What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame?

Posted by: The Catcherman

What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/13/11 04:07 PM

Let's hear some descriptions and maybe even some pictures of your favorite design for a fishing raft or cataraft. Do you prefer a module system or a single piece frame? What essential equipment or accessories must you have? What do you feel isn't worth getting because of added weight or cost? No secret fishing spots being revealed here so don't be shy!
Posted by: McMahon

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/13/11 05:33 PM

I don't have any design to give you since everyone has their own opinion on how things should be set up, but NRS has just about every frame part you might need.

I suppose it's all on how long of a float you're planning on taking. Do you want a dry box? How many people will you be taking? I guess my best advice would be to sit down and figure out what situation you'll be in the most and work around that.
Posted by: BossMan

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/13/11 06:26 PM

I'll second the NRS system. I have one on my cataraft and its great. They are modualr and you can just order the pieces and build to suit your set up
Posted by: The Catcherman

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/13/11 08:51 PM

McMahon and Bossman,

That was the point. I know what I like but I want to see what others like and dislike and why. This was to start a discussion...NRS has great products and their customer service is fantastic. But when it comes down to it, their fishing frames are pretty simple. Of course you can add on all kinds of stuff to customize your boat, which leads us back to the question and why I posted it.
Posted by: McMahon

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/13/11 09:23 PM

Don't worry about weight IMO. In the end, plus or minus a few pounds on a cat or raft doesn't mean squat. I like dry boxes even for day trips. I also like a cooler rack even on a day trip. If you haven't gotten a rower's seat yet, be sure to get the short back one.

The NRS fishing setup is pretty sweet with the platform, hip bar and swivel seat. Very comfortable. I don't know how it fits on a cat, though.

I wish I had some pictures of my setups, but I don't have at this point. I also wish I could help you more, and I can't think of a single piece that you MUST have. At this point if you can dream it and have some technical know-how you can make the rig that best suits you. If you've spent any time on the river you will have noticed by now that everyone has a different setup. Of course the dollar decides all of this in the end.
Posted by: BossMan

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/13/11 09:56 PM

Ok, I here are some pics of mine. What I like are the two dry storage boxes, space for a cooler, the rower seat tackle trays, the two front seats on a slider (can remove one or both seats), the rear seat on a swivel, the side pull anchor system, and the motor mount.

http://www.photoworks.com/slideshow/album/A1EF5633AA98?c=pw59560&CS_003=4433951

Posted by: Rag N Steel

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/13/11 10:32 PM

Shawn Mackey (Bad Cat River Boats)
He makes some awesome frames he can make them for a 1-man 9'
to a 16' 3-man, might be a little on the heavy side but they are SOLID, Also you can add on to his boats w/ any NRS clamp or weld more tubing in needed (cant don that on a Skookum wink ) here is a pic of my BadCat.
AWESOME Cats IMO
Posted by: The Catcherman

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/13/11 10:38 PM

Nice boat Rag (tempted to comment on the avatar but will hold my tongue banana)

Can you expand on your statement about the NRS clamp or being able to weld more tubing, unlike the Skookum?
Posted by: First Bite

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/13/11 10:42 PM

Hey Dave

I like my three piece frame that breaks down easily. Definetly love the 22" tubes for clearance and 1500 pound weight capacity. A smooth straight pull through anchor system is nice. I added a transom plate for a Minn Kota Riptide...can run pretty much run all day with two batteries. Metal trays are next for small tackle items. A solid lean bar is a must too.



[img:center]http://app.onlinephotofiler.com/Img1/A_7...67-e198c5aabc5d[/img]
Posted by: Rag N Steel

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/14/11 01:38 AM

Originally Posted By: DaveD
Nice boat Rag (tempted to comment on the avatar but will hold my tongue banana)

Can you expand on your statement about the NRS clamp or being able to weld more tubing, unlike the Skookum?

Thanks the boat is rad but still need a lot done: cargo rack, whole new anchor system (F rope ratchets), padding on yoke/foot bar, trailer etc.

For the NRS clamps http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1215&pdeptid=1178
The frame is the same size tubing as nrs tubing and clamps adding other options would be easy

For welding (repair/add on) you can weld on the aluminum tubing as you cant on a skookum b/c its a galvanized steel.
Skookums are still rad boats
Posted by: Hunt4fish

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/15/11 11:09 PM

Howdy,
Long time lurker, just had to chime in on this post. I wanted to address Rags comment in regards to the inability to alter a galvanized steel frame. I have seen you say this a few times on this forum, you can indeed weld galvinized pipe or steel of any type. There is a gas given off by the process and care should be taken to not inhale this by product. The piping used by Skookum frames has an electro galvinzed coating applied to it at the factory. The frames are welded together in the same condition that you recieve them, if you look close the welds are "re-galvinized" with paint to make them match.

Anyway you can do anything you want and more to a steel frame then you can to a less structual aluminium frame (if you wanted to compare metals). Just my two cents, and hope this helps. I beilive allot of suppliers out there are feeding this line of bull to many potential buyers in an effort to gain there business.

Thanks allot,
H4F
Posted by: Hunt4fish

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 06:38 PM

I forgot to add the elements I beilive are essential for a good cataraft. First is good pontoons, skookum makes some of the best. Rag has skookum toons in the pic if I am not mistaken. Also a good 1 piece rowing seat is nice, it is not a good time to have the back of your seat break while halfway through a rapid set. Of course a good large floor is key for fishing. Motor mount for a small gas motor is nice for some situations. Oh yea and some good dry bags, deck mount bags for kayak's work great I have found. Along with rod holders and all the typical stuff.

Anyway thats my two cents.
Thanks,
H4F
Posted by: Driftfishnw

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 06:43 PM

Skookum frames are the best IMHO....

Something about an aluminum frame makes me a little un easy when thinking about running them through heavy water...

Posted by: AP a.k.a. Kaiser D

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 06:50 PM

We actually had to do some minor welding on our Skookum and the welds have held for years now. At the time, I also heard stories of "not being able to weld galvanized" but eventually was told just to watch out for the gases.
Posted by: Driftfishnw

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 07:05 PM

How many aluminum framed cars you work on stam?
Posted by: deerlick

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 07:36 PM

tony, galvanized frames are cheaper and easier for most to build, so i would imagine that has alot to do with why skookum and others tend to use galvanized steel tube. but why are the bumpers,under the plastic skins, on most new cars aluminum. there are quite a few aluminum subframes in cars also. the main reason they dont build aluminum frames is your car would cost alot more. also if i remember correctly airplanes are built out of aluminum......they seem pretty strong
Posted by: Rag N Steel

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 07:57 PM

Originally Posted By: Hunt4fish
skookum makes some of the best. Rag has skookum toons in the pic if I am not mistaken.


The tubes are Badcats. Shawn just didn't put the logo on them really similar to skookums if not the same. and -1 on gas moter on a toon
Posted by: The Catcherman

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 08:31 PM

Here is a bit more on the subject. Skookum hasn't built their pontoons for a long time and actually made only a very few compared to what they have used from Maxxon over the years. The Skookum owner actually built very little, (perhaps the floor boards?) on his boats. He got people to supply the components and put them together to provide a good boat at a decent price.

Bad Cat, I'm positive, also gets their pontoons from Maxxon. Maxxon provides excellent products for the money but they are vastly less money than the big whitewater names such as Sotar, Maravia, NRS, and like. But Maxxon pontoons are flatter, providing more footprint than the whitewater designed inflatables, which is probably better for fishing anyway.

Skookum had all their galvanized steel frames found on their good quality boats made by a guy who lives in North Bend. The aluminum frames that are powder coated are made overseas and not near the same quality as the steel frames. If you knew how much they paid for them, you'd never buy their Osprey model over the steel frame boat.

Aluminum is lighter than steel but more expensive, more difficult to work on, and can be more difficult to repair, and often requires a larger diameter tube than steel to get the same strength result, thereby negating its lighter properties over steel. I'd bet all my RVRFSHRS that the steel frames made by Ken (he offers a lifetime warranty) will still be going strong after the overseas aluminum frames on the Skookum Ospreys have bit the bullet.

Anyway I posted this question to see what people like and don't like in rafts and catarafts (acknowledging everybody is a little different) and I appreciate those who responded.
Posted by: Hunt4fish

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 08:54 PM

Ok so is aluminium stronger then steel. NO aluminium is more rigid then steel, and is stronger then steel by weight comparison only. There is really no such thing as structual aluminium, some aircraft grade aluminium is significantly stronger. But is still not as strong as steel, the strength from the aluminium frame in cars and airplanes comes from the engineers and there ability to design a monolithic "frame" and this is only done out of the need for weight savings.

Aluminium is a rigid alloy and does not compare to the yield strength of steel, which is why steel is used in allot of applications where movement can distort a frame, because steel can come back into "plane" on a repeatable basis. thats not to say alu. can not be used in allot of applications and have advantages over steel due to weight savings. The reality is that the stresses a cataraft frame can endure will never approach the structual limits of either metal.

Something else to note would be the weld strenght comparison between alu. and steel. This is the biggest problem I see with aluminium frames vs. steel, and is where you have no comparison to steel, as I mentioned in an earlier post but did not specify the weld issue. Steel welds are significantly stronger then alu. welds. In fact alu. welds are considered brittle and not to be used in a constant flex situation. Again this is not to say that a frame will ever be subject to forces significant enough to break a weld with either metal. This is why all connections in an airplane are mechanical aka pop rivets or bolts. Anyway I can elaborate further and would enjoy the debate if some of you are still on the alu. band wagon. smile

Not trying to be rude just informative.
Thanks,
H4F
Posted by: Dan S.

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 09:10 PM

Aluminum has a bandwagon?



How about a Pro Staff?

smile
Posted by: The Catcherman

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 09:24 PM

Stam,

I have no doubt that a good aluminum welder can build a life time frame for a raft or cataraft that would easily handle the most brutal whitewater/fishing applications. I'd be curious to see a picture of your boat and know how much it weighs but understand if your hesitant about posting. It can't be the one in your avatar because it looks like a raft and the frame looks multi-piece. I'd be curious to compare weights of a steel and aluminum frames. Dad built many Skagit flatbottom sleds; wood and aluminum but I don't recall hin building any steel boats.

Of course a man and most women could pick up my two-man steel-frame pontoon boat and carry/drag it but I (or similar strengthed dude) would have to be one of the men. rofl
Posted by: large edward

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 09:33 PM

Originally Posted By: deerlick
also if i remember correctly airplanes are built out of aluminum......they seem pretty strong


A lot of us around here are trying to make one out of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, aka "graphite", but we're a little late (7 late 7).

What do you think GBL? Do you think there's a market for graphite cat frames? Only half kidding...
Posted by: The Catcherman

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 09:36 PM

Call up Gary Loomis. He can't seem to stay out of the graphite rod market since selling to Shimano. Maybe that is his new endeavor: Graphite frames.

Of course, if a small piece of graphite costs $700, what would a frame cost?

You all heard Stam say it; he'd go with the lightest every time.
Posted by: large edward

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/16/11 09:43 PM

Hmmm.....Loomis name + Boeing brains = ?
Posted by: Rotten Chum

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 12:02 AM

Go fishing guys...jeeez!
Posted by: The Catcherman

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:01 AM

Originally Posted By: Rotten Chum
Go fishing guys...jeeez!


This has been very civil and respectful...much more so than 90% of the dark side topics.
Posted by: ColeyG

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:03 AM

Originally Posted By: stam
I've rowed mine into the bowels of hell


So that is where shi.t creek comes from.

Did you have a paddle?
Posted by: Todd

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:17 AM

Originally Posted By: ColeyG
Did you have a paddle?


I think he started out with two, even...

Might have ended with less smile

Fish on...

Todd
Posted by: ColeyG

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:25 AM

I knew it!

That is why you always bring an extra, especially if you start with lamiglas smile
Posted by: Todd

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:29 AM

I may be dumb, but I ain't stupid.

Hell, I've even got two brand new life jackets on board...'course, they were brand new about eight years ago when I bought them, and they're still in the plastic, in the box...think LE would say they were "readily available" if it took me a few minutes to find them and take them out of the packages when they asked to see them?

Fish on...

Todd
Posted by: ColeyG

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:35 AM

You got me beat. I usually figure, hell, the boat floats, just hold onto that. It has worked in the past.
Posted by: The Catcherman

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:40 AM

Unless it is filled with water...on the Duc or anywhere else.
Posted by: Todd

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:46 AM

We've got different versions/sizes of the same frame...sitting on top of the same Skookum tubes...they don't fill up with water, or sink, and that's what we both use on the Duc.

'Course, that doesn't mean we can't fukk it up royally, anyway...just can't sink the boat while doing it wink

Fish on...

Todd
Posted by: ColeyG

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:49 AM

Originally Posted By: DaveD
on the Duc
Not completely true. I had to bail off the tooner on the Duc sans life jacket once. Was pretty glad to have the boat to hang on to.

Don't ask.
Posted by: Todd

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:51 AM

Originally Posted By: ColeyG

Don't ask.


...DO tell smile

Fish on...

Todd
Posted by: ColeyG

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 02:12 AM

I think you have already heard that story a few times. It involves a lost oar.

Fortunately there were no onlookers.
Posted by: The Catcherman

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 02:32 AM

What is worse? Losing one or breaking one? rofl
Posted by: Todd

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 02:44 AM

S'all the same...and neither are good...but no biggie, so long as you've got a spare.

Fish on...

Todd
Posted by: Driftfishnw

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 12:05 PM

Cool looking 'toon.
Posted by: STRIKE ZONE

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 12:26 PM

Now that's a motley crew, right there.Nice toon.I may need to check it out some time,sson.Good luck,
SZ
Posted by: ColeyG

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 01:57 PM

Originally Posted By: stam

I bought the Maravia raft a few years back so Neal could ride with us too.


With those short little legs, he probably got pretty tired of chasing you guys down the river :)\

Nice beard grizzly adams.
Posted by: Dan S.

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 02:04 PM

Originally Posted By: stam
having a safety meeting


rofl
Posted by: Todd

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 02:30 PM

I'm all for being safe on the river...though making room for Neal might compromise your chances of catching fish...mofo catches them all for you!

Fish on...

Todd
Posted by: AP a.k.a. Kaiser D

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 03:33 PM

You can never be too safe. We should meet to talk about that...
Posted by: Driftfishnw

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 04:08 PM

Originally Posted By: AP a.k.a. Kaiser D
You can never be too safe. We should meet to talk about that...


The last time you two had a "safety meeting" someone went floating a$$ over tea kettle down a tailout grin
Posted by: seastrike

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 05:48 PM

Dude we need pics of Todd taking a bath after the saftey meeting.
I'm looking fwd to many meetings this weekend.
Posted by: Driftfishnw

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 05:50 PM

Wasn't Todd.... grin
Posted by: AP a.k.a. Kaiser D

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 06:36 PM

Sometimes, you just have to become one with the river.










But, hopefully, not too often.
Posted by: summerrun

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 09:09 PM

Nice meeting, hope you figured out the meaning of life...decided all frames are too heavy so frameless is it for me on all my one man watercraft until I buy my alumimum framed raft w stripper pole
Posted by: gregsalmon

Re: What is your best fishing raft/cataraft frame? - 02/17/11 11:48 PM

I am thinking about buying a used outcast 9 footer, the low profile one. Anybody got anything good or bad to say about those? The discovery 9 r