I have been combing through all your videos for ideas on how to build out my dream boat. I picked up a Maravia Zephyr (15’, 7’ wide). Right now, I only have the rubber. Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. For instance, my old boat had a flip chair, but after lots of rafting I have decided against it for a bunch of reasons. I was planning on sitting on my cooler until I watched a video where you say being level with the top of the boat is better for rowing, so I am thinking dry box for captains chair. Anyway, now I am debating single rail frame vs diamond plate deck double rail frame… was leaning towards the single rail to get my oar towers more inside the boat than the diamond plate frame. I also found a double rail frame that I could add sea deck and sea foam to, which I was leaning towards over the diamond plate. I was considering the Canyon Prospector 125 cooler and the Rio Drybox to save cost. Any considerations I should be thinking of when building my boat out for mulitday trips? My current set up keeps changing as I learn more and see how people do different things, so trying to gather more info right out of the gate.
Here are a few quick thoughts:
- Sitting on the cooler is probably fine. Sitting at the level of the boat/frame is good but 4-6" above is fine too. The problem is when people are way above their frame.
- You can do a double rail without the diamond plate. The diamond plate is cool but adds weight and complexity.
- Single rail frames are great too. That’s my general preference for keeping things light and simple.
As someone who previously designed/bought a custom frame with diamond plate double rail frame, don’t do it and go single rail.
Diamond plate is great for the Grand Canyon, but i think overkill for most rivers and use as a private boater. It makes the frame too heavy and makes transporting the boat a pain.
When building your frame, think modular. A basic “two-bay” “rowing frame” (cooler seat plus foot-well) and two stand-alone “single-bay” gear frames (one with drop bag and the other with slings for another cooler or boxes) is WAY more practical than a single four or five bay frame. Day trip? Just take the two-bay frame. Overnight? Add one of the gear frames. Grand canyon? Take 'em all. Think you’ll only do multi days? Think again. The added weight from duplicating a few cross-bars is a non-issue. Also, don’t build your frame to a specific cooler, make that adjustable. Your frame will last longer than your cooler.
Every once in a while Canyon has their “b stock” coolers for sale on their website. Noticably cheaper and hard to spot the flaw so keep your eyes peeled. Might be worth giving them a call!
No experience with RioCraft dry boxes but there was a Recretec box that just sat upside down under water for a week at Wildcat rapid on the Rogue. When the boat was recovered and the box was opened the contents we’re still dry!
Thanks you! Great advice. I was planning on that sweet dual lid Riocraft, with a built in captain’s box. I picked up a Canyon from a friend for a pretty good deal.
Keep things simple from the start so you can add things down the road once you start using the set up.
Unless you will always keep store and transport your boat on a trailer and use on rivers that only have a boat ramp I would avoid double rails, diamond plate, and all sorts of accessories. Once you have to start transporting stuff not on a trailer it becomes a barrier for getting on the river.
Use your boat before you start buying all sorts of add on you may not end up using.
To me, part of the fun in this sport is tinkering with things to make it personal, but I’m not working with a huge fleet of boats like many of these pros.
So these are some thoughts from a mere mortal who also respects the opinions of the pros, even if I don’t always follow what they say. I 100% agree with using your boat while you figure out what you want and need.
I decided that I’m okay having different frames for day trips and multi-day. Unfortunately, that also means you will start with things that will change. This is my multi-day setup.
The nice thing about NRS Frames is that they are modular. I started with a 60” wide Big Horn II Frame that I initially used on my 14’ boat. When I added my 16’ boat I was trying to save a little money so I turned it into a double rail. I made the deck boards out of white oak and covered with EVA boat flooring foam. I don’t know if the oak is lighter than diamond plate; but was easier for me to work with. White oak is good in water especially after 3 coats of spar-urethane. I love having the deck boards; but they do add weight. I like to fish so the boards make it possible to stand and move around the boat in calm water. I used two seat mounts by Better Mounts to attach each deck board. I don’t like strapping stuff to the deck boards behind the front dry box; because it hinders my oar shipping and defeats the purpose of standing on them. Lastly, I find it easier to get in and out of the boat with the boards. Rails are hard on my knees.
I have a Rio Dry box that I really like. I opted for the single hatch to keep it simple. Plus, I didn’t want the tray from the dual hatch rubbing when boats are stacked on top of mine. I also have a tray that holds a water bottle and some small items in calm conditions. I’ve since added another Rio box to replace the front Cambridge box in the photo. I used the same EVA boat foam over 1/2” closed cell foam for pretty comfortable seating. I wanted to be as low as possible with comfortable seating.
I prefer Canyon coolers; but I didn’t have room for it in this configuration. I’m 6’2” and need enough room for my legs. I’m using a Yeti 110 instead (not pictured) because it’s narrow enough. Behind the rear box is a drop bag that fits 3 milk crates perfectly. In each of the milk crates I can store two ammo cans vertical and one on its side (9 total). Those are covered and held in by the table.
I put an NRS Canyon box that holds my kitchen stuff on top of the table and that gives me something to lean back on if I want.
In the way back, there’s a mesh cargo shelf that carries our dry bags and a 3-gallon water cooler.
In the rowing bay, I can have 1 or 2 scepter cans in slings for water.
This is my setup. It works for me until I decide to change it again. I acknowledge that it’s heavy and there’s probably lighter options. My buddy has a Recretec break down frame that holds two dry boxes with aluminum diamond plate runners. It’s much lighter than my setup; but it’s fixed and cannot be changed.
Thank you so much for sharing a photo. That’s a nice looking set up. I don’t personally use deck boards but if I did I’d want them just like yours. I’m also super jazzed on your seat and the seat paddling. Nice work!
With your oar locks mounted on the outer rail I bet you need really long oars. What is the distance between your oar locks? What length oar are you using.
The oar locks are 78” wide. When I added the outer rail, I did in a way that I can adjust wider or narrower. I used your formula to land on 10.5’ oars. For now I have extensions on my 9.5’ Cateract oars. There’s too much flex with this length and the added extensions though.
Yep long cataracts with extensions are not a great option.
I’ve been thinking a lot about double rail frames with oar towers mounted to the outside rail instead of between them lately. I’m not sure when that started but it makes for some long oars based on distance between the oar locks.
There is another question about double rail frames that I’m working on some thoughts about. Stay tuned!
I love the decking for my kids to run around on and me to walk on, but I REALLY like the idea of my oar tower being in the right place. Lot’s to ponder. Riverboat Works in Salida is going to build it, so I might be able to request that somehow the towers be in the middle of the tube.
Love your set up, so clean. That is what I am going for… no chair this time around.