Wing Replacement Sponsons
We have worked hard to replicate the form of the original sponson while in most cases far exceeding the fit and overall function of the original:
Some of our over 200 existing replacement sponsons designs include:
Four Types of Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) Sponsons:
WING® Inflatables specializes in designing and manufacturing four types of RIB tubes, or sponsons. There are advantages to each type. Which you choose depends on the specific purpose and application of the RIB in real-world situations. You can be sure any of the four types are the world's most durable.
Air-Holding Tubes (Collars)
Air-holding tubes are the traditional RIB sponson; cylindrical in shape with hull attachment points to the inside. Air-holding tubes are divided into a number of independent inflatable sections by baffles so that if one section fails the rest of the tube remains inflated. The number of inflatable sections depends on the overall length of the tube.
- Excellent shock absorption
- Lower production cost
- Lower shipping cost
- Deflated tube narrows beam for transport
- Loss of air means loss of flotation
The Air-D Style Sponson
The D-shaped collar system offers several advantages over full body or circular shaped tubes. Learn More >
Foam-Filled Air-Holding Tubes (Collars)
Redundant flotation is the key feature of this air-holding tube. High-density, non-absorbent foam is packed into each chamber. In the rare event of a breach in the polyurethane fabric and a loss of air pressure, the packed foam maintains the chambers shape and 90% of it's flotation factor.
- Excellent shock absorption
- Redundant flotation for any traditional air-holding tube
- Higher initial cost
- Higher shipping cost
Air/Foam Hybrid Collars Patent #6,460,477B1
enlarge hybrid detailThe Air/Foam hybrid melds characteristics of air-holding and foam-insert collars. The key to the hybrid is the inflatable bladder lying against the hull inside the foam. By inflating the bladder the foam is forced away from the hull bringing the polyurethane sheath around the foam under tension. This makes for a wrinkle free, cosmetically clean and pleasing foam sponson that provides very good shock absorption while holding it's shape over time far better than a foam sponson without the internal bladder.
- Very good shock absorption
- foam and sheath under tension for clean and firm hull to sponson contact under all conditions
- Cannot be deflated
- If bladder is punctured, foam and collar remain fully functional
- Some option on shape and profile
- Higher production cost
- Higher shipping cost
- Jigs required
Foam Collars
A foam collar sponson consists of closed-cell (non-absorbent) high-density foam surrounded by a polyurethane sheath attached to the hull above and below to keep it in place.
- Very good shock absorption
- Cannot be deflated
- Some option on shape and profile
- Higher production cost
- Higher shipping cost
- Jigs required
- Polyurethane sheath can lose taughtness with foam compression
