I OWN A PAIR OF CATARACTS WITH THE OLDER STYLE BLADE. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THESE ARE THE NARROW ONES. I DON'T THINK THAT FLOATING THE RIVERS YOU MENTIONED YOU WOULD HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH EITHER BLADE. MOST PREFER NARROW BLADES WHEN FLOATING ROCKY LOW WATER. SINCE YOU ARE IN SUCH A SMALL BOAT, YOU DON'T NEED THE EXTRA WIDTH FOR POWER AND YOU PROBABLY FLOAT SKINNY WATER SO I WOULD STICK WITH THE NARROW.