I would go with the Hypalon Hyside or Avon there are still some 16' new old stock in the USA. Why change what works for you.
PS This Aire 130D self bailer crushed the chute a 9'
PS This Aire 130D self bailer crushed the chute a 9'
What Raft will last the longest.
Ok here are the specifics. In am in the market for a new raft. I narrowed it down to Maravia, Sorar, and Hyside. Nothing with the floor matters because I will be getting a bucket boat. I was wanting some input on these brands. Right now I am leaning towards the Maravia (I went to the factory and seen there process and talked to all of the people involved). Right now I have a 16' Avon bucket and love it. But it's getting old (like 30 plus) and I want another boat that will last as long. I cannot be swayed to getting a self bailing floor. I would rather bucket water and stay upright then keep my feet dry. As I tend to do some rather smart things like dowd chutes at 9'.
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All three are great brands and should last you a long time if you take care of the raft. Maravia & Sotar will inflate a little stiffer, but the Hyside will role easier if you need to roll it for transport & storage. Between the urethane Maravia & Sotar, the Maravia will be heavier. Hyside will be close in weight to the Sotar. I have owned all three brands and have no negative things to say about any of them. I've had a Maravia for longer than I had the Hyside, and the Sotar is new this season. Never had any issues with my Maravia cats. Very sturdy. No wrong choice in my opinion, just depends on what design/weight/options/color/price strikes your fancy.Ok here are the specifics. In am in the market for a new raft. I narrowed it down to Maravia, Sorar, and Hyside. Nothing with the floor matters because I will be getting a bucket boat. I was wanting some input on these brands. Right now I am leaning towards the Maravia (I went to the factory and seen there process and talked to all of the people involved). Right now I have a 16' Avon bucket and love it. But it's getting old (like 30 plus) and I want another boat that will last as long. I cannot be swayed to getting a self bailing floor. I would rather bucket water and stay upright then keep my feet dry. As I tend to do some rather smart things like dowd chutes at 9'.
Prices are all right around 5000. Thanks for the input. Where are you still finding newer Avon bucket boats?
why no NRS out of curiosity? i've been very happy with both of my NRS boats.
They will not make me a bucket boat. And I really don't like the shape.
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Sent from my iPhone using Mountain Buzz
Interesting that you want a bucket boat. I rowed Westwater in a bucke tboat for the 1st time last week. I've done the same stretch at the same level on Catarafts and self bailers. I was surprised how much control I had with the bucket boat. I left that trip thinking about whether a bucket boat had benefits that a self bailer doesn't.
Are there any other bucket boat people out there? What are some of the pro's and cons? It seems the bucket boat is great for early seasons on mellow rivers.
Are there any other bucket boat people out there? What are some of the pro's and cons? It seems the bucket boat is great for early seasons on mellow rivers.
I am not a big authority on self bailers but the only con that I can come up with for buckets is that you have to bucket
Like many others I learned to row in bucket boat. It was really weird learning to row a SB. Easier to control a bucket boat with a little water in it IMO. I don't regret going SB but still wish I never sold that old Achilles.
NRS makes bucket boats I know for sure because I saw one last week in the Royal Gorge. The owner said the boat was almost new.
I am not a big authority on self bailers but the only con that I can come up with for buckets is that you have to bucket
And: much less flotation for gear hauling on extended trips.
Add to that-cold, wet feet, much more weight to when trying to maneuver...
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I have put just as much if not more gear in my bucket as all of my friends and was still floating damn nice.
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Sent from my iPhone using Mountain Buzz
So you want a bucket boat because you run big whitewater? That's like wanting a carburetor to win a stock car race. Technology is better now...
My Williwaw 2 is around 22 to 23 years old with no signs of easing up. I did have to put a new floor in but that was more due to six or seven years of outfitter use doing really low water Middle Forks and another 16 years or so of me abusing it on low water runs too. There was also some issues when I loaned the boat out and someone pumped the floor tight and left in the sun for three hours. On dry ground. He knew he messed up and helped pay for the floor.
I won't hesitate to get another.
Your bucket boat logic escapes but I can't feel your cold, wet feet from my raft it really doesn't matter to me.
I won't hesitate to get another.
Your bucket boat logic escapes but I can't feel your cold, wet feet from my raft it really doesn't matter to me.
Avon
Avon Inflatables Ltd. - Military And Professional Division
Dafen, Llanelli
Carmarthenshire
SA14 8NA - UK
[email protected] Tel. (+44) 01554-882000
Fax (+44) 01554-882039
Give them a call
Avon Inflatables Ltd. - Military And Professional Division
Dafen, Llanelli
Carmarthenshire
SA14 8NA - UK
[email protected] Tel. (+44) 01554-882000
Fax (+44) 01554-882039
Give them a call
NRS makes bucket boats. i just saw them on their site yesterday when looking at options for a family boat.
I won't argue "To Bucket or not to Bucket" as it's not my place and I do both. However, as a fellow owner of a 30 year old Avon Pro, I have to say I'm curious why you want a new boat. Is the old Pro trashed? There are A LOT of old bucket boats for sale in fantastic condition for a 10th of what you're looking to pay for a new one. Personally, I'd put my faith in a New Old Riken, Achilles, Campways, or Avon (or ten of them) before I'd expect an new manufactured boat to replicate the durability of the older generation. Good luck.
Commercial boating
Saw this thread and thought it would be fitting to show you guys a testimonial we just got from WAO, after a request for some content for our new site and this year's catalog...(Awesome boat name btw).
"Hi Brandon
Sure…I’ll get you some pics. As you know we are very busy…we are going to try to send some newer boat pics mostly but we have a 1989 Hyside – “Ms B Haven” – that was and is one of our original boats. This boat is in excellent condition considering her age…and even compared to any of our older boats thanks to Johnny Sells and the fact that we don’t really use her on a day to day basis anymore. This boat is very well known on the Ark and Kathy & I have taken it on several private trips where someone came out of nowhere and said something like “ I know that boat!” Or “Ms B from the Ark!”
Anyway I thought my testimonial would be something about how long we’ve had this boat and that it’s still in great shape after all these years of Commercial use.
25 year old commercial boat without a single leak on her. She knows the way down the river better than most guides. Kind of our flagship boat.
I’ll try to put some stuff together for you soon.
Tony - WAO"
Saw this thread and thought it would be fitting to show you guys a testimonial we just got from WAO, after a request for some content for our new site and this year's catalog...(Awesome boat name btw).
"Hi Brandon
Sure…I’ll get you some pics. As you know we are very busy…we are going to try to send some newer boat pics mostly but we have a 1989 Hyside – “Ms B Haven” – that was and is one of our original boats. This boat is in excellent condition considering her age…and even compared to any of our older boats thanks to Johnny Sells and the fact that we don’t really use her on a day to day basis anymore. This boat is very well known on the Ark and Kathy & I have taken it on several private trips where someone came out of nowhere and said something like “ I know that boat!” Or “Ms B from the Ark!”
Anyway I thought my testimonial would be something about how long we’ve had this boat and that it’s still in great shape after all these years of Commercial use.
25 year old commercial boat without a single leak on her. She knows the way down the river better than most guides. Kind of our flagship boat.
I’ll try to put some stuff together for you soon.
Tony - WAO"
I forgot to mention our site sponsor Hyside in the "quality old rubber" section! I guess I don't think of you guys as 30 yrs old yet and I'm sure the OP knows you make quality boats.
To continue and exacerbate the thread jack
, Do you guys have any of those fancy new orange and blue cam straps ready to ship yet, Brandon?
To continue and exacerbate the thread jack
, Do you guys have any of those fancy new orange and blue cam straps ready to ship yet, Brandon?
We sure do. Just don't have pics yet, but they're available!Do you guys have any of those fancy new orange and blue cam straps ready to ship yet, Brandon?
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