Water Master Bruin // 2 Person Framed Fishing Raft Review

Link to Order: redsflyfishing.com/products/w...
The Water Master Bruin is our preferred 2 person raft for guiding here in the Eastern Cascades. Its a tough, reliable, and highly functional 2 person platform that serves our team extremely well.
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[@onisgagan2481]

Bought a Bruin last year with the fishing package and upgraded oars, the more I use it the more I love it. I can throw it in the pickup by myself and go. Made in Montana worth the money all day long…

[@epoxy731]

Had my WaterMaster Grizzly for a couple of years. I'm 67 years old, pretty active, and feel totally safe wherever I take it out to a stream or small river here in the midwest. Keep making great content.

[@redsflyshop]

Great feedback, thank you!

[@epoxy731]

@@redsflyshop PS. Can't wait to get the G4Z's I ordered yesterday. Should add a whole new level of comfort.😆

[@rjwright1494]

Love my Kodiak!

[@helok9]

I have a three person bruin and it’s very comfortable and capable. No issues with three people. It will handle class 4 rapids if you wanted.

[@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker]

I love my Bruin and Watermaster has made great boats for a long time. Curious though if you've contemplated Stealthcraft boats and any pros and cons between those.

[@helok9]

I’m guessing this would do well on the south fork of the snake?

[@theoutdoordad7395]

Great overview. This or the Kodiak for primarily solo use?

[@redsflyshop]

Kodiak for sure. No question. This has a floor in it, so you can't stand and wade fish with the boat around you.

[@brandenborn9510]

We got our WM Bruin a year ago, and have fished it to Red's on the Yak. So great. For those who have them, I have a question (Red's too): do you stand in the front position when fishing, and what is your experience with the floor? We are both big guys, over 200 lbs, and standing on the front floor section floods it over your boots right away. No problem, in that it drains (both due to the self-bailing floor). It's just not a particularly comfortable position--the floor feels too soft for standing (it's fully inflated). I'm curious if that amount of flooding is normal, and whether anyone has experience with a suspended floor or similar? We end up sitting all the time, which is fine. We love this boat!

[@redsflyshop]

I'm a sitter most of the time, I'm 175 pounds and can sense that might happen if I were much heavier. I keep a 1/2 socket wrench and will drop the thigh bar for seated anglers and get it out of their way.

[@onisgagan2481]

I’m about 220 lb. and fish alone most of the time on lakes. I usually float rivers with a second, I think the boats a little small for three. When I ordered the Bruin I had them put in four supports which are just large D ring patches. There are two on each side of the interior tubes and four on the floor. I then run a short NRS cam strap from each floor ring to the corresponding tube ring above it. I don’t have them super tight to allow for flex. When alone the floor is dry. If somebody is up front I’ll get water but nothing like without them. I also built a treated plywood deck for the back end. I’m sure if you called Rich he could hook you up with the D ring kit. It’s a great boat and they’re hand made up here in Montana. Hope this helps…

[@shamboha]

@@onisgagan2481 thanks for the reply, it sounds like your mod has been taken up by WM, who now sell a kit to add six D-ring patches to support the floor. I like this idea as it still allows for the floor to move (up) if you go over a rock. I also like that it keeps the weight down versus added solid flooring. I’ll try the D-rings this season!

[@redsflyshop]

@@shamboha Just jumped on here to mention this! Great response. The floor should be strapped up using the D Rings on the floor connected to the boat. I was just talking to Rich about this and he mentioned it.

[@brandenborn4277]

@@redsflyshop Thanks; I have to say Rich is just the best at customer service with the WM products in our experience. From advising to delivery, to questions and support like this, he's been great. I'm sure you know that given you sell them! BTW, @shamboha is me, too...somehow overlapping logins. :) See you at the shop or on the Yak!

[@derikhaggard4666]

How's the durability compared to the NRS Star Outlaw rafts? Comparing this to the Orvis Hookjaw package.

[@redsflyshop]

The Hookjaw is pretty cool looking, but I like the flat profile of the water master. We have some Outlaw rafts here at Red's, and I would say the durability would likely favor WaterMaster boats but don't have a strong opinion. These are hearty rafts.

[@theoutdoordad7395]

Is there a mount available to attach a motor? If so what size motor could it accommodate?

[@redsflyshop]

Yes there is, I haven't used it but if you scroll through the photo gallery here you'll see it. Contact WaterMaster directly to order the mount. www.bigskyinflatables.com/product/water-master-bruin-raft/

[@captainkoo]

Sorry for this dumb question, but how do you inflate a raft like this? Also, can you row this upstream ?

[@redsflyshop]

It will row upstream with a light load and light current, we typically use a shop vac in reverse to blow it up, then top it off with an NRS K Pump.

[@nandayadav3209]

what about loading in top of a 4runner? not very practical or doable?

[@brandenborn9510]

Easy with two people, doable with one!