Which Whitewater Raft is the Right Fit?
Rocky Mountain Rafts has a myriad of options to choose from. Solo paddling and casual family float trips are at different ends of the spectrum, but RMR has you covered including all options in between. Small boats, large expedition style crafts, and countless framing and rigging options allow for customization specific to any water and crew size. If you most often paddle technical waters as a solo paddler, a raft like the ThunderCloud would be a good fit. The ThunderCloud and Storm rafts smaller crafts that are very responsive, great for making hair pin turns in tight spaces. If you float with larger groups of friends and family most often, then a slightly more substantial and more forgiving boat like the SB-120 would fit the bill. If hauling gear like tents, coolers, and other dry storage boxes, then rafts on the larger end of the specs like the SB-140 or the SB-160 may suit your needs. All of these rafts and more can be viewed at:
https://rockymountainrafts.com/collections/rafts-1
Sizing Your Raft
We can generalize RMR’s raft sizes into small, medium, and large. Small rafts are boats that measure 10-12 feet. They are designed to transport 2-4 people comfortably. They are easy to control, making them nimble and responsive on the water. The 10-12 footers are compact enough to make transportation manageable for smaller vehicles, and in some cases, without a trailer. The medium size rafts in the 13-14ft range are universal in terms of their functionality. Their size is made for larger groups of up to 8 people. They can be managed with small or large crews on a wide variety of waters. Finally, the largest rafts in the RMR lineup are from 16-18’ in length. These big boats are used mostly by outfitters doing multi day expeditions and families wanting to camp and carry their gear. Of course, they require more space to store and are more difficult to transport. If you are just getting into the game and not sure what you need, give the medium size rafts a look. As mentioned, they can be adapted and rigged to accommodate most situations. When the moment of truth comes and you are selecting a raft to purchase, be sure to consider which floats you will most often be doing.
If you are perusing the inventory, you can quickly identify the size of the raft and the floor type by the letters and numbers listed in the name of each specific raft. For example, the SB-180 is an 18’ gear hauling machine for commercial guides with an I-beam floor while the SBDS-140 is a 14’ boat with a drop stitch (DS) floor.
Which Type of Floor is Right for You?
If you’ve floated in different style rafts, you may already be aware of the different vibes that drop stitch and I-beam floors bring to the vessel. I-beam floors are more common in whitewater rafts. The I-beam’s profile in the water allows them to track well which can come in handy when running technical lines. You will feel the flexibility of an I-beam frame as it bends to the will of rocks, boulders, and rough water.
Drop stitch floors offer a totally different feel. They are rigid and flat across the bottom of the raft. This feel may be desirable for anglers or those wanting to move about the boat as conditions allow. If you are bringing along kids or dogs, the stability of a drop stitch floor is unmatched. Drop stitch floors are great for storing gear as well.
Niche Boats
Thus far we’ve been focusing on the versatility of many of RMR’s rafts like the lower end of the SB series. However, RMR also has models dedicated to specific purposes. The Peak series rafts are made for experienced paddlers running high flows and technical lines. These are medium to large rafts designed primarily as paddle rafts, frames can be fitted to be a more versatile choice. The larger end boats in the SB series are niche rafts as well. The SB-160, SBDS-160, and the SB-180 are gear boats made for big groups on big waters.
All of RMR’s boats and rigging options are viewable here:
https://rockymountainrafts.com/
