I'm putting together a new boat and need all the ideas for rigging I can get. So, do me a favor and post tons of photos and descriptions of how you roll. Tell me what works, what doesn't, and anything you'd do differently.
I'm putting together a new boat and need all the ideas for rigging I can get. So, do me a favor and post tons of photos and descriptions of how you roll. Tell me what works, what doesn't, and anything you'd do differently.
I got it from western marine. It is a telescoping 4 rung boat ladder. Just google it. It cost about 89.00. Just attach with clevis pin and a hitch pin. It falls a good two feet below the raft, makes getting into the boat a breeze.
I have a 4 bay frame. In the second bay from the front I had 5 rocket boxes. I got tired of busting my knuckles and toes lifting them out so I just got a huge dry box to take that space. Although, I did like the flat deck I had. I think I will like the ease of the dry box. I row off the cooler with a small paco pad that I got from holiday river exp. They use them for the guests. It never comes off the cooler, for sun protection with a wet towel under it. A captain box is so much better than a rocket box. Because you don't have to undo it to get inside. They are costly though. I like to keep a small cooler in the cockpit that you can keep lunch and drink stuff in.
The front bay has a drop bag with a table top. I like my everything bag in the rear. I think it is more secure than a net carabener'd to the D-rings. I don't think it is faster to load though. One more picture of the cockpit with my friend Howard.
1st bay(front): 5 items (20mm or 30mm ammo cans or 2x6 gallons water jugs) with table on top.
2nd bay: 128 qt Galaxy cooler, 4 small ammo cans with tools, repair kit, med kit and misc items. Strap bag with a pump for quick access
3rd bay: 2 captain boxes, 1 for snacks/food/lunch another is major first aid kit, clothes and misc items for quick access. Also on the sides two hidden bags with sun screen/bug repellant and sand stake/shovel and mallet
4th bay: Big drybox/Captain seat
Stern: Everything bag with hard floor
Hope it helps, you are in the fun stage of rafting now, Enjoy!
Thats about as loaded as my boat can be for 2 people/6 days on the Main Salmon. Big fan of the everything bag/crossover bag. Jan @ stitches & stuff made one for me & it makes things alot easier. Worth every penny.
My Cat is set up with a 94 Qt Marine Igloo cooler up front, flip seat over a drybox, then a cargo area, and finally another drybox in the back. I use two side saddle bags from Cascade Outfitters for small stuff that I need to get to quickly (sunscreen, rain gear, etc.). I run with an NRS frame, and really love the siderail racks for extra gear strapping spots / walkways. If you're going with an NRS frame I'd highly recommend them. If you're going with a DRE frame, I'd say go with a double rail frame.
Have fun designing your frame. Messing around with ideas is great !!!!!
Why?????
Gear=Fun. You can never have too much.
I forgot to mention one favorite piece of gear..... loop straps. Strategically placed for gear strappage, and they don't fall off the boat into the river when you unstrap stuff.
KJ
Ok, so I'm noticing a lot of you don't use a seat- but sit on coolers/drybox/paco combos... I have an NRS frame. Dumb question award about to be given out here I'm sure- but here it goes. How do you use that space under the seat if you have an NRS frame?
Same as MountainMedic.....flip seat over a drybox. I used to use the NRS seatbar, but wanted to maximize my gear carrying capacity and add a second drybox. I personally prefer a seat to rowing off a box or cooler.
KJ
These are from a week long one boat trip this summer on the Lower Salmon
NRS142E with Bighorn II frame
Recretec table over Stitches 'n Stuff dropbag in front
Galaxy 128qt cooler next
Row sitting on Recretec drybox with ethafoam on lid
stitchesNStuff Cargo thing bag
RiverBank groover
You'll love the side rail racks. They give you extra gear strapping space, a walkway if needed, and you can reposition them where you need them. I use two sets of the 3 foot ones.
KJ
These are from a week long one boat trip this summer on the Lower Salmon
NRS142E with Bighorn II frame
Recretec table over Stitches 'n Stuff dropbag in front
Galaxy 128qt cooler next
Row sitting on Recretec drybox with ethafoam on lid
stitchesNStuff Cargo thing bag
RiverBank groover
Yeah, two passengers in front sitting on the table.
I too was surprised that the boat seemed to stay trimmed well.
The loaded Galaxy cooler, two 5gal water cans I keep in the cockpit and my 220lbs sitting on the drybox seem to keep the weight pretty centered.
Here's a couple pictures from a Rogue trip this past Spring with a slightly lighter load:
What is the two white things port side? Pvc rope ladder???
The only flaw in your plan is the weight transfers from the front to the back of the boat as the trip unfolds. But not sure how else to do it unless passengers like holding crapper in their lap
That's a "Rescue Rung" which is self stowing with some ingenious bungie cord mechanism invented, made and sold by
Dave Yeamans [d.yeamans (at...) comcast.net], 392 Navajo Rd. Los Alamos, NM 87544, (505)662-7747.
Or you can purchase this item through the GCPBA store:http://gcpba.org/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=21
I've also heard it called a WRS - "Wife Retrieval System"
If mounted appropriately (mid tube height), it will work on an upside down boat as well.
2004 Vanguard with 4-Bay DRE Frame, DRE Drybox w/ standard Igloo cooler. Its got umbrella mounts front and back that I would probably do differently if I had the chance ( on front of frame wrapped with foam and ductape). Soup cans over the oar locks to protect the tarp I keep over it.
Its a glued PVC boat and I've been very pleased. The VG has extra chafer pads all around the top, and the bottom is as thick as elephant hide. No leaks, no patches. Its been a great value and hasn't had a single catastrophic seam failure, though every morning, from what I've heard, I should expect to go out and find my frame sitting among a bunch of PVC scraps...
Lots of days on the river.
Here's the basic setup:
Here it is on the water - you just can't see much of the boat for the load of trash I'm hauling out though.
-AH
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Mountain Buzz
639.4K posts
63.3K members
Since 2003
A forum community dedicated to whitewater kayaking, boating, and rafting enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about safety, routes, gear, models, styles, gear swaps, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!