It's winter, the rivers are frozen or not running; what's a river runner to do? Build a micro cataraft with the boys. They learn metal work & get a training platform to learn the art of rowing. We started by bending & cutting the aluminum pipe. Then we assemble the parts, add the tubes & viola: 10' micro cataraft.
Ya man, you really can't help yourself when rowing a small cat! You just start to see all these dumb lines, and have to run them! Luckily you can usually get yourself out of the trouble you find to get into!
Nice boat riverrafter!
Frame: Schedule 40 aluminum tube 1.25" id = 1.66" od
48" x 48" / 31" between tubes / 10" drop down on bars
Cut tubes to length with SawsAll. Pack aluminum tubes with sand, use duct tape to seal ends. We bent the aluminum with a 10 ton pipe bender ( smaller bender would work ). Speed rail or Hollander fittings for assembly ( oil set screws so they don't freeze up ). 1/4" bolts through fittings & aluminum tubes ( lock tight nuts ). NRS 6" oar towers with NRS oarlocks. Cataract oars; 9 ' oars cut to 8'6" / handles filled with lead shot for balance.
NRS Twin Tube Cataraft Cargo Floor
Throw rope
Bow line bag
No need to place a horizontal stringer because of the strength of the aluminum tubing / pipe ( 1/8 " wall ), the "T" speedrail fitting, and the 1/4" bolts. All in all, probably a lot more frame than the 10' pontoons need but certainly able to handle 12-14' cataraft tubes as the boys grow older & the runs more challenging.
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Mountain Buzz
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