Henshaw Inflatables

What Henshaw Inflatables does

Henshaw Inflatables Limited is a UK-based specialist manufacturer of marine inflatable products, operating from Wincanton, Somerset since relocating from its original Southampton founding in 1974. The company operates as an OEM inflatable tube producer and commercial RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) tube re-fitter, with a portfolio spanning five product pillars: (1) Collars and Retubes (Inflatable, Foam, Hybrid, Fully Inflatable Crafts plus PU Spray Coating), (2) Marine Protection (Stern, Inflatable and Foam Fenders), (3) Superyacht Products and Toys (Sea Pools, Jet Ski Docks, Inflatable Platforms), (4) Safety Equipment (Self-Righting Bags, CO2 Systems, Emergency Bladders), and (5) Components, Materials and Consumables (Hypalon fabrics, valves, adhesives, pumps, repair kits, custom logos). Technical differentiators include Hypalon/CSM fabric expertise, 3D scanning and CAD design services, dropstitch construction, polyurea spray coating and laser machining. Commercial channels comprise direct e-commerce sales (102+ SKUs, global shipping), bespoke quote-based direct sales for RIB retubes and custom projects, and trade show presence at METSTRADE and Boot Dusseldorf. The company serves Commercial/Professional Marine Operators, Superyacht and Luxury Marine, Leisure Boat Owners, Government and Defence, and OEM Boat Builders, with named relationships including the RNLI for lifeboat safety applications. Henshaw operates as part of The Wing Group, a diversified conglomerate in inflatable boats, life rafts, flotation, dry suits and survival equipment, and maintains partner-brand relationships with Wing Inflatables, Mustang Survival, Fabtek Industries, Patten Companies and Kokatat.

Name

Henshaw Inflatables

Legal name

Henshaw Inflatables Limited

Website

https://henshaw.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Henshaw Inflatables Limited is a UK-based OEM manufacturer and commercial RIB tube re-fitter producing marine inflatable collars, fenders, superyacht products, safety equipment and components using Hypalon fabric, 3D scanning and CAD for commercial, superyacht, leisure, defence and OEM boat-builder customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Inflatable Products Manufacturing

NAICS

Boat Building (336612)

SIC

Plastics Foam Products (3086)

akta.pro primary industry

Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) & Inflatable Leisure Craft Manufacturing (IMAJAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Day Cruiser, Bowrider & Runabout Manufacturing (IMAJAEAI)

Keywords

• Marine inflatable manufacturing
• RIB collars and fenders
• Dropstitch inflatable products
• Custom marine fabrications
• Safety and rescue inflatables

Headquarters

HQ city

Wincanton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Marine Inflatable Products Manufacturing and Sales: Design, manufacture and sale of inflatable tubes, RIB collars, fenders, marine accessories and bespoke inflatable products. Products sold directly through e-commerce and project-based quotes for custom work.
2. Repair and Restoration Services: Professional repair and restoration services for inflatable marine products including mobile repair service available domestically and internationally. Services include surveys, repairs and maintenance.
3. RIB Retubing Services: Complete replacement of inflatable collar (tube assembly) on rigid inflatable boats. Manufacturing and installation service for new collars matching hull geometry.
4. Marine Parts and Materials: Sale of replacement parts, valves, inflation systems, adhesives, Hypalon fabrics, rubbing strake, aluminium extrusions and repair kits for DIY maintenance and repair.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Henshaw Inflatables is a UK-based marine manufacturer producing custom and standard inflatable products including RIB collars, fenders, dropstitch platforms, CO2 inflation systems, self-righting bags, and bespoke safety/lift inflatables. The company supports commercial marine, superyacht, leisure, defence, OEM boat builders, and film/TV markets with in-house design, fabrication, and repair services.

Product overview

Henshaw Inflatables is an OEM inflatable tube manufacturer and commercial RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) tube re-fitter with over 50 years of experience. The company's product portfolio is organized around five core pillars: (1) Collars and Retubes — including Inflatable Collars, RIB Retubes, Foam Collars, Hybrid Collars, Fully Inflatable Crafts, and PU Spray Coating; (2) Marine Protection Products — including Stern Fenders, Inflatable Fenders, Foam Fenders, and Custom Fenders; (3) Superyacht Products & Toys — including Sea Pools, Jet Ski Docks, Inflatable Platforms, and Bespoke Marine Projects; (4) Safety Equipment — including Self-Righting Bags, CO2 Systems, and Emergency Bladders; and (5) Comprehensive Accessories, Components, and Materials — including Hypalon fabrics (866 1500gsm and 828 1300gsm), Valves (C7, D7, A6, A7, A10), Inflation Systems (pumps, gauges), Adhesives and Sealants, Rubber Mouldings, Rubbing Strakes, Repair Kits, and Custom Logo Products. The company also offers Design Services (3D Scanning, CAD, General Arrangement Drawings), Repair Services (mobile and in-factory), and 3D Product Configurators for Softnose Tubes, Dropstitch Fenders, Inflatable Fenders, and Inflatable Spheres. All products are designed for commercial, professional, superyacht, and leisure marine vessels worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RIB Collars Custom-manufactured inflatable collars for RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) hulls, designed for commercial marine, superyacht, and leisure applications.
• Marine Fenders Inflatable marine fenders designed to protect vessels from impact during berthing and docking, available as standard and custom sizes for commercial and leisure boats.
• Dropstitch Inflatable Products High-pressure rigid inflatable products built using dropstitch construction, producing flat, stable platforms and structures for marine and commercial applications.
• CO2 Inflation Systems CO2-based automatic inflation systems designed for life rafts and emergency inflatable equipment, supplied with cylinders and fittings.
• Self-Righting Bags Inflatable self-righting bags that help recover capsized vessels to an upright position, used as safety equipment on small craft and rescue vessels.
• Custom Inflatable Solutions Bespoke design, prototyping, and fabrication service for one-off and low-volume inflatable products, including custom shapes, sizes, and colours, supported by 3D scanning and CAD design.
• Shaw 400 Emergency Bladder / Boat Lift Bags High-capacity inflatable lift bags (Shaw 400) used for emergency boat salvage and underwater lifting operations.
• Repair Services Workshop-based repair and refurbishment service for marine inflatables, including RIB collars, fenders, and other inflatable products, handling fabric patching, valve replacement, and seam repairs.
• Repair Kits and DIY Repair Products Self-service repair kits and materials for boat owners to fix inflatable products themselves, including adhesives, patches, and Hypalon materials.
• Sea Pools Inflatable sea pool structures designed to create enclosed swimming areas in coastal or sheltered waters.
• Jet Ski Docks Inflatable jet ski docks and platforms that provide stable, dry-launch surfaces for personal watercraft.
• Hypalon 866 Fabric Hypalon 866 coated fabric sold by the metre for marine inflatable repair and fabrication, priced at £26.40 per metre.
• Hypalon 828 Fabric Hypalon 828 coated fabric sold by the metre for marine inflatable repair and fabrication.
• Bostik Adhesives Bostik-brand marine-grade adhesives sold for inflatable repair and fabrication, suitable for Hypalon and other marine fabrics.
• Valves Replacement valves for inflatable marine products, available as individual spare parts via the online store.
• Pumps Manual and electric pumps for inflating marine inflatables, sold as spare accessories via the online store.
• Mouldings Inflatable mouldings and shaped components supplied as spare parts for marine inflatable products.
• Rubbing Strakes Rubbing strakes supplied as spare parts for inflatable boats to protect hulls and collars from impact damage.
• Accessories General inflatable marine accessories sold via the online store, complementing spare parts and repair offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hypalon tubes offer long service life compared to other inflatable materials when properly maintained

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wing InflatablescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWing Inflatables is part of the WING Group, the world leader in inflatable boats, life rafts, flotation, dry suits, technical apparel, and other tactical and survival solutions. Henshaw operates as part of this global group serving recreational, commercial, and military customers worldwide.
• Patten CompaniesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarine equipment distributor listed as a partner brand, suggesting distribution or reseller relationship for marine products in certain markets.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Zodiac Nautic: Global leader in RIBs and inflatable boats, with massive OEM scale and broad product portfolio spanning leisure, military, and professional segments. Comparable as both a customer (for tubes) and adjacent competitor in inflatable marine manufacturing.
• Highfield Boats: Major RIB manufacturer producing aluminum-hulled rigid inflatable boats for leisure, commercial, and superyacht tender applications. Operates at significantly larger scale than Henshaw and competes for the same OEM and end-customer segments.
• Plastimo: Established European marine equipment brand offering inflatable boats, fenders, and accessories. Comparable product portfolio across marine inflatables and accessories with broader brand reach across Europe.

Direct peers

• AB Inflatables: Manufacturer of RIBs and inflatable boats for leisure, commercial, and military applications. Comparable as a mid-sized specialist in the inflatable boat space serving similar customer profiles.
• Wing Inflatables: Parent group and sister company in marine inflatables, providing RIB collars, life rafts, and military inflatable solutions. Most directly comparable peer given shared platform and product overlap in the inflatable marine space.
• Williams Jet Tenders: Premium jet-powered superyacht tender manufacturer, comparable in superyacht market positioning and customization focus. Adjacent product category (rigid tenders vs inflatable collars) but serves the same end-customer base.
• Ribeye Boats: UK-based RIB manufacturer specializing in custom-built rigid inflatable boats for commercial, military, and leisure use. Direct competitor in the UK and international RIB market with comparable premium positioning.
• Pascoe International: Superyacht tender and limousine boat manufacturer serving the same luxury yacht segment. Comparable in custom premium build capability and superyacht customer relationships.
• Scorpion RIBs: UK-based RIB manufacturer focused on premium and custom rigid inflatable boats. Directly comparable as a UK competitor serving similar commercial, professional, and superyacht segments with custom-built inflatables.
• Brig (Brig Marine): Manufacturer of RIBs and inflatable boats with global distribution, competing in the same commercial, leisure, and professional marine segments. Comparable in OEM production scale and tube sourcing requirements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/henshawinflatables
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/henshaw-inflatables-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/henshawinflatablesltd?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Henshaw Inflatables