If you get a raft, get a good trailer as well so you are always ready to fish.
Having seen guys inflating and assembling, deflating and disassembling their rafts at the launch sure doesn't look like fun. I'd sell my raft if I had to do that every time I wanted to fish it.
I use an American Whitewater trailer for my 14.6' Aire.

Care to share the long version of the story?

Also, Stonefish is dead-on about the trailer. Regular assembly/disassembly should NOT be part of your regular routine.

-AP

Confidence kills. Respect rewards.

Be safe out there.

Long story:

I was on the Hoko with my Bro-in-law putting in at the fish hatchery. We portaged around the first part of the canyon about 1/3 of the way down, fished the calm waters inbetween the portage area and lined up for the next rocky section about 50 feet down or so. A large bolder is in the middle of the section and you have to manuver left, pointing your bow to the right where you don't want to be (The rock). There is about a 15 foot shoot that the current will take you around, then you have to point your bow hard left and paddle away from the room of doom rock wall and out of the shoot. I lined up to the rock, slowly pointed my bow toward it, back rowing as the current gently took me around. But...I turned the bow to soon hard left and the current pushed my stern into the rock--back flipping us upside down. The river was angry that day my friend! (Seinfield) There was ice hanging from the canyon walls and we were very cold as we made a straight line to the pull out. I lost a lot of gear, but we will live to fish again. What was interesting was that I've been rowing the rivers on the OP for about seven years in a cataraft and developed a high level of confidence that caused me to take the river a little more aggressive than I should have. The whole experience was pilot error. I'm thankful that I'll have more opportunities to fish the OP rivers, but with a whole lot less pride and a whole lot more respect!

wildbill what kind of pontoon do you have?

I have a 12 foot two man ODC 1220. It served me well, but it isn't the greatest for what I have been using it for. The tubes are single bladder and the frame, although it has held up--is a little weak. It's been on every river over here on the OP and has given seven years of fun and it is still in great shape, but it's time to get into a more beefy cataraft (pontoon). I'd love a DB, but being an Arizonan, I was born without good rowing skills. The pickles I've gotten myself into would have been disasterous with a DB. I liked the ODC for an introduction cataraft, but in my opinion, the rivers up here need something more stronger. The ODC is a little loose in white water while the other products have a much more sturdy feel to them. It's great on lakes and calmer rivers, but not rated for waters over Class II. However, I've shot all the OP rivers that are "shootable" and it has held up fine.

I like wildbill's honesty.
Wildbill I hope you have many more fun years on the river.

+1

Refreshing, isn't it?

If I were running some of the sportier OP streams, I'd be using a whitewater rated craft...ODC's are not rated for whitewater. Having heavy duty pontoons and a heavy duty frame that is securely welded together is a big deal, compared to light duty pontoons and the rubbery frame that comes on the ODC's.

For safety's sake, stick to lakes and flat moving water with those boats!

Fish on...

Todd

Oh just asking I have one of Shawn Mackey's BadCats 10 foot. I know his 10 foot tubes are 21" diam and his frames are top notch built solid. I know the odc are so so but i know a lot of people that bought them say they wish they saved up and bought a skookum or badcat. I love mine just need to find a buddy to float pontoons with.

2 people on a 20" 12' tube in white water seems like it would run deep and be very tippy
21" 10' is perfect for 1 person sits real high in water. Wish i would have gone 12' though so I could run a bigger cooler and more gear but that will be down the road soon.

I hope to have one later this year, maybe we can link up. Im in Puyallup

BadCat = whitewater rated boat

Fish on...

Todd

heres a link to one of his older boats and frames for sale WORTH it.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/boa/2154798562.html
this shouldnt last long if not all ready gone