The Date Boat

[geargrrl]

DH bought another cat, 14', that we can run as a two-seater aka tandem cat. The tubes he bought last year went bad, so he got some new ones under warranty. We got to take it out on the South Fork of the Payette in Idaho over Labor Day. This was the virgin run of The Date Boat.

It was just our luck on one of our runs a pro photographer was out there. Our friends did the unthinkable and had three catarafts surfing simultaneously in the river wide surf wave!! and then it was our turn. I bought the full set of files and am going to have some printed up.

Our buddies

Here is the whole series
https://picasaweb.google.com/10319889134

 

[litterbug]

Nice tricks!

 

[Jilly]

Wow, that looks like fun, really, fun!

 

[beckylh84]

I have never seen a boat like that before. Looks like a lot of fun!

 

[2ski2moro]

Wow. I wish I could have been there.

I went to the link you gave, but it shows "Internal Server Error" and I couldn't see the other photos.

 

[geargrrl]

Try this one? It's the one picasa says to use to direct link.
https://picasaweb.google.com/103198891343666684242/PayetteRiverCats?authuser=0&feat=directlink

or maybe
https://picasaweb.google.com/103198891343666684242

The "cataraft" is a new style of whitewater boat, been around for about 20 years. They are extremely popular in the Northwest here. While there are bigger boats that you can load up with cargo, they are mostly considered sport boats. As in, a cataraft is to a raft as a sports car is to a pickup truck.

 

[2ski2moro]

That link worked. Love the photos.

 

[RachelV]

DH bought another cat, 14', that we can run as a two-seater aka tandem cat.

That entire sentence means almost nothing to me, but I do like the photos.

 

[Christy]

That looks so fun.
Geargrrl, if a person was going to do a commercial trip on an Idaho river, what would you recommend?

 

[geargrrl]

oops sorry. Let me translate into English for you.

DH bought another cat, 14', that we can run as a two-seater aka tandem cat.

My husband bought another cataraft that is 14' long. His other one, is a single seater, and is 12' long. Usually these sport boats are set up for just one person, so having it set up for a passenger is kind of a cool bonus.
Is that better?

As for doing a commercial trip in Idaho, any idea where you might be? R.O.W (River Odysseys West) is a very reputable company that does both one day and over night trips. There are lots of options, from scenic but fairly tame floats, to really exciting, and some fabulous overnighters, too.

 

[Christy]

As for doing a commercial trip in Idaho, any idea where you might be?

I want to spend some time in the Sawtooths and in the Ketchum area next summer, but would be happy to drive to wherever. I've never rafted in Idaho but I know there are some legendary rivers there. Thanks for the company recommendation--that's the perfect starting point.