Down a Raft, Looking for replacement

[MBURNS2244]

Flying out with 70 North on the Ivishak on August 28th for my second trip up there. My buddy in Wasilla had lined up rafts, but one of them has fallen through and we need to replace it. Looking for advice on raft rental, either from a rental company or a forum member willing to rent me their raft. Any advice is welcome. May be willing to purchase a raft if anyone is selling.

Also, we took ran a boat up the river the last trip. This will be the first time on this river in a raft. Thoughts on oars vs paddles?

Thanks in advance.

[kodiak kid]

Defiantly oars, way more control. You can get in real trouble if you have a loaded raft and try to control it with paddles.

[MBURNS2244]

Thanks Kodiak. Pretty much confirms what I thought. Despite this river being fairly benign I had anticipated oars as the appropriate choice.

[H20Dogg]

Thanks Kodiak. Pretty much confirms what I thought. Despite this river being fairly benign I had anticipated oars as the appropriate choice.

This is the boat you want, I may be able to rent it too you as well.

http://fairbanks.craigslist.org/boa/4594227985.html

[MBURNS2244]

Thanks H20Dogg. I will run this by my hunting partner and see what he thinks. Whats the total weight of the raft? Others thoughts on running a cataraft on this river?

This is the boat you want, I may be able to rent it too you as well.

http://fairbanks.craigslist.org/boa/4594227985.html

[H20Dogg]

It does catch wind occasionally and act like a sail, you should have plenty of weight but it still might catch some. I can weight it tomorrow. It is the optimum raft for shallow water it should work great. Just make sure your gear is in dry bags so you can utilize the floor space.

[bbags]

I've not had a positive experience with catarafts and shallow water. With less surface area touching the water, they sit lower in the water and take deeper water to stay floating. The river you are heading to is loaded with shallow braided channels.

[ChugiakTinkerer]

The Cougar has less draft than most catarafts. AR&K page is here: http://www.alaskaraftandkayak.com/ai...-cataraft.html

Each pair of tubes weighs 65 lbs. Note what they say about draft: Go ahead and float the Ivishak! This boat will do it!

With a simple frame you should be pretty light.

[ChugiakTinkerer]

Here's another twin-tube cataraft: http://anchorage.craigslist.org/boa/4595697515.html

Doesn't look much more than the cost of renting