Catarafts...? Opinions

[zomonster]

I'm starting to price boats and see what works for where I fish. Usually it's the Wilson, Trask, NF, or Sandy.

A big boat won't work for the most part, and I'm not a fan of drift boats, so I was thinking about a Cataraft by NRS. A guy I work with swears by them. I could really use some input from you
guys. graemlins/1zhelp.gif

A new decked out 14ft would run about $2500. Seems pretty reasonable for being able to cover a lot of water. He says he's taken his down lots of rivers and has yet to flip it due to it's design. So, how about some pro's and con's. Thanks.

[Thumper]

I don't know anything about that brand, but we are very happy with our 14 footer (20-inch tubes, though I would recommend 22-inch). My advice is to buy a couple of quality tubes and have the frame made up custom for your needs. Osprey on this BB is well-regarded as a frame-maker.

We keep our cataraft on the EF Lewis, and where it really shines is in the lower flows of early and late winter and for summer steelhead fishing. When the driftboats can't go down you will likely have the river to yourself.

[ 02-17-2002, 03:36 AM: Message edited by: Thumper ]

[Jennie@ifish]

OOPS! I thought you said Cataract.
(Cataracts are not good, by the way... :depressed: )
Jen

[dampainter]

I am buying a drift boat and like to hear all the pros and cons...how come your not a fan of drift boats? I think they are one of the most versitile boats that are out there

[Steelheader69]

You don't think I wouldn't jump in on this one would you??? :grin:

NRS makes great tubes, they make their tubes forwhitewatering, thtas why they aare so stable. Ii'm curious though, you said you can outfit it for $2500? What type of frame/oars/acessories are you ading? I'm realy rough on pricing, but the tubes, fishing frame WITH all the options (they sho you loaded frame iin mag, but actualy you get barebones frame), and anchor syste, oars, etc should run you closer to $3K + unles you're getting a discount. I'd highly suggest buying the tubes an then having Osprey build your frame. He's built one for me ad the well exceed any you can buy from ful time frame buildders. Ii was so impressed by his work I'm having him build a frame for my 12' when I buy the tubes.

Ii don't haate DB's myselff. Just a cat is more versatile. I have a 16' cataraft an I can float it al year around. I foat my 16' on the Nooch duuring summer flows!!! Anyone who knows th Noch knows it's a mere trickle during the summer. You won't see any DB's on the river during the smmer. Just innertubers. Pluss, they have great weight bearing capabilities. Pplus, they are more forgiving to theinexperienced rower. They're a godsend for tehxperienced rower, let's youu get a little crazy if you want and hit runs you wuoldn't dare hit a DB with unless you had a guy ready t bail with a big bucket.

I'll add this. Don't get fooled or get the impression you can't flip them. I've come close and have sen bigger boats go over. Where a compresion situation (hydraulic)0 will suck a DB over it wil cause a cat to surf and/or compres llke a rubberband and spring foward. Watched a buddy launch his 18' cat literaly airborn of the water and flipit over. Those are extreme class 4/5 scenerios you won't ever see fishing (usually you don't see water like hat except in true whitewatering trips on WAY uper stretches of rivers (upper Gren, Nisqually, Skykomish, Toutle, Rouge, etc). Yyou'll usualy find more bankers then floaters in tose stretches.

I'l testify again though, get your tubes and have Osprey build your frame to YOUR specs. I have a rame now oon my 16' thtais awesome and fishes the ay I want it. Makes life much better then complaining about this or that.

[STGRule]

Some questions. How do you transport a cataraft type boat? Do any of you take your dogs out with you? What kind of anchoring systems do you use? Do you feel like you have enough room for all your stuff? How young of a child would take out on one of these?
Now some dumb questions. Can you put an electric/small outboard on it? Have any of you ever used it for crabbing?

We can't take the drift boat when we pull the trailer so I'm looking at other options. The problem we have is two adults, a lab, and a beagle that fish with us. Also the occasional grandchild (3-7 years old).

[Gus Orviston]

Here is an option that I am considering, I am thinking the entire boat/trailer might work like this too, so that when you get the campground you can drop the boat off the top and onto the hitch for smooth boat ramp operation.??

http://www.boatcarrier.com/

or this mini drifter

http://www.dhdriftboats.com/advHtml/mini.html

[ 02-17-2002, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: Gus Orviston ]

[zomonster]

Holly cow, good answers and questions.

Steelheader69, the price I figured was just for the tubes and the top of the live frame. To me that is the spendy part, tie downs, oars, stuff like I don't include until the end. Sorry for the confussion

DamPainter, The only person I will drift with is a guide named Ted Wade. I drifed with a friend of mine that convinced me he was as good as a guide and when he flipped the boat I was tangled in a rope and went to the bottom of the Clackamas with the boat. Almost drowned had it not been for an observant gentlemen in a raft about 6 years ago. Pretty much left a back taste in my mouth.

STGRule, the guy here at work that works for me build a couple of platforms on the ends of his cat and puts a dog on each one. He said after they usually jump in once and follow along for a quarter mile or so they get the idea to stay on board.

NRS has a web site call nrsweb.com I just ordered a catolag and they have an online one too.

Thanks to everyone for their input. I just figured weighing the pros and cons of how much I fish big water vs small rivers, I can get a pretty nice cat for what a power boat would cost. Thanks again... :grin:

[Thumper]

Hmmmmm.....Crabbing in a cataraft with a couple of dogs.....boggles the mind. STG, I think you ain't gonna be happy with a cataraft. But if you can't trailer a boat one of the Porta-Boat products could be the ticket.