[Modog1]

I was wondering if anyone out there has paddled an aire tributary raft and what they think about them. I am looking to buy another boat and the price for what you get with the tributary seems pretty good.

 

[the_dude]

don't know about the boat but there's a 14' trib w/ frame and oars for sale on the WY craigslist.

 

[pcrawford]

hey - i just got a trib. its great. the material is a bit thinner then other aire rafts and it doesn't have quite the same rocker but its a fun boat. i have a 12'er and it holds 5 people max i would say. i've used it 5 days and haven't noticed and hit a lot of rocks, seems to be holding up well. one thing that was werid, i'm not sure if other aire boats have this, but their are drains in the bottom of the floor and it looks like water goes between the pvc and the blatter. anyone know what thats all about?

 

[woodboat75]

The Drain holes are standard on all of the AIRE floors, although they do make a sealed floor as an option (not for Tributary). The sealed floor is the same only it does not have the drain holes and it has waterproof zippers. The boat stays lighter and surfs better without any water in it. Probably a waste of money unless you are creeking with the raft (puma). The tributaries are made very well, you are saving your money mostly in cheaper material and valves and sacrificing your great AIRE warranty.
Most of the Tributaries can be a challange to design a good frame for because they have small tubes and the floors rise very gradually That means finding a good spot for your cooler is a challange, and don't expect a big dry box.
If you plan on keeping the boat for a long time, consider an AIRE instead.

My 2 cents