I agree with you that AIRE rafts are less "flappable". I have rowed all of the rafts that you review in this video and many others, I own and have rowed and love my Wing for decades. But in support of what you say I love the AIRE rafts in juicy water.

Totally agree that AIRE boats don’t flip as easily as the other two because the floor pocket takes on water. This is a big deal for stability. The downside is it makes for a heavy raft, and a heavy raft is a sluggish raft - but it’s also less likely to flip. The fact AIRE boats are easiest to repair in the field is icing on the cake.

Thanks for the video. The three members of my primary group have a Sotar, Maravia and an AIRE. As you stated the floor in the Maravia is amazing, but it sucks to roll. The Sotar is light, but is slicker than hell when wet and you step on a tube (maybe they have fixed this, but the owner in our group regularly comments that he's going to sell it before it kills him). The AIRE (mine) doesn't have the name cachet of the other two, but it was pretty affordable on the used market when we were shopping a few years ago, and it has resisted flipping despite my best efforts.

What a great video Zach! I love the explanations you gave, we agree these are all great boats to get on the river in. I want to add one point to the video and I will work with Robert at Clackamas on this too, Maravia's don't roll (well they do but as you see it's not a good time haha) they fold, when you fold them you can get them into nice squares once again to transport. And completely agreed on the weak/vulnerable spots you create when you are folding/rolling your boats to move from river to river. I always recommend that they are transported in their tarp, it only takes a moment to wrap a tarp around it and not only does it keep your vehicle cleaner it also protects your very expensive river ride. Thank you for making this and for the series you are doing, the real talk from boaters is worth gold. I am sharing a "how to fold" video I hope you don't mind. Take special note at how they square off the bow and stern, this helps a whole heap. See you soon my friend! kzread.info/dash/bejne/goeozM18m9rMnso.html

@GearGarageTV

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for adding the suggestions

I have an idea for the next gear garage show. I think you should conduct a scientific study of all three brands. Running the same big hole with all three raft brands at the same flow. Same size boats. Run by the same person or people. Boats under the same exact pressure. Pretty much take out as many variables as possible. Leaving the boat as the only variable. Shoot a video of all the runs from the same spot and compare. It could be interesting.

@ZacharyCollier

6 жыл бұрын

Great idea! The hard part would be getting all three boats in the same place at the same time. I'll work on it.

@colemaurer6227

Жыл бұрын

I've been thinking this the whole time I've been trying to figure out what raft to get lol

Thanks for all the reviews and great info! I have been doing research and looking into every boat on the market, decided on an AIRE 143R for my first ever purchase and this video helped me feel comfortable with my choice. No more rentals, time to step up. Your vids are awesome, Thanks. see ya on the river!!

Love the thorough and unbiased approach of this video! I also love that you gave a shoutout to Jacks Plastics- I'm still on my first boat, a 14x25 jacks "big brother" cat. It's going on 24 years old this year and I am running class IV with confidence (thanks to the amazing repair work of the late Vic Legall through the years). I know it's good for another 10 years of big water with Goodwater Boat Works in my corner. I am pretty much sold on going with a set of Maravia tubes after seeing this video.

@GearGarageTV

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the wonderful comment. Yes, Jack's Plastic makes some really nice boats too.

This video really helped me make my decision on purchasing a raft, thank you!

There is NO perfect raft. Everything is a trade-off, and EVERYTHING is relative. People on here talking about how 'sluggish' an AIRE is with its pocket floor. No raft is 'fast!' for Pete's sake. I've mostly boated on NRS, Tribs and AIREs (just got an AIRE 16'), so I learned on these and it's what I'm used to. Have been in Maravia's a couple times and hated the way they don't track and spin all over the place. I love the stability and 'stick-to-the-water' quality of an AIRE/Trib. If you have to make an 'RFN' move in any raft you done messed up the set-up and approach A-A-ron! I was in the Navy for 24 years and there is a maxim that Admiral Ernest King uttered that has been passed down for over 80 years and it's SO appropriate for rafting: "The mark of a great shiphandler is never getting into situations that require great shiphandling." Dammit I love Gear Garage Zach - so keep on making these. Loving the Bhutan vids!! :-)

Thank you Zach, I have taken both the Maravia and Sotar rafts on test runs over the last year. I agree with Chris' comment about the Maravia. Zach mentioned that the drop stitch floor did not track well and in my first couple of tries in the Maravia, I would have agreed. But as Chris notes, if you soften the floor a little bit, the Maravia becomes a superb tracking raft. Talking to Doug Timms from Maravia, that was the intention of the design. Inflate the floor hard for shallow rivers where you need to float high, and slightly deflate the floor for tracking. With the floor slightly softened, the Maravia is the best tracking design I have ever rowed in a self bailer. Not since the Avon bucket boats, have I found a "round boat" that tracked this well. As far as the Sotar, it has always been a very solid design. It did not track as well as the Maravia, but from a purely performance point of view it is a great boat. I have seen it loaded up like the family station wagon hundreds of times to take families down rivers like the Rogue and the Forks of the Salmon. On the Middle Fork dead head, it excels because it rides high and floats over the shallow spots. I have nothing to add about the Aire boats because, I haven't tried them. Yet! I look forward to that. They are a great group of people and I know people who swear by their boats.

@GearGarageTV

6 жыл бұрын

Great comments. Thank you for adding to the discussion.

Good info

I really wanna see a video video review of that purple boat. That is just awesome!

Its been awhile we've run SOTAR raft in the river of north borneo, since 1998. I find it the floor came off alot, since year 2000 the inflatable floor conected with starp-liner and punch rings-hole on the side it became easy to tear-off. Well, sotar still running now.. 😆😆

Hey Zack, Can I borrow your boat to try that whole knife poking theory? Lol. Great video buddy!

@GearGarageTV

6 жыл бұрын

Absolutely not

Hey Zach, great video. I just bought a 13' Maravia am brand new to boating and am stoked! I have taken it down the White Salmon, just the lower, and the Klickitat so far. It is touchy for sure, but I got 6 people in it paddling with no issues! I was born and raised in HR but live in Husum now. I hope to catch you on the river soon. So, if you want to try all three at once and you can find a comparable Sotar and Air mine is up for the comparable experiment.

@alexanderbrunner1531

Жыл бұрын

Hey Zach & Tanner! I have an Aire Super Puma that would probably compare well for this test. I live in Eugene and love the WS so I'm down to play in the PNW!

@tannerhall2825

Жыл бұрын

@@alexanderbrunner1531 & Zach, Let’s do it! Rattlesnake would be a great rapid to do a comparable test!

I've discussed this with many people over the years. My take somewhat aligns with yours: 1. An Aire is more likely to get you through a hole, while a Sotar is more likely to let you miss it. I love the tracking of my Sotar. Although, I'd much rather unflip my Sotar than an Aire. 2. Where are you storing it and who do you boat with? Aires are HEAVY. If you have to move your boat from the garage to your vehicle by yourself, you may be much happier with a Sotar. Also, this depends on your age. If you're 40, remember that you're probably still going to be moving this boat when you're 50. 3. The bladders in the Aires will sometimes get twisted in rolls. If you're storing it on a trailer or usually mostly inflated, this isn't an issue. If you're usually rolling it, it could be a problem. 4. Corollary to the first point. Sotar is much more likely to flip off of a rock, while Aire's are much more likely to wrap on it, precisely because the Sotar is so stiff. 5. I think I agree with with the repairability in the field. But I haven't really had to repair my Sotars in the field yet. Just curious: How is it to replace a valve in the Aire considering the dual layers?

@GearGarageTV

4 жыл бұрын

Yes that all sounds like my experience with the different boats well. It's not too bad replacing valves on the AIRE boats if you have the right tool.

Great video. Thanks for posting. I love my AIRE supa puma.

@Meowbox9000

2 жыл бұрын

I just got a super puma and want a few ideas of what to add. I have gotten the thorts. Any additional ideas would be nice. I plan on paddling it.

Love the vid. The sort of expert review/comparison is sorely needed. Personally in the market for my “lifer” boat and have been looking at all three. No mention of NRS, any thoughts on their expedition series? Or their boats in general?

@GearGarageTV

6 жыл бұрын

It's good to hear you enjoyed the video. NRS makes great boats but I'm not convinced their quality matches the three companies discussed in this video. NRS does have amazing customer service which makes them worthy of consideration when considering a "lifer" boat.

The company that I guide for uses Hyside, and occasionally NRS. Just curious what your thoughts are on those manufacturers as compared to the ones you usually talk about.

@GearGarageTV

3 жыл бұрын

We use NRS hypalon boats on the Middle Fork and Hyside inflatable kayaks. There are times that hypalon is better and both NRS and Hyside make good boats. In my experience the Hyside boats are better quality than the NRS boats.

Zack did explain this but to be clear the regular pvc outer shell on the Aire boats is much thicker than the lightweight packable kayak shown. It seems that compared to the other two brands aire is much more affordable which really helps the private boater. I like them all but just bought a new Aire based on value, and ease of serviceability. I could only wish to spend enough time on the river to wear any of these boats out!

@GearGarageTV

6 жыл бұрын

Paul Vannoy thank you for the further explanation

I feel Maravia rafts can run with the most variance in air pressure and have the stiffest class 5 fabric (the PVC base is bad ass as far a PVC fabric goes.). The combo of a wide adjustable workable air pressure and stiff fabric make differences in performance by adjusting air pressure in tubes and/or floor. If you want your Maravia to track better, try 2.5 lbs in the tubes and 1.5 on the floor. If you want it to spin, 2.5 in the floor. If you want your Maravia to go over rocks, 1.5 in the tube and and floor. And the slinky effect comes into play. You get different bail rates depending on how you lace the floor too. I have had pin hole issues with my floors. I use urethane roll on paint on the bottom of the floor every 5 years or so.. To get the best out of a Maravia, you need to understand how air pressure works with Maravia rafts and class 5 fabric. Once you understand the ingenious of the Maravia "system" you'll be able to "tune" it to your needs.

@GearGarageTV

6 жыл бұрын

Chris LikesPPR thank you for your great thoughts

@annessamattson2370

5 жыл бұрын

Hi there Rod, I was wondering if you had any comments on "flippiness" of your Maravia? thanks!

I am shocked by how much my 14 foot AIRE HATES to flip. I've been dumped out of my AIRE countless times and when I pop up the boat is up-right. After ten years I've only flipped twice, while my one year working in highsides and NRS's I've flipped several times!

@GearGarageTV

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experience!

Zach, I have related question on Maravia. PVC base with urethane exterior. Which tear-aid would you recommend? I'd guess type A, but the PVC base raises the question. The tape would primarily have contact with the exterior, so I'd guess type A. If an internal patch is needed, then type B may be needed. Can you mix type A on exterior and type B on interior if needed? Yes, before this video I watched the A/B test video. Love the videos. Wife and I have been binging as we move from drift boat to raft. Been fun talking with locals in rafting community that know you. Thanks!

@GearGarageTV

2 жыл бұрын

First, I would suggest asking Maravia for the best answer. Type B takes 24 hours to cure and leaves a mess. I've never seen a material Type A works on. For that reason I would suggest using Type A for everything.

Of those 3 rafts which would be most recommended for fishing out of?

@GearGarageTV

3 жыл бұрын

They are all reccomended

I live here in Medford and looking at getting some ik’s for the rogue river mostly. If you had to pick a brand specifically for this area what would it be. I’ve been struggling to pick one.

@GearGarageTV

Жыл бұрын

It depends on the types of rivers you want to run. I think AIRE makes a really good IK.

I love Sotars, as they are so light, stiff, and maneuverable, and they are definitely my first choice for hard technical rivers. I spent several weeks in a Wing on an expedition in Africa in the 90's, and it was fantastic, and agree it might even beat Sotars. I have only been in an early generation Aire with a foam floor (I think it was a foam floor), and I thought it was very slow and sluggish. I'm looking for a 16' boat to use 1-2 weeks a year on multi-day trips like the Middle Fork Salmon, and just don't know if it is worth the expense for a Sotar/Wing for easier rivers and limited use. Aire Tributaries are inexpensive and seem like decent value. Are they super sluggish because of the water in the floor, or do they still move decently on the water? Again, this raft would see limited use and on Class III-IV water. Also, how are Aire's on low-water trips like the Middle Fork below 1.8 feet? Sotars slide over rocks so well. . .

@GearGarageTV

3 жыл бұрын

The AIRE and hypalon boats do really well at low water if you run them soft. Whichever raft you choose, you generally get what you pay for. From least to most expensive I personally like RMR, then Hyside, the AIRE, and then Wing or Maravia.

@gregfindley2690

3 жыл бұрын

@@GearGarageTV Interesting the you left Sotar off that list. You like Maravias better? Just curious.

@GearGarageTV

3 жыл бұрын

@@gregfindley2690 Maravias are different from SOTAR and Wing. I prefer Maravias for straight up toughness. For a pure urethane boat I slightly prefer Wing but SOTAR is good too. From what I hear SOTAR is making good boats right now but there have been consistency problems in the past with boats that I've bought from them.

@gregfindley2690

3 жыл бұрын

@@GearGarageTV Thanks, I appreciate the reply. I have the most experience with Sotars (compared to Wing or Maravia) and love them, but I too have experienced some quality issues with them in the past. I'm glad to hear they are making good boats right now. I have to decide if I just cheap out and get something that will work, or buy a boat I'll love (and also decide if I'll go back to running harder rivers, where a better boat would be preferable, or just stick to family vacation floats where an ok boat is fine). I know for a fact I do not want something that will fall apart just because of age, like a cheap glued pic boat.

Thx for info, any chance the Saturn 13 is a capable rig for class IV and holding up? Probably a reason it's the cheapest.

@GearGarageTV

Жыл бұрын

In general you get what you pay for

Zach, I've been meaning to ask you : You're opinion of that Aire Wave Destroyer? I've been rowing an Aire Jaguarundi... which I absolutely enjoy , but I find the claims on the Wave Destroyer most interesting.

@GearGarageTV

4 жыл бұрын

The Wave Destroyer is a sweet boat. What are the "claims" you're hearing. Personally I like the SOTAR Legend design more (and Wind cat boat I designed) since it has a longer water line allowing it hold angles better. But if you're sold on AIRE the Wave Destroyer is solid. Have you seen this comparison kzread.info/dash/bejne/nY2i0smEf7ixmrg.html ?

@davidroberts5577

4 жыл бұрын

@@GearGarageTV I'll take a look at the boats you've mentioned. The claims I've heard about the Destroyer is it's a hole buster. Thanks for your timely response! You have Awesome Content on your channel, keep up the great work. Watching your tracking video now‼️

@GearGarageTV

4 жыл бұрын

@@davidroberts5577 Yes it is definitely a hole buster. I'm so stoked you're enjoying the channel.

AIRE less flippable, yes, but they weigh a ton if you don't drain them out. Not hard for a paddle boat, but oar boats? 2 friends R2'd the N Fk Payette in a 15' AIRE, no problem. I took some friends with Wet Planet in a 13' AIRE to do Orletta and they put three couples, big people, and a guide in it, which was way overloaded. That boat was soo heavy to carry... should have drained it 1st.

You should do a video on plastic vs ruber rafts

@GearGarageTV

5 жыл бұрын

I'll work on that

The best rafts are made by Sotar. End of story. Maravia rafts are a distant second, while Aires rafts are cheap PVC boats which are middle of the road. If you want the best raft, which will also hold its value, then buy a Sotar.

@GearGarageTV

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your opinion

@unknowncomic7240

3 жыл бұрын

@@GearGarageTV ...Zach Collier drives a Sotar.

@GearGarageTV

3 жыл бұрын

@@unknowncomic7240 I drive and own all brand of boats. Right now I prefer Wings.

Sotar are the best rafts by far. They use polyurethane material, while AIRE and Maravia are PVC. Maravias are heavy, and Aires have a lame ballast on the bottom which makes them sluggish. Sotars are a joy to row. Sotars dominate on the Rogue River for a reason. They are the best. Don't waste your money on an inferior raft.

@nickewing1582

2 жыл бұрын

It could also be that Sotars dominate on the Rogue because the factory is right there...the Rogue is also a relatively easy river to row. I have a couple of AIREs and our 130E feels nimble as hell when R2ing a bit more technical stuff like the Tuolumne and NFk American.

FYI- Disney images can not be used with out getting a license and permission! They will sue you.