[Wallrat]

I’m looking for a 16’ or larger, in decent condition. PM me here, if you know of one. Thanks!

 

[tBatt]

Curious why you're set on a Riken? No interest in any other hypalon boats?

 

[Wallrat]

Curious why you're set on a Riken? No interest in any other hypalon boats?

Oh, no particular reason. There were a bunch of them available in Idaho a couple of years ago, old commercial boats. They looked fairly stout. And the prices were very fair. I’m going to need a big boat for the Grand, and Hells Canyon is on my bucket list too.

 

[MNichols]

Riken's were built hell for stout, but almost everyone I've seen had cosmetic issues, d rings peeling, things such as that.

 

[tanderson]

My sister in law Bought a riken a few years back. The inside of the rubber was breaking down. It would spring pin hole leaks. Not saying they weren’t bomber boats, just look out for ones that are rotting from the inside out. It’s nearly impossible to lay an inside patch as I quickly discovered.

 

[markhusbands]

I think NRS still sells Riken designs if that's what you're looking for, like this: NRS E-162D Self-Bailing Raft | NRS.

 

[Wallrat]

It costs a bit over $1000 to rent an 18’ round boat for the Grand. The Rikens that I was seeing on Craigslist were running around $1500. I understand someone makes a resealing agent you pour into the tubes for those pesky pinholes. I’d want to avoid that, of course, but it’s an old boat, for a cheap price. I don’t need perfection.
I mean, there are only three rivers I want to do that could require that big of a boat; Grand, the Snake, and the lower Salmon (and maybe the Columbia, once we tear all those dams out).

 

[MNichols]

They do make a product like fix a flat for boats, I've never used it, have heard it's pretty expensive, and that it does a pretty good job in getting a few more years out of a boat

 

[markhusbands]

It costs a bit over $1000 to rent an 18’ round boat for the Grand. The Rikens that I was seeing on Craigslist were running around $1500. I understand someone makes a resealing agent you pour into the tubes for those pesky pinholes. I’d want to avoid that, of course, but it’s an old boat, for a cheap price. I don’t need perfection.
I mean, there are only three rivers I want to do that could require that big of a boat; Grand, the Snake, and the lower Salmon (and maybe the Columbia, once we tear all those dams out).

Seems like the boat is only the beginning if you're planning to use it as an oarboat...I've thought about this very issue since my 14er seems a bit small for the big water and long trip, although people obviously do it, and maybe just getting into a 16er would doable for the long trip and not ridiculously huge for all the other stuff I do.

 

[Wallrat]

Seems like the boat is only the beginning if you're planning to use it as an oarboat...I've thought about this very issue since my 14er seems a bit small for the big water and long trip, although people obviously do it, and maybe just getting into a 16er would doable for the long trip and not ridiculously huge for all the other stuff I do.

Frontier Play makes frame fittings at a budget price, and for that big of a boat I figure steel tubing will be cheap. Heavy, but it’s an aircraft carrier and a gearboat. Heavy is its job. I can buy one dedicated set of oars, and a pair of extensions for a set off of my other boat. So if I can get one of the big boats for $2000, total cost should be less than $3500.

 

[uthbtr]

I might have something for you. Sent you a PM.