Whitewater Raft Buyer's Guide

Buying a raft is no small decision. It’s a significant investment, and having the proper raft for your needs can be the difference between a fun day and a missed river trip. There are seemingly endless things to consider when shopping for an inflatable raft, including what type of boating you do, what material and floor you prefer, the best size, and more. Let’s take a closer look at each factor that will help you decide.

Intended Use

The first and most important thing to think about is what kind of boating you want to do. Are you planning to use the boat for extended overnighters, day trips with a group of paddlers and friends, or day trips with one or two other people? You may want to use your raft for fishing as well as whitewater. This will affect the size and shape raft you need.

Do you want to use the boat on big water, low-volume creeks, or a little bit of everything? You also need to consider how many days a year you can realistically get out on the water. Fewer planned days will impact the material and durability you need.

It can be difficult to know what your whitewater career has in store. Luckily, there are many raft brands and models that can be used for a wide variety of boating adventures. 

Boat Size

Rafts come in all different sizes, from as short as 10.5 feet all the way up to 18 feet. The size you need, again, depends on your intended use, the number of passengers, and river volume. Here’s a breakdown of different whitewater raft sizes.

Ten to Twelve Feet

Ten to twelve-foot rafts are as long as some kayaks and almost as nimble. A smaller boat is easier to maneuver but generally less stable. Rafts in the ten to twelve-foot range are perfect for two to four people. 

For example, avid R2ers love the 10.5 Colorado Raft from Rio Craft. It is light enough for two people to easily carry and rolls down to fit in the trunk of most cars. You can also put a frame on smaller-sized rafts and row them. A ten to twelve-foot raft can accommodate one to two people for a one-night overnighter.  

Thirteen to Fourteen Feet

Thirteen to fourteen-foot boats are often considered the most versatile size. You can fit more paddlers and more gear, but you can still R2 or R3 a raft this size. They are best suited for four to six people as a paddle boat or stern frame assist.

A thirteen to fourteen-foot raft is also versatile for overnight and multiday river trips. With the correct frame, rafts this size can support 2-3 people for up to a week on the river. In a thirteen to fourteen-foot overnight rig, there’s room for a cooler, drybox, groover boxes, and ample space for dry bags and a couple of passengers.

Fifteen to Sixteen Feet

Rafts over fourteen feet long are somewhat limited to larger volume and wider rivers. For example, outfitters on the Lochsa River in Idaho or the Gauley River in West Virginia run 16-foot boats commercially. However, a boat this size would be unwieldy on a more local run like the Arkansas or Westwater Canyon (except at very high water). 

A sixteen-foot boat, like the Colorado Raft from Rio Craft, does well as a multiday raft on rivers like the Colorado through the Grand Canyon, the Snake River through Hell’s Canyon, or the San Juan. In other words, a sixteen-foot raft is great for carrying people and gear down wide or high-volume rivers. 

Eighteen Footers

Eighteen-foot (or longer) rafts don’t make much sense for private boaters, unless you run the Grand Canyon yearly and don’t want to rent gear. The size of an eighteen-foot raft lends itself to extended multi-day raft trips, but not much else.  

Material

Raft manufacturers use a few different types of materials and fabrics to make their boats. The most common materials used today are synthetic rubber, or Hypalon, and PVC. The material you choose again depends on intended use, storage capabilities, and budget. 

Hypalon (Synthetic Rubber)

Synthetic rubber, like the Pennel Orca material (formerly called Hyalon) is known for being extremely durable, UV-resistant, and lightweight. Boats made from synthetic rubber include the NRS Otter Series. 

Pros

• Lightweight
• UV-Resistant
• Exceptional durability

Cons

• Expensive
• More difficult to repair
• Cannot be welded (Weaker seams)

PVC

Many brands prefer PVC for raft construction, including Rio Craft and AIRE. PVC is easier to source and more affordable.

Pros

• More affordable
• Weldable
• Easier to repair

Cons

• Heavy
• Shouldn’t be stored in extreme cold
• Suseptible to UV damaage

Floor Type

It is unlikely to encounter a new raft that isn’t self-bailing. However, within the self-bailing category, there are a few different floor options. 

Drop Stitch

Drop-stitch floors utilize thousands of vertical threads (stitches) to connect two layers of PVC or synthetic rubber. The vertical threads create a highly rigid and stable floor for the raft. 

Pros

• Highly rigid
• Flat surface
• Stable

Cons

• Difficult to repair
• Less forgiving

I-beam

I-beam raft floors consist of one chamber supported by internal walls or I-beams that run the length of the raft. The internal chamber walls, or I-beams, give the floor support and rigidity.

Pros

• Easy to repair
• Lightweight
• More forgiving

Cons 

• Doesn’t create a flat surface
• Less rigid

Laced-in versus Glued

Raft floors, both drop-stitch and I-beam, can attach to the outer tubes in different ways. For example, some rafts come with the floor already glued in, and others require lacing the floor in. We’ll take a look at both.

Lace-in Floors

Rafts like the AIRE Cub come with a lace-in floor. As the name suggests, the floor attaches to the tubes with a cord or rope. There are pros and cons to this type of floor. On the pro side, lace-in floors are easy to replace if they become unusable. On the other hand, the rope can fail on the river, and your floor can partially detach.

Pros

• Easy to replace
• Quick-bailing
• Customize valve position

Cons

• Complex setup
• Labor intensive
• Cord/rope can fail

Glued-in Floor

In some rafts, the floor is permanently attached to the raft tubes using adhesive. Glue creates a seamless bond between the floor and the tubes. A glued-in floor won’t bail as fast, but also won’t accidentally detach on the river.

Pros

• No setup
• Lighter
• Permanently attached

Cons

• Difficult to repair/replace
• Limited customization

Final Thoughts

A raft is a significant investment, but the return is river days, new canyons, and lifelong memories. Finding the right one takes time and research. You’ll want to know what kind of boating you plan to do on which rivers, preferred material and floor types, and your budget.

This blog is a great starting point. For more information, give us a call at 970-259-3893, and our raft experts are happy to help!