Andrew, I haven't seen the Clearwater Drifter in person, but it does not look to me like it packs down that easily. The frame appears to be held together with like 20+ NRS Lopro fittings, each of which has 2 nuts to undo on a U-bolt. Just read some customer reviews or find a video showing how it breaks down before you count on being able to pack it quickly/easily in your car. If you do decide to buy one, I noticed Backcountry has 3 in stock for 25% off retail.
-- Rob, the Flycraft is a cool looking boat with a slick design, but you're basically paying $2300 for the frame. The rubber itself appears to be the same as a Saturn RD365 ducky, which you can buy for $650. Kudos to those guys for their frame design and ingenuity, though. It was a kickstarter funded company!
On Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 3:47:02 PM UTC-4, Andrew R wrote:
So after mulling over the options as well as the feedback of the greater TPFR community (thanks everyone!), I asked myself the question typically posed by deep voiced narrators in luxury car commercials...why settle?I realized I could have the best of both worlds and have decided to buy an NRS clearwater drifter.With the ability to hit rocks at high speeds and drift in very shallow water like a raft, combined with the size, maneuvarability and feel of a drift boat, the NRS drifter seems to capture the best of both worlds. Not to mention the entire thing can be deflated and packed in the car rather than towed by trailer. The only downside is that rather than fitting four guys like some of the drift boats I looked at (the 18' clackamax remains my ultimate dream), it only fits three.Now just to find a used one for a reasonable price...
On Friday, April 22, 2016 at 7:34:53 PM UTC-4, JT wrote:Connor, ACE was my go-to for miscellaneous bolts, washers, nuts, etc. I got the speed rail fittings online from Zoro Tools. The 1-1/4" nominal fittings are the size you want if you're planning to use schedule 40 anodized aluminum pipe from NRS (which they will cut to length for you @ $6/foot). You can also do what I did and use 1-5/8" outside diameter steel fence post (16 gauge, which you can get at Home Depot @ $2/foot).Be sure to get POSTS, rather than TOP-RAIL, which is not strong enough. The set screws on the fittings even crush the posts a bit. For additional strength, I ended up epoxying a 2 inch long piece of 1.5" OD wood dowel inside the ends of the fence posts, so I could torque the set screws down tighter without crushing the pipe.The steel post + speed rail fittings route is cheaper than buying NRS pipe and Lopro fittings. But there is no question that the NRS pipe and Lopros makes a stronger frame, if you are intending to float any serious whitewater. What type of boat do you have?
On Friday, April 22, 2016 at 11:51:09 AM UTC-4, Connor Donovan wrote:Sweet. That's a fine turnout for DIY. I've been contemplating going the speedrail and fence post route for reworking the front half of my frame. Did you pick up the speed rail fittings online? Or at ACE? Because that would be a game changer if I could find those locally.
On Friday, April 22, 2016 at 11:01:53 AM UTC-4, JT wrote:Connor, yes -- the frame is DIY. I was inspired by this boat I came across, which uses NRS frame parts: http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/attachment.php? attachmentid=4447&d=1332370863 My frame uses aluminum speed rail fittings (with set screws), 16 gauge steel fence post, 3/4" plywood, and tractor seats. I became good friends with the store manager at Ace Hardware. Aire sells a similar oar frame for the Traveler canoe called the "Traveler Rowing Frame," but it just has bench seats.
On Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 11:22:22 AM UTC-4, Connor Donovan wrote:JT - That aire canoe looks awesome. That's a cool mini frame, did you DIY that? I'm really, really digging it.
On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 7:18:19 PM UTC-4, cg wrote:Boulder boatworks makes a high density poly driftboat that can take rock strikes. It is a traditional design so is not rated for high hp motors but you can run a 2 to 5 hp. Butch Murphy guides out of one and I think Matt Miles may drive one as well.Charlie
Sent from my iPhoneAire inflatable kayaks are great (PVC outer shell with urethane bladders). I run a 15' Aire Traveler inflatable canoe with an oar frame; it's a great little boat for 2 people.--
On Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 9:34:53 PM UTC-4, arthur noglak wrote:Anyone have any experience with inflatable kayaks?Art
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com .
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com .
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly- .rodders/e6ae2fb7-3a43-4e23- 8fb3-4d459142aed5% 40googlegroups.com
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout .
<aire_south_fork_shenandoah.jpg>
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/6a08e005-394d-4347-aee3-74fac03e434b%40googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
No comments:
Post a Comment