Raft Hand Pumps

[Crane]

Michelle,
Take it to the Nantahalla to learn to row it. The Nanty has plenty of current & is deep enough in most routes to support a 14' raft without toooo much running aground... which will happen! But, a long weekend over there will take your skill-level up quickly!! You can also put it on the Cadron and on the Piney!! You just have to forego yakking a little. But, it's worth the effort. By next spring, you should be ready for an extended river trip... San Juan or Yampa/Green or Desolation Canyon. Bob Stout took a winter Rio Grande trip a few years ago. It's the multi-day rowing that really sets muscle-memory in solid!! I heartily recommend the Wilderness Destinations course Dave Reid was talking about... It's a week of real fun!! And, by the end of the week, you've enjoyed two really pretty rivers and learned to row!! I did it & two weeks later rowed the Middle Fork of the Salmon pretty successfully. Dave had about the same experience, I think. Whatever you need in the way of discussion or advice, please feel free to holler!! We have a very strong rafting community in Arkansas and nearby now!!

[okieboater]

Yup, Destination Wilderness raft workshop is about as good as it gets as far as learning to row and seeing two of the really nice rivers in Oregon. Hard to beat the Umpqua and Rogue, normally DW teaches on both these rivers.

Day trips on the Umpqua and a true multi day float on the Rogue.

Heck, I may go back again just for the fun of floating Umpqua and Rogue.

[MStanley]

Liz and I are planning on taking the class this next Spring.

I really have to agree with Dave's previous post about oar rafting; it really is the biggest rush getting that loaded raft through a really complex and tough rapid. I know I've probably hit my limit on skills in a kayak but I'm still getting better at rafting. This past Sep Liz and I rowed the Middle Fork of the Salmon (low water) and we just rowed the Ocoee for the first time and can't wait to go back and do it again.

I'm sure all the kayakers get tired of hearing about raft trips but it is great fun. One important fact is that it also lets non-paddlers experience the thrills we get where kayaking is solo all the way.

[Michele Jackson]

Thanks for all the info and words of encouragement! I can't wait to learn more about rafting. I do want to learn to row, but I'm kind of hoping my hubby will be the main oarsman so I can still have the option to kayak. But we'll see how it goes; it may be so much fun I'll want to take over.

Mike- do you know the dates for the spring '08 class at Destination Wilderness? I just saw the '07 date, not 08.

[MStanley]

Liz is taking care of the arrangements. I'll get her to PM you.

[okieboater]

Mike and all,

I went down to the shed today and checked on my raft air pumps.

I have the 200 model and am a hundred percent pleased with it. My guess is the 400 model is just that much better so I think my comments still speak to the effectiveness of the K pump design.

Note to Santa Claus. If the 400 is twice as good as the 200, maybe I need to trade up for the big boy!

sorry if I caused any confusion.

[potterspoint434]

I don`t know anything about rafts but I just got back from Alaska and a sea plane drop us off in Uganik Lake on Kodiak Island and we had to pump or rafts up.
One of the guys had a battery powered pump that pumped up the raft in about 10 minutes, I thought it was great.
Like I said I don`t much about them but that the electric pump was nice

[okieboater]

Most likely it was a LVM.

very powerfull 12 volt pumps. pretty small. Have to be carefull and not burn them up etc but man do they fill up air tubes fast!

NRS has them and if memory correct, now have a NRS version that is a little bit cheaper.

[Crane]

For most uses, several of us have started carrying the $20 Coleman rechargable pumps available at Walmart. The charge usually can pump up several rafts... though you DO have to top them off to get firm tubes.