When first-generation life rafts were produced during WW II
, they were yellows as manufacturers thought that the yellow was the easiest color to spot in rescue missions. For decades, yellow was the color of choice for serious inflatable boats whether they are life rafts or not. However, research shows that orange is an even more effective that most life rafts today have orange canopies.
When neoprene and Hypalon were came out as a more viable inflatable boat material, inflatable's came out in black as it was the natural color of neoprene and Hyperion. The drawback was that black absorbs light and heat that a black inflatable left in the sun would be too hot to handle. Manufacturers tweaked the formulation by adding a white coloring agent to turn the black to dark gray. After that, almost all inflatables were dark gray.
When polyvinyl chloride (PVC) boats came out in the late 1970s they were gray like the Hypalon boats. However, it is easy to add dyes o PVC as in no time at all, different colors of PVC boats came out. It was common back then to spot two-tone boats. Achilles made red boats. West Marine and HBI manufacture blue fabric that seems to be resistant to fading.
The color that you choose for your inflatable all depends on you. If you choose dark colors, they will absorb more heat. Note that dark-colored inflatable used as a dinghy for your yacht will not "stain" your hull with its black rub-rails and oar-locks. Light colored boats are susceptible to stains and will not bode well for a life raft as it is not highly visible in an ocean of whitecaps. Reds and oranges are more visible and ideal in case it breaks loose from the main ship. The military and probably duck hunters too will want a camouflage color. If you are not particular with any color, just chose the one that you like and can afford.
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