[Pine]

I’ve been working on this design for a quite a while, through many challenges and tribulations. There were a couple of small misses on detail items, but the hull shape came out very close to the mark. I can’t wait to get it on the water. I think its going to be a game changer for everything from low technical water to multi-days on big, big water. I’m taking it to Zimbabwe in October for testing.

 

[Pine]

I wonder why a lot of manufacturers seem to put the valves right where the perimeter line will go. Is there any reason in particular? It seems like the perimeter line just gets in the way of using the valves, but maybe having the bowline over it is some sort of extra protection for the valve? Maybe just to have them out of the way and not be too much on top of the tubes? It's definitely not just your boat, I've seen it on all sorts of other rafts.

Its one detail they got wrong. The valves should have been higher up.

 

[Pine]

Specs?

16’ with 22 3/4 tubes, with some special sauce thrown in for rocker and template.

 

[Pine]

Cool design Mr. Pine sir. Looks Avon-ish to my eye. Maybe a little extra kick?

Thanks, it's as close to an Avon Pro as I could get, and I went to a lot of trouble to get close.

I borrowed a late model year Pro from a friend, and had a lidar scan done on it that was accurate to about .3mm. That scan data was imported into Solidworks to make a pattern. Even then, it came out a little off here and there. I think I ended up with a little extra rocker because during the scanning process, I had the boat straddling the trailer upside down, and the ends were sagging just a little bit.

Even with all that technology, I was amazed at how hard it is to reproduce a design. The shape of a raft is more complicated than what meets the eye.

 

[Pine]

Can you just make your own design? .3mm off?! Come on dude, what kind of craftsmanship is that?!?!?

Well, you need to start out with that kind of precision because boat makers introduce shitloads of error into the process, especially on custom designs that they’ve never built before.

 

[Pine]

Unsure how to PM.... Don't mean to get off topic.
Just wanted to say thank you for your bad ass website!

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

[Pine]

Looks very nice.
When does production begin and what is your projected retail value?

If there is enough interest, I've contemplated the idea of building a few and selling them as fully outfitted packages. That would be at least a year out. Not many manufacturers are interested in custom designs and partnering, etc. They are all really focused on the outfitter market.

I'm also working on a new frame concept, that has a better method for securing coolers and dry boxes, and would also be easier for fly fishing.