Raft Buying Guide - How to Buy Rafts

• Take a Rafting trip in a rented Raft with a guide, if possible. Talk to him or her about buying a Raft, and what you should look for. Also, learn as much as you can about maintenance and operation. In this way, you will know if what you’re buying can be used and maintained for a long time.


• Determine the type of River Rafting you are going to do. Consider how many people you are usually going to be taking, the pieces of Rafting Gear you will need, and how long the trip will be.


• Visit an outdoor outfitting store and ask for personnel who know a lot about Rafts.


• Discuss your needs with the personnel and ask to see what they have available.


• Check the Rafts under consideration in their fully inflated state. Once they are inflated, you'll have a much better idea of how much room you have to work with.


• Ask about the safety features. For instance, ask about the size of the buoyancy tubes. Smaller buoyancy tubes handle better, while larger tubes help prevent water from coming onboard.


• Make sure the Raft has multiple air chambers.


• Decide whether you want cross tubes (thwarts) on the Raft. These take up room but are good to sit on, especially when paddling.


• Consider the material the raft is made of. Cotton is the least expensive, but it also decomposes the fastest. Nylon doesn't deteriorate like cotton, but is subject to tear and is quite heavy. Dacron Polyester is twice as strong as nylon, but also twice as heavy. DuPont Kevlar is the strongest and most expensive material available, but it's difficult to repair and fairly rigid.


• Ask about warranties on the Raft before you buy it. You definitely want one.


• For a private rafter, a 12- to 16-foot raft is usually big enough. Here are basic size guidelines: six people need a 12-by-6-foot raft; seven people require a 13-by-6 1/2-foot raft; 10 people need a 15-by-7 1/2-foot raft; and 14 people need a 17-by-8-foot raft. Your Rafting Gear is also something to consider.