RMR Phat Cat as a gear boat?

Bummer to see no one replying to this thread.

I don't have any pics of it with me currently but I have a phat cat and use it for gear hauling!

I built a table that fits across the back tubes that has lash points around the perimeter. It attaches to the rear D-Rings and then you can pile it up.

I use a very simple NRS frame with a rowers seat and then a couple of different set ups for the front.

If it is a relatively calm river like the Smith in MT I have another deck for the front that has two seats bolted to it with a nice area between them for day bags etc.

While I haven't had the opportunity to run it on something like the Middle Fork I have no doubt that it could easily work. I have always run it in conjunction with other boats so I have never had to haul a cooler or propane etc but I most certainly can be a great gear boat with those massive tubes!

Edit to add a pic of the rear gear deck that is also a table:

Phat Cat pics.

Yeah I never saw this thread originally, my boat is actually the orange one you posted in the desert. I love it! I'm running a custom 3 bay frame, 82"×48", might even be able to go a little longer, but it works for me. I had a table that fits the front bay and I usually have my paco pad over that and take a passenger. The back I have a metal shelf like you would find in a restaurant, just slats so it's easy to strap to and doesn't hold water.

Depending on the trip I've had the big cooler or my giant old school dry box with tents, chairs, cooking stuff etc. Then usually a few other dry bags, water jug, personal beer cooler. Easily could self support myself for a few days but have been with a group mostly so we split stuff up. Probably running a little over 600 lbs with 2 people and gear. Most of the rivers we've done overnights on have been small (Moab daily, green daily, upper C) but I feel like it would still do fine on bigger water, if we had any in Colorado this year.

The boat is awesome though I can't say enough about it, took it on the upper blue at like 300 cfs for an R2 test to see how shallow it could go. Barely scrapped a couple times, probably has the same clearance if not better than my girlfriends paddle board with the fins off. But its so maneuverable low water rock dodging in tight spaces is easy. It's a dream in clear creek high and low water.

This was the only picture I could find semi loaded, we had stopped for lunch and it was missing the 5 gallon water jug and personal cooler.

My frame is 82"x50".
In retrospect, I could have gone a 6"-10" longer. Easier to cut it down than grow it!

In the back, under the poly-max, I rig the spray skirt. This "basement" storage is awesome for things like my camp chair, fire pan, ect.

I've also started running a small captains cooler inboard of the RTIC 45. This allows me stack gear on top of the RTIC while still being able to access my libations.

5gal. H2O now goes under my seat/feet. Low and centered.

I'm actually toying with the idea of cutting the floor out. It's always a swampy mess and seems and inch or two too low, creating drag. If I get rid of it, I have options:
No floor, Flintstones style.
Suspend a Poly-max floor, adjustable hight, much more stable platform.
Add some cam straps to the now defunct factory floor to attach to the Poly-max floor to retain splash resistance and foot cups for the gnar.

Did a day trip today with two 9yr olds sitting on the front cooler and a kayak resting across the tubes behind me.

Phat Cat sleeping

For very hot nights. Sunbrella worked really well mounted in an NRS oar mount reamed out to fit it. I put a vinyl tube over the U bolt so it could angle but not slip. The cot is a chaise lounge with the legs cut off. The back was still adjustable, so it was a good place to sit too.

Love the Phat Cat- except for the floor. Totally agree, too low. I will probably cut that out too.

Aire Sabertooth, frame width 54". I've been using a pair of 7.5' oars that were too short, just bought some that are 8.5'. Trying to put a pic on here but I'm probably doing it wrong.