Good All Around Arkansas Raft?

[Pate]

I was thinking about getting a raft for rivers/creeks such as the Cossatot, Little Mo., Hailstone,..... What would be a good size to take 3 or 4 paddlers down river? I know I want self bailing. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[panicman]

Puma or hyside mini max would be a good size. could also add a frame

[okieboater]

Super Pumas work great as paddle rafts on runs like Cossatot or Upper Richland (ARG makes these runs in super pumas set up as oar rigs) or Ocoee paddle rafts
or
set up as oar rigs on Middle Fork of Salmon multidays loaded to the max with two people and gear
or
Ozark Society runs on ARK Numbers, Browns, Royal Gorge as oar rigs with a couple of paddlers up front.

I see them every where as either paddle rafts or oar rigs.

One of the best all around raft designs I have seen.

dave

[hollohead]

I bought a tributary 9.5 on the recommendation of Nick Hobbs. It is great for the runs here in this state, big fun, but small for outside of the borders of this state. I love it and ran Hailstone in it yesterday.

[Pate]

Thanks for the info! I'm in the process of putting funds back to make a purchase, i have found they don't give these boats away. My wife guided on the Nantahala in the early 00's and I grew up in northwest AR Canoeing all the streams in the northwest/ northern corner of the state. I am thinking my family and I are going to be able to enjoy bigger water in one of these rigs "c III & IV".

[Tim Eubanks]

Keep an eye on Mountainbuzz.com's classifieds, "rafts and accessories". Lots more rubber out west. Agree with Okieboater on the Super PUma. Have R2'd Hailstone and Upper Richland, R4'd Royal Gorge, Rowed one down the Main Salmon at high water.
They are not cheap but are worth the $. NRS also makes self-bailers that would work for Ark streams.

[Jetlab67]

One more vote for Super Puma FWIW.

[canoe]

Super Puma. dale

[dogpatch]

My wife and I evolved from a Dagger Dimension tandem whitwater canoe into a Puma that I bought secondhand but like new for a good price online about 15 years ago. We paddle R'2 (side by side) anchored in with foot cups that someone had already installed that were perfectly located. The self bailer and extra stability help avoid the possibility of bad swims. We've run Hailstone, Richland, Hurricane, Bayou etc many times with pretty decent confidence cause the raft is so manuverable and very forgiving. Forward and reverse sweeps can give excellent control. The Puma is a little small for four paddles to be able to make quick moves, but the Super Puma is perfect for four or more, and works out west for support for a couple for multi day trips, either paddled or as an oar rig. There are several other small rafts out now, but the best probability of finding a used one is probably best with the Aire Pumas since they have been out much longer. Only downside on the Pumas is that they have the double layer construction with the inner bladder and are a little heavier and harder to roll up than the single layer rafts. (but probably more durable) Like Tim said, check the boating sites out west in Colorado, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon for a good used one.

[okieboater]

I have a rafting bud out in CO that has a Super Puma rig with a frame who I have seen run loaded with his wife and gear for high water Yampa, medium water Middle Fork plus several other runs. Just amazes me what he can do with that Super Puma - he is a long time boater and takes the hits lined up close to perfect but so far has a perfect record.

Makes regular runs up and down the ARK and else where as a paddle raft R2 or up to 5 folks.

As mentioned before, Super Puma's are expensive to buy, but every owner I know has enjoyed many years of trouble free service.

I had a Aire 18 Cat and Aire 143 self bailer and zero issues with them. I did wash down the tubes paying attention to the zippers after each trip, unrolled / aired them up after a trip and let them drain plus before putting them up for the winter I would unzip the outer cover to let the bladders and inside dry out. Hit the tubes in the spring with a nice coat of 303 and I had zero issues with mine. Both were sold to friends and are still trouble free fun machines.

[Pate]

Dogpatch your situation sounds just like what my wife and I are trying to do. We work well in our tandem canoe (Blue Hole OCA) and we love it! But we are also looking to step up our game and I believe this will be the best way for us to go. With her experience with rafts I think we will fall in love with the class III -> IV runs. Again thanks for all the info!

[Sparky]

SOTAR SL series 10' to 13'. Light, durable, and great performance. Yes, I've paddled Puma's and still paddle OC's.