charter use change cover for the dock and the toys tied to it?
Docks for boats and yachts in our catalog
FunAir Toy Island
by FunAir
- Stated capacity: Up to 4 jet skis or dinghies, or 2 Seabobs plus guests (maker)
Henshaw Jet Ski Dock (single and twin)
by Henshaw Inflatables
- Thickness: About 100 mm double-wall drop-stitch top
Island Hopper Mega Yacht Dock 10 x 10
by Island Hopper
- Size (as stated): 10 x 10 ft
- Stated capacity: 2,000 lb load rating
- Thickness: 6 in
Island Hopper Mini Mate Yacht Dock 10 x 3
by Island Hopper
- Size (as stated): 10 x 3 ft
- Stated capacity: 1,000 lb load rating
- Thickness: 6 in
Jobe Infinity Dock
by Jobe
- Size (as stated): 250 x 233 cm
- Stated capacity: 300 kg maximum user weight
- Thickness: 20 cm
Most yacht docks are quote-only. Send your boat’s length, stern layout and toy list through Request more information. We are an independent guide and don’t sell docks. For consumer docks with prices, see best inflatable docks. Back to industries; see also marinas, rentals and charter. To add a slide that lands beside the dock, BoatSlide covers yacht slides.
Consumer docks sized for boats
If your boat carries its own dock, Island Hopper publishes a clear size ladder for boaters. Its 10 x 3 ft Mini Mate has a 1,000 lb load rating and rolls up at 32 lb; the 10 x 6 ft Yacht Dock is rated 1,500 lb, weighs 53 lb and has rubber corner bumpers; the 10 x 10 ft Mega Yacht Dock is rated 2,000 lb and weighs 75 lb rolled. Those are load ratings, not people counts, so ask how many people each allows. On larger boats, Jobe’s Infinity modules (19 to 21 kg each) link into bigger layouts and are sold through dealers.
Whatever the size, measure the locker or lazarette where the dock will live, and check that one or two people can lift it over the rail.
Finally, think about who will handle the dock on a normal day. On a family boat it is usually the owner and one helper, so weight and packed size decide everything. On a crewed yacht, the crew’s time and the deck space for drying and stowing the dock matter as much as the purchase price. Ask the maker for the launch and recovery steps before you commit.
Boat and yacht owner questions
What size inflatable dock fits a small boat?
Narrow docks stow and launch most easily. Island Hopper sells 10 x 3 ft and 10 x 6 ft docks for use beside boats; measure your storage space against the packed size before buying.
Can a yacht dock be made to fit my stern?
Yes, that is what custom makers offer. SeaRaft, for example, shapes docks to the stern for one to six jet skis.
Who launches the dock on a crewed yacht?
The deck crew, following the maker’s instructions and the captain’s procedures. Ask the maker for training material when you order.
Are yacht docks covered by warranty?
Jobe and FreeStyle state 3 years. Island Hopper lists a 5-year warranty with registration on its Yacht Dock. Read the commercial-use terms if the yacht charters.