Types of Rafts

If you plan to purchase a raft for camping or whitewater rafting, you may be wondering what type of raft you should buy. There are several types of rafts available, depending on your needs. Some are for sport, while others are meant for carrying large amounts of camping gear or other cargo.

  1. Self-bailing Rafts

    • As the name suggests, self-bailing rafts remove water instead of retaining it. The floor of a self-bailing raft is an inflated bed, laced to the remainder of the raft. The top of the inflated bed sits several inches above the surface of the water. When water enters the raft, it drains through the lacing. This type of raft is useful for serious whitewater rafting. You do not have to bail water out of the raft at the end of each rapid. Also, self-bailing rafts have a wood or metal frame that locks the oars in place. Large self bailers (13 to 18 feet) are also available to transport camping gear and several people.

    Catarafts

    • Catarafts have rigid beds attached to inflated pontoons. Cataraft sizes display as the length of the raft in feet, and the diameter of the pontoons in inches. Popular sizes are 12 feet by 20 inches and 16 feet by 24 inches. These rafts are easier to maneuver than traditional self-bailing rafts, but they cannot carry as many passengers or as much equipment. Pontoons come in many designs for rafting in different conditions. For example, some are asymmetrical on the long axis to increase stability in rough water.

    Paddle Rafts

    • This type of raft does not have a rigid frame to support oars. It simply has inflatable seats for the passengers, who use paddles to move the raft along the water. The seats are in a line from the front to the rear of the craft, rather than side by side. Typically, the front passenger uses his paddle to steer the raft, while the other passengers propel the craft forward.