Rigging a Whitewater Raft: Building the Ultimate Canyon Rig | Rapid Magazine | Rapid Media

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In this Rapid Magazine Digital Extra Feature we enlist the help of long time Raft Guide and regular contributor to Rapid, Jeff Jackson, to put together the ultimate whitewater raft for multi-day canyon river trips.

[@Gyntster]

If I owned this raft, the first thing I would do is install one big-ass D-Ring in the bow & stern on the floor. This gives you a means to lock the load down and prevents the load from hanging low in a flip. I'd install 4 d-rings in the bow & stern on the inside of the tubes as additional, low tie down points; and it is to these that I would attach that net-floor-gear-hang thing you added. The cooler hang straps will migrate in a wrap, which threatens the cooler stability (don't want to lose the food). My solution for locking a strap in place is to clove hitch it in place, and I'd recommend doing that at key strap placements...just leave them there to speed up the rig for the next trip. You should fill the cockpit, leaving the oarsman a slot to plant those feet. I'd recommend that to give your passengers more room. You might think a 15' 6" is all good for a Grand Canyon, but it will start feeling short after a few days. I prefer 17 feet for room and stability...just sayin'...I do not agree with the angled straps in the corners pulling on the frame for two reasons: 1.) They are pulling the d-ring in a direction causes premature failure, and 2.) You are putting forces on the frame that want to pull the corners apart, and this force would be multiplied in a wrap. Solution: Buy four big-ass D-Rings and mount these in a dedicated position to lock that frame down, using any of the stock d-rings (which all look pretty dinky to me) you see fit to further stabilize the frame. I do like the idea of using over-sized straps for the frame. I use them on my frame, but mine are Nylon, which is a lot stronger than the NRS strap. Good to see you are not allowing those pussy "Oar Rights" on the rig!! And it was good to see the clove hitch used...could have used them elsewhere, too. I like a distance between oar handles that just allows my thumbs to fit when they are wrapped over the ends. PS I'd hit the oar blade insertion point with a little lube of some sort, because that Grand Canyon silt will really lock 'em up if you don't. I like a flip line on each corner of the frame: When the raft is loaded you might be able to right it with all hands on deck pulling of two flip lines, not one...bring 4 flip lines. You need a safety line circling the entire perimeter of the raft, too. Last thing: I'd add one Big Ass D-ring to the bow and stern for those lines...and get yourself a Sand Stake with the heavy mallet for tying up on the big Colorado River Beaches......Good Luck!

[@Cbow406]

I'm buying my first new raft and first NRS frame. I have yet to hit any major whitewater (im usually on calmish rivers fishing) but am hoping to get a couple runs on someone else's raft before I take mine. Everything you said made a lot of sense. One thing I caught right away that didnt seem right was pulling long ways on the frame with the straps. That seems like a great idea for a welded frame, but seems extremely risky on a NRS lol. You should make a video!

[@Nik-ok9nu]

Good stuff here!!! Regarding the sand spikes, they are made with a built in "slide hammer", so you cane beat them in, and bang them out of the sand! No extra tool needed.

[@GreasedUpDeafGuy1100]

Awesome video, very helpful demonstration and commentary. Would love more vids like this

[@Chrismzeller]

Looks like its a goid thing you didn’t skip the oar leashes! Thanks for this. This would have been a great video to have while I was building my raft. A lot of good info that it took me years to accumulate when I did it myself like 1.5” webbing etc.

[@RapidMagTV]

Thanks for the tip! We've never used the 'fancy' leashes before so weren't sure how it went. I've always just used short pieces of cord. ^DAN

[@CurtisOstler]

This is the best video EVER!

[@Nik-ok9nu]

You don't watch many videos, huh? HAHA. Just playin... this is a super helpful video!

[@paddletravelcom]

Had I known you were doing this, I would have invited you to come on our Selway trip this last June, epic flows, and it would have been a good testing ground for the 15.6!

[@douggoodfellow8821]

Drop bags hold a cooler sooooo much better than those straps.And an "Everything Bag" is bomber for the back. On that size boat, they'll regret not getting the top-of-the-line Sawyer oarlocks. Really appreciated the wide-strap advice for securing the frame. Bomber! I love their refusal to do the oar-math. I'm right with them! I sit, and row, on the cooler. I don't need access to it save for once a day, and I don't want anyone accessing it save for that. So, I'd switch the cooler and dry box, as I'm in and out of the dry box all day long. Don't want to have to stand up to access it! That said, great boat, great job--and Scott, I know many a gallon has flowed under the bridge since this video posted--I hope you got your Grand Canyon trip!

[@pvclassic]

Ha, FYI the metal rings for your oar tethers don't go thru the frame. They loop around and feed the strap threw the ring. That was hilarious the guy thought that. But, awesome video, I'm no expert and this was very helpful in rigging. Great job.

[@paddletravelcom]

Hey great video there Scott. I have done a ton of expeditionary rafting, including the Middle Fork of the Salmon, Selway, and the Grand. I have traditionally paddled a 16' AIRE Lion 16' Cat, but I am now going with the 15.6 for the family. I actually have planned out my 15.6 ther exact same way, but got a custom box built for the seat. Just so you know, you didn't good with the oar tethers, the small ring is placed between the oarlock and the oar stand, it doesn't get threaded through the frame.

[@Chrismzeller]

That’s the way I have mine and I was thinking the same thing as I watched this since the oarlocks were not on yet. Good thing you used them anyway.

[@mstrobes4]

I've only done a frame sizing once, on my boat. Wow, this video, helpful to helpless people. Just put those damn oar tethers on, they still go on

[@sandyradsek2058]

Great video, I am looking into building something like this. I want get into some multiday trips. How hard is it to right that thing if it flips when fully loaded? Have you made any changes to the set up since the video was made?

[@enscribe]

The small ring on the oar leash goes on the oarlock, the large ring goes on the oar not the frame. lol

[@uramag7]

i think you put the oar straps on wrong.. i think they are supposed to be on the other side of the ring in the middle. that way they cant pull out like they did.

[@chipmaney]

Sick boat. I thought they were using it for the Grand Canyon??? Wonder how that guy got back in a raft without a line around it?

[@MountainVisions]

Chipper Maney using the frame...it's a personal preference, but some folks don't like a chicken line. In rowing school they didn't use them and we were all able to get back in.

[@macygrayfox]

If you run the grand show up a day early with a handle and let the pros show you how to rig a boat.

[@snakeclaw]

thx for posting. nice vid. is it just me or does it seem that those arms that hold the oar locks are grossly inadequate to do that job? seems they bolt to the frame with one bolt. on my frames, there are 3 welded bars holding that oar lock in place. i'd be worried that the arm of that oar lock would snap off or bend during a hard rapid. just wondering. have fun!

[@Chrismzeller]

No that’s the standard for NRS frames that are on thousands of boats with no issues. I have one like that and it’s great.

[@superjet-sewercleaningdrai2449]

great info. bottom line what is the cost for what your showing?

[@MowPowerLLC]

All that money in gear and no one thought to order a chicken line.

[@danieltmorris123]

What did the whole rig end up costing?

[@DayvanCowboy195]

+Daniel Morris alot, 5000 for the boat, another 700 for the frame, 300 for each oar , the cooler was 300, no sure about the side boards but those straps are about 12 bucks and the throwbags are about 50.

[@douggoodfellow8821]

+Daniel Morris Boat: I'm thinking around $10K.

[@bpdp379]

Chump change compared to today…

[@aboutface102]

Man these guys must be loaded! My entire setup cost less than $2000! Granted it's kind of a pile

[@jameslane2667]

It's a Great Raft and frame and accessories in a great video to but I don't want to pay $20,000 to go have fun on the river

[@bpdp379]

Is it less expensive now?

[@therealdrbyte]

Nice, all made sense to me.. I sit on my cooler though. Shame about the graffiti on you river. :-(

[@robertmikkelsen2578]

Is that Kurt Cobain??