[RaftingDuringRecess]

Hey, all. I’ve been a passenger for the past 5 years and fell in love from the first trip! I’ve done several sections, Hell’s x 3, Owyhee, Lower Salmon, etc. Last summer I got to do both the MIddlefork and Main Salmon, which was life changing!! I was able to get on the oars for my first time and rowed about 40 miles on the Main, which made me fall in love even more. This sparked me to finally get my own boat! I bought a used 14’ WD with a sport cat frame. I was invited on a MFS and Gates trip, so now I need to step up my game. I got a very experienced crew to support me (40+ MFS trips by just one of my friends). It’s a July 10th launch on the MFS so it’ll likely be fairly low so I’m sure I’ll get my ass kicked properly that first day.

I live in the Boise area and have summers off (I’m a teacher), so I’ll be rafting a bunch to get ready. I’m planning on doing a bunch of day trips on the Cabarton and Main Payette to try and prepare myself as much as possible. I’d love to get an Idaho crew contact list that is able to do weekday runs with me! If that’s you, send me a message.

Also, I’m working up my gear list and have a question. I know the sport cat frame isn’t necessarily the best for multi days, but I’m thinking I’m going to take off the seat and sit on a dry box so that I can have a dry box and a cooler on the trip. My question is, how deep of a dry box do I get? Right now my raft is rolled up in my garage so I’m not sure how to measure the deepness I need. Anyone know?

Thanks for any help. I’ve totally been reading a ton of the threads these past few months and I’m looking forward to finally putting my rubber in the river.

 

[carvedog]

Welcome to the forum and rafting. I think its way too early to predict flow on July 10th, but congrats on another trip to heaven. My first MF trip was life changing as well. Not sure what a 14' WD but it sounds like your frame is for a cat, but you mention raft....hmmmm? Looks like your avatar pic is Wilson Creek on the Middle Fork. A lovely place to spin out for a bit. Have a blast.

 

[RaftingDuringRecess]

You called it on Wilson. So beautiful! In fact, every day was breathtaking. Yeah, I bought a cat, a wave destroyer.

 

[IDriverRunner]

I'm in Boise and available for midweek runs on said rivers! Hit me up!

 

[Inoturtle]

I too am a teacher in the Boise area and always looking for more people to do weekday runs with. Shuttling solo is a pain, although finding a group to float with at the put in is easy. I don't feel comfortable running solo, so I will wait for a group that I feel comfortable with, and they feel comfortable with me joining. Never had to wait long, especially on the Cabarton. This does, however, limit my willingness to leave town solo. But some times the call of the river is too strong to ignore.

 

[jamesthomas]

Wave destroyer is a killer ww machine. Have you had it in the water yet? If you haven’t get it in the water ASAP even if it’s in the neighbors pond. Figure out if the oar tower, seat height, foot bar and oar length set up works good for you and adjust as needed. When you are comfortable shop for a dry box/ cooler that puts your backside at about the same position. Seems to me the sport frame is pretty adjustable front to rear which is a huge advantage. Good luck and welcome to the adventure of boat ownership.

 

[SpudCat]

I'm also a teacher in Boise, looking to do a lot of mid-week boating this summer. Glad I read this thread! Would love to get out there with like-minded folks. I row a 16' cat.

 

[MT4Runner]

Add a trailer frame for multidays. Way cheaper than an entirely separate large frame for the big trips.

 

[jamesthomas]

MT 4 runner is right about the trailer frame. With the trailer frame installed adjust your seat position to what works for you. I prefer slightly in front of boat centerline myself but to each his own. Your boat has a ton of rocker so be careful not to get your frame too far past the flat section of your tubes both front and rear. Buying the proper length trailer frame is key.

 

[RaftingDuringRecess]

I haven’t gotten to take it out yet. I agree that I need to spend some time getting it set up for me. I’m pretty tall, so there will likely need to be some adjustment. Thanks for the advice!

Wave destroyer is a killer ww machine. Have you had it in the water yet? If you haven’t get it in the water ASAP even if it’s in the neighbors pond. Figure out if the oar tower, seat height, foot bar and oar length set up works good for you and adjust as needed. When you are comfortable shop for a dry box/ cooler that puts your backside at about the same position. Seems to me the sport frame is pretty adjustable front to rear which is a huge advantage. Good luck and welcome to the adventure of boat ownership.

 

[RaftingDuringRecess]

Sounds like a plan. Message me your phone number and name and I can create a texting group for day trips when the season hits.

I'm also a teacher in Boise, looking to do a lot of mid-week boating this summer. Glad I read this thread! Would love to get out there with like-minded folks. I row a 16' cat.

 

[RaftingDuringRecess]

Good call on the trailer frame. Added space would come in handy for multi days for sure. I was also considering getting an extra crossbar so I can add a spot for a passenger for the Gates trip. Any feedback on that? I was thinking I could get an extra crossbar so I could put my dry box back there and she could sit on it with a very small bay for her feet, right behind me.

Add a trailer frame for multidays. Way cheaper than an entirely separate large frame for the big trips.

 

[Nanko]

re: trailer frame. OP’s frame is probably 88” long on a high kick boat with maybe 100” of chafe. I used to have that frame. Worked great for multi days sitting on box with cooler in front.

I like boxes even with the drop rails but as others said you can push it a bit on deeper rivers.

 

[MT4Runner]

I was also considering getting an extra crossbar so I can add a spot for a passenger for the Gates trip. Any feedback on that? I was thinking I could get an extra crossbar so I could put my dry box back there and she could sit on it with a very small bay for her feet, right behind me.

Cats end up tight on passenger space. Single bar means her seat is on the bar..which is even less footroom for her Then you need a footbar or longer floor for her.

Drybox is 2 crossbars (one in front of it, one behind it)

We take for granted how much we actually use the floor and thwarts in a raft...take it away (cat) and then you're adding a lot of parts back. Not saying it can't be done...just that passengers on a cat take planning and hardware.

 

[RaftingDuringRecess]

You’re right, it does complicate things. Most my buddies have round boats, so I don’t have many good examples to look at for set up.

I was thinking a crossbar would allow me to sit forward slightly, leave a small foot space for her right behind me and move the dry box to the back for her seat. But that might be too crowded. I’m just a planner (and super excited), so I can’t stop thinking about setting it all up. I’m a total gear junkie. I think I’m likely going to just have to wait a bit and try some different things out. I do appreciate everyone’s help though.

Cats end up tight on passenger space. Single bar means her seat is on the bar..which is even less footroom for her Then you need a footbar or longer floor for her.

Drybox is 2 crossbars (one in front of it, one behind it)

We take for granted how much we actually use the floor and thwarts in a raft...take it away (cat) and then you're adding a lot of parts back. Not saying it can't be done...just that passengers on a cat take planning and hardware.

 

[MT4Runner]

I'm admittedly not a cat guy--raft, kayak, and dory--but did some games with frames trying to take my wife and 2 daughters on a cat one afternoon. And I've heard cat boaters frequently have this discussion.

I'd suggest posting a new question in the Raft Gear Talk "Cataraft frame setup for passenger". there are a lot of cat boaters in this forum and you should get some good discussion.
And more than a few pics of cats in the Raft Porn Thread.