The PVC coated fabrics are also usually applied to a core fabric of polyester or nylon core to increase strength and tear resistance. The main benefit of PVC based fabrics is they are usually lighter in weight, they can be heat welded at the seams, and they come in a large array of colors. However, the drawbacks are they are more difficult to repair than Hypalon coated boats and on average are not as resistant to chemicals, gasoline, temperatures, abrasions, and UV rays. The way the seams are constructed is the second most important factor to consider when purchasing an inflatable. The seams can also have seam tape on the inside, outside, on both sides or on no sides.
All methods have their advantages and disadvantages.
There are three factors to consider in the seam construction. They can be either butted or overlapped. Butted seams require more accurate cutting of the chambers and precise matching of the tubes to allow both chambers to touch each other without overlapping. This butted seam process is more labor intensive, but produces a more aesthetic flat seam with less chance for air leakage. Overlapped seams are when a part of each chamber actually overlays the other chamber.