Hey Spoony,if you're serious about about running higher class water,you might want to look at a larger boat at least a 10' but a 12' would be much better,by the time you put all you're gear on a 9' boat you lose alot of you're control.it's a diference between night and day.Frame design really comes in effect when you're talking whitewater,here is where the steelheader lacks IMHO,if you're gonna spend the bucks shop around,my.02.....Os