04 · Buying
Hypalon, PVC, ORCA: what the tube is made of
Three materials, three lifespans, three prices. What survives the Texas sun.
2026-09-02 · By Hugo Ramírez
Short answer. PVC is the cheapest and the least UV-tolerant, a true Hypalon-type CSM rubber is the most UV- and chemical-resistant but heavier and pricier to work with, and newer proprietary fabrics like Orca sit between the two, aiming for Hypalon-like durability at closer to PVC weight and cost. What survives a Texas summer is mostly about UV and heat resistance, not brand names.
01 · PVC, the value choice
PVC-coated fabric is lighter and less expensive to manufacture, which is why it dominates the entry end of the inflatable market. Its weakness is UV exposure: sustained sun and heat dry out the plasticizers in the coating over years, and the fabric stiffens and cracks. In a boat that lives under a cover or in a cooler climate, this is a minor issue. In a boat that sits uncovered under a Texas sun for a full season, it is the thing that ages the boat fastest.
02 · Hypalon-type CSM, the durable choice
DuPont's original Hypalon (chlorosulfonated polyethylene, or CSM) was discontinued in 2010, and every "Hypalon" tube sold today is technically a CSM-type compound from a different supplier, applied the same way the original was. It costs more, weighs slightly more per given thickness, and resists UV, ozone and fuel exposure better than PVC over a long service life. That is the trade being made: more upfront cost and weight for a tube that ages slower under direct sun. The ADB 420's chapters list the tube fabric as "Hypalon type, supplier confirmation open," meaning the decision is made in principle and the specific supplier is still being finalized, not yet a number we will publish as settled.
Why "Hypalon" is used loosely across the industry
Because the original compound became a generic shorthand for CSM-family fabrics the way "Kleenex" became shorthand for tissue. When a listing says Hypalon, ask what the fabric actually is rather than trusting the word alone. We intend to publish the confirmed supplier once it is contracted, not before.
03 · Newer proprietary fabrics
Fabrics marketed under names like Orca are generally advanced PVC or PVC/polyurethane composites engineered to close the durability gap with CSM while staying lighter and cheaper to produce. Independent long-term data on any of these newer fabrics is thinner than the decades of field history behind both PVC and CSM, simply because they have not been in service as long. That is not a criticism, it is a reason to treat any specific durability claim about them, including ours if we make one later, as something to verify rather than take on faith.
Related reading
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