In article , Bill Tuthill
writes:

The AIRE rafts are heavier in the river (due to water sticking between
the bladder and cover) and heavier during a portage, which makes them
unsuitable for low-flow/rocky portage-fest rivers. However this also
makes them more stable in big water.

If you are planning to do mostly silty Colorado-plateau rivers, I would
urge you to get a hypalon boat, such as Hyside, instead. The hypalon
rafts are lower performance, but roll up smaller. And let's face it:
all rafts are low performance, so does it really matter.

Do you think that this really makes much of a difference in weight? I haven't
found it to be true in my experience. I just don't think that an inflated boat
will hold that much extra water.

Sotar boats are good boats, as are Wings. The fabric is a bit hard to repair,
but you seldom need to repair one.

Why would you use hypalon on the Colorado other than they roll up better?


SYOTR
Larry C.