[Nz61hockey]

Anyone ever heard of them? Can't find much review wise - seems to be anew company.

LAC Whitewater 14ft Self Bailing Raft - Lewis and Clark Whitewater

In the market for an entry level raft - something cheap but not to cheap. Leaning towards the Rocky Mountain Rafts -- any other suggestions?

 

[Osprey]

Looks like another rebrand of the star/bug/Saturn type. Rmr or vanguard would be good choices.

 

[Learch]

I poked around the website for a bit, and it a few of the pictures look like Bullet rafts. That company is based in Portland, but they are built in China. I met the owner of that company, and I looked at his boats. He was a nice enough guy, and the boats looked good, but I have a hard time trusting glued (or "chemically welded" as he put it) seams on PVC boats.
This could be the same company under a different name, or they could be using the same manufacturer and are a different company all together. I will be curious to see how all of the Saturn/ Maxxon/ Bullet boats are doing in ten years. They might be all fine, they might be junk.
I don't take sides on brand, if you are seriously looking at boats in that price point, NRS has a cheap 14' foot raft out, RMR is a little more money but they are fully heat welded together, and those companies are more likely to be around for a while.

 

[Nz61hockey]

thanks for the responces - those were my thoughts exactly, just wanted to make sure.

 

[ctreyna]

I have one and I love it.

 

[deadlizard]

Bought my Maxxon tubes 8 years ago used.

This could be the same company under a different name, or they could be using the same manufacturer and are a different company all together. I will be curious to see how all of the Saturn/ Maxxon/ Bullet boats are doing in ten years. They might be all fine, they might be junk.

They are like new. Been boating this summer in the 110 degree heat on the lower Salt. The cat has been trailered but tarped which is a bit abusive in my mind. Also have a borrowed set of Star tubes of about that age that I don't think has weathered as well. All the seams/DRings look good, but the chafe strips look like they could delaminate if left in the sun on a hot day.

 

[ctreyna]

I got my raft in Plains, Montana. They are out of Montana not Oregon as far as I know.

 

[Learch]

Sorry, let me clarify. Bullet Watercraft (rafts) is based in Portland, Oregon as a company. Their boats are produced in China. The Design of the LAC rafts appears to be very similar.
It could be coincidence, or the 2 companies are using the same manufacturing plant in China to have their boats built. I met Rolland from Bullet 3 or 4 years back. I did like the design of his boats, but I don't feel like I can trust a glued together PVC boat. (Or solvent welded, as he put it) He explained to me in great detail how they overlap and seal their seams. I haven't heard much about them in the last few years, though.
I re-read what I posted and realized I wasn't very clear in my statement.