I've been saving for a raft for the last few years and I am now ready
to purchase one. I've used SOTAR rafts in the past, and have been
pleased with them. I am leaning towards a SOTAR, but if cost weren't
a consideration what raft would you buy? Many people have been
steering me towards AIRE, but I am concerned that with their bladder
system, that AIRE boats must be stored inflated (in the winter).
Which boat would you buy if you had about 5k to throw around.

"springer" wrote in message
om...
I've been saving for a raft for the last few years and I am now ready
to purchase one. I've used SOTAR rafts in the past, and have been
pleased with them. I am leaning towards a SOTAR, but if cost weren't
a consideration what raft would you buy? Many people have been
steering me towards AIRE, but I am concerned that with their bladder
system, that AIRE boats must be stored inflated (in the winter).
Which boat would you buy if you had about 5k to throw around.

None ... for that $$$ buy an Avon

springer wrote:
I've been saving for a raft for the last few years and I am now ready
to purchase one. I've used SOTAR rafts in the past, and have been
pleased with them. I am leaning towards a SOTAR, but if cost weren't
a consideration what raft would you buy? Many people have been
steering me towards AIRE, but I am concerned that with their bladder
system, that AIRE boats must be stored inflated (in the winter).
Which boat would you buy if you had about 5k to throw around.

What will be using it for?

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.

(springer) wrote in message
Which boat would you buy if you had about 5k to throw around.

You won't go wrong with either a SOTAR or an Aire - I would also look
at Avon and Hyside. If money was no object, I would definitely choose
an Avon.

EBay has had several new 14' SOTARS lately up for auction. They have
been going for under $2000. They are out of Grant's Pass Oregon so I
suspect they may be from the factory. A real deal.

Randy

avon

I am looking to use it for fishing and whitewater. I go to the
following rivers often, the New and gauley rivers in WV, Maine and
possibly the snake this summer. I would like to get a rowing frame
for it, for when I intend to fish.

Bill Tuthill wrote in message ...
springer wrote:
I've been saving for a raft for the last few years and I am now ready
to purchase one. I've used SOTAR rafts in the past, and have been
pleased with them. I am leaning towards a SOTAR, but if cost weren't
a consideration what raft would you buy? Many people have been
steering me towards AIRE, but I am concerned that with their bladder
system, that AIRE boats must be stored inflated (in the winter).
Which boat would you buy if you had about 5k to throw around.

What will be using it for?

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.

What's wrong with urethane?

Bill Tuthill wrote in message ...
springer wrote:
I've been saving for a raft for the last few years and I am now ready
to purchase one. I've used SOTAR rafts in the past, and have been
pleased with them. I am leaning towards a SOTAR, but if cost weren't
a consideration what raft would you buy? Many people have been
steering me towards AIRE, but I am concerned that with their bladder
system, that AIRE boats must be stored inflated (in the winter).
Which boat would you buy if you had about 5k to throw around.

What will be using it for?

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.

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.

In rec.boats.paddle springer wrote:

I am looking to use it for fishing and whitewater. I go to the
following rivers often, the New and Gauley rivers in WV, Maine,
and possibly the Snake this summer. I would like to get a rowing frame
for it, for when I intend to fish.

You will also see Maravia boats on those rivers.

There is something to be said for the Sotar because it is lightweight.
You might end up fishing by yourself. Did you see the comparison chart
at http://creekin.net/rafts.htm ?

The floor of an AIRE raft absorbs quite a bit of water, as you notice
at take-out. It definitely affects use by a 4-person paddle crew.

What's wrong with urethane?

Urethane-coated boats don't roll up as small as hypalon boats.
Because urethane has more abrasion resistance, and is more slippery
than hypalon, urethane boats perform better in rocky rivers.

In the desert conditions of the Colorado plateau and southwest US,
where it is all-sun all the time, plastic boats tend to melt. Most
seams in a Sotar are welded, but whatever accessories are glued-on
start to slip. Moreover, silt in the water and blowing thru the air
damages these boats, despite urethane's reputed abrasion resistance.
When friends take their rafts down the Grand Canyon, the Hysides
come back looking almost new, while the Sotars look worn.

But you do not list such rivers among your usage patterns.

Personally I would not get an Avon because the gray color
looks boring in photographs.