True Kit inflatables are so compact they fit in a motorhome

Bag to Water in Minutes

True Kit folding inflatable boats are the easiest and fastest in the world to set up. Keep one in the yacht, the motorhome or the boot of your car! Our agile boats allow any stretch of water to be your playground. Hit the water in minutes. True Kit make the outdoors more accessible.

Catamarans, by design

Our up-to-the-minute designs are based on an ultra-efficient catamaran platform which means our boats out-perform most. They are tough but lightweight and will plane with just the smallest of outboards. Faster, lighter, more stable and more fuel-efficient. Oh, and way more fun!

Five year warranty

We use German-made Valmex® fabric and thermo-welded seams. We have strict quality protocols that ensure our boats stand up to their owner's demands. True Kit has become the leader in quality folding boats. Our boats are lightweight, sturdy and durable.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

We love our boats, we're sure you will too! That's why we offer our unmatched 30-day full refund if you aren't completely satisfied with your new True Kit. Simply return it, and we'll pay you back.

Testimonials

Hi Rod. We had a great weekend down the bottom end of Waiheke and once again the True kit 2.5 m was a glamour. We had Lynda’s parents out for the day who are both in there 80s and got them ashore at Man of War for a few wines. This would not have been possible with the old inflatable as it was just to unstable and deep to step into. It was so easy for them to step off the duck board and onto the flat floor which is so nice on the feet plus being able to step off the front when you get to shore was perfect. The stability of these boat is something i have never seen before. Also the fact i have it deflated inside the boat now and out of the weather while i’m away is exactly what i wanted.

— Tony Rae

In its folded and bagged configuration the True Kit range is very portable and fits nicely into the boot of even the smallest car. Getting from bag to boat is easy and quick. Quality is the initial impression. They are immaculately presented and offer clean lines and sturdy construction.

Without a large, rigid hull to drag through the water, planing speeds were easy to achieve. Acceleration is instant with the air deck rising clear of the water to give a nice cushioning effect to the ride which was dry and comfortable in the left-over slop.

— Boating NZ Magazine

When we purchased our launch, we needed a new tender. Our first point of call was TrueKit. We had heard from other TrueKit customers that these tenders were amazing, and wow, we weren't disappointed! The quality of our new 3m Navigator was superb. It was very simple to inflate on the back of our boat and the stability of the Navigator was brilliant. Very safe and dry for all my family to use, and in the Winter months, we simply put it away in the bag and keep it inside our boat.

— Ian Darby

We were looking for a new tender for our launch to replace our rigid bottom inflatable and came across the True Kit range. We purchased a Navigator 3m and can honestly say its the best tender we have ever had or used. would never go back to a conventional inflatable.
They are so stable, easily driven and easy to assemble.

— Harry Dodson

We're proud that RAILBLAZA's top-quality mounting systems have been specified for True Kit's innovative inflatables; both companies are dedicated to delivering superb products and our association is proof that kiwis continue to lead the world in marine design.

— Ross Pratt, Owner RAILBLAZA

Ordered the Tactician 3.5m Camo - far exceeded expectations. When you open the box and unroll the boat, the thing is so small and light it's almost unbelievable. And then you pump it up and it just gets better - plenty of room for one, comfortable for two, amazingly stable and rigid, yet still small and easy enough to carry by myself. You can spot the quality materials and attention to details! Extremely happy with the tactician.

— Jesse Wood

TRUE KIT collection

True Kit Tactician - Inflatable Fishing Kayak from $2,099.00 NZD

True Kit Navigator - Ultimate Catamaran Yacht Tender from $1,999.00 NZD

True Kit Explorer - Folding Kayak in a Backpack from $1,599.00 NZD

True Kit Discovery - Escape Boring from $2,799.00 NZD

True Kit + Yamaha packages

The Discovery Package $5,999.00 NZD

True Kit Fishermans package for catching more fish

True Kit Fisherman's Package $4,100.00 NZD

Motor Caravanner Package $5,400.00 NZD

Big Boys Toys Package $7,350.00 NZD

TRUE KIT FOLDING, LIGHTWEIGHT INFLATABLE BOAT RANGE

The unbeatable convenience of a stable, lightweight folding inflatable boat that stows away in a bag makes True Kit the perfect solution for boaties, fishermen, motorhomers or backwoods explorers.

The True Kit Concept

True Kit is an innovative, independent company that designs, tests and produces an exclusive range of ultra high quality, folding inflatable boats and kayaks. Founder Rod Dawson is a professional yachtsman who individually designs and tests each model to ensure they perform to True Kit standards. Rod loves nothing better than perfecting the ultimate folding inflatable boat. See "Our Story".

“We help people to get out onto the water. Our goal is to make everyones boating experience better by making our inflatable boats lighter, more stable and the easiest in the world to pack down. Our boats are used as fishing kayaks, yacht tenders and rescue and support boats. A boat that is simple and fast to set up and fold down gets used a lot. Safety, reliability and stability and core values at the heart of each True Kit tender. We’ve brought some much needed fresh thinking to inflatables.”

Bringing fresh thinking to inflatable design

True Kit’s relentless drive to innovate and produce the best available inflatable boats has lead to the latest collection of True Kit New Generation designs. Our boats are designed and tested in New Zealand and sent all around the world.

All our inflatables are based on a safe, stable catamaran platform, and are designed to be lightweight and compact enough to fit into a bag. With this incredible versatility and practicality we haven’t forgotten performance however - all our boats deliver an exhilarating ride.

The Best Materials

We leave second best to the others.

Quality and durability were uppermost in our minds when we were choosing the materials for the new True Kit range. After extensive research and testing we have chosen the world’s leading, premium fabric for inflatable boats - Valmex® by Mehler Germany. With over 60 years experience in the development of textiles, Mehler bring the most advanced technology to ensure their high quality, German made textiles are longer lasting. Valmex® demonstrates superior flexibility, elasticity, airtightness and resistance against mechanical damage and UV. Valmex® is also recyclable. Valmex® is manufactured in Germany under the internationally recognised standard of quality: ISO 9001:2008. Read more about materials for inflatable boats.

The Best Engineering

At True Kit we aim to use the best technology available in the inflatable industry. Many people will have seen poor quality inflatable boats literally falling apart at the (glued) seams after a short period! At True Kit we are safety conscious and that is not an option. The seam can be an inflatable boat's Achilles Heel - or the strongest part. We choose to thermo-weld the seams on our boats to create the strongest bond available (a permanent mechanical bond). A welded seam on a True Kit inflatable actually becomes stronger than the fabric itself (notwithstanding the fact that the fabric we use is the best in the world). Read more about thermo-welding seams for inflatable boats.

Designed by boaties, for boaties

As boaties ourselves, we know the importance of good design. Our new range of boats are completely new designs and are exclusive to True Kit.

Our boats are different to the others. They are not mass-produced. Our focus is on high quality production and that’s why we have put endless hours into the design details. True Kit New Generation designs are the result of extensive testing and refining the designs on the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand (someone has to do it!). That’s why our boats look better, perform better and last longer than the others. We take pride in the fact that things work all the way down to the last d-ring on the boat. We are driven by innovation and a love of the sea.

Safety and Stability

Safety and stability are important values to True Kit. We realise that when you head out on the water, safety is a number one priority. Our unique catamaran design and oversize pontoons mean True Kit inflatables exhibit superior buoyancy and stability. Many people are surprised that you can actually stand up in our boats! Multiple chambers add to the safety and welded seams means you will take your family on the water with peace of mind. In fact, True Kit inflatables are now being used for flood RESCUE and recovery from the water by many organisations around the world.

As well as being very stable, the catamaran design means significantly less drag than a typical deep-v hull. Low-drag hulls allow for the use of much smaller, lighter, more affordable and more fuel-efficient outboard engines. Another big advantage of the cat-hull design is the shallow draught, which is perfect for use in shallow waters and great when beaching your boat - it sits flat on the beach, step out with dry shoes!

Great boats - out of the bag!

True Kit folding boats are completely portable making them perfect for your motorhome, caravan, yacht or back of the car. Our boats take just a few minutes to set up and pack down. They have a removable, high-pressure inflatable floor and high buoyancy round pontoon ends that help the boats perform incredibly well and ensure they can be rolled up into a bag. In fact, our boats are the easiest folding boats to set up and pack down available today. Your True Kit boat will fit in your motorhome, caravan or boot of your car with ease!

Blog posts

Jump onboard a True Kit Discovery with Virtual Reality

by Rod Dawson

When New Zealand Geographic needed a lightweight portable boat to access inaccessible areas around New Zealand and the Pacific you can probably guess what they chose - our True Kit Discovery. This short clip was taken on the Waikato River, keep posted for more clips coming as they use the boat in some remote places. If...

We call it "Stand up Stability"

by Rod Dawson

Many of our customers choose our True Kit tenders for their incredible stability. Where does this stability come from? It come from a combination of large tube size and catamaran design shape.

Foiling Behind a True Kit Inflatable

by Rod Dawson

Foils create lift and are used underneath many watercraft including surfboards, SUPs, kiteboards, windsurfers and yachts. Many will have seen the last Americas Cup with the foiling catamarans reaching speeds close to 50 knots.