{"id":3762,"date":"2013-08-30T13:15:16","date_gmt":"2013-08-30T20:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com-2\/?p=3762"},"modified":"2022-01-05T14:56:13","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T22:56:13","slug":"learning-row-surf-cataraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2013\/08\/30\/learning-row-surf-cataraft\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning to Row and Surf a Cataraft"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Devon\"Team NRS kayaker and longtime raft guide Devon Barker-Hicks had to see for herself what the cataraft craze is all about. Here’s what she learned.<\/p>\n

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I live at the confluence of the Little Salmon and the Main Salmon Rivers. I grew up rowing rafts but never a cataraft. Each spring, as the \u201cLittle\u201d begins to flow, the catarafts begin popping up on trailers all over Riggins. I often launch my kayak with these inflatable catarafts. I was intrigued to watch them punch holes and surf waves. I just had to try it for myself.<\/p>\n

\"catday1\"<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve found that there are a lot of differences between rowing a raft vs. a cataraft. You row forward of center; this is much different than most traditional oared boats. It took me a little while to adjust to having so much length behind me. You also need to wear more layers, as it is a much wetter ride. In kayaking, I wear more layers up top, but it is reverse in a cataraft. I needed two pairs of socks and fleece bottoms.<\/p>\n

After adjusting to being more forward and wearing the right amount of clothes you will quickly notice how maneuverable the cat is. If you ever struggled to row a raft, a cataraft is for you. I could make my moves much easier and could recover if I got off line. The one downfall is that you must think about bracing with your feet at all times. You can relax, but you need to have pressure on your feet. I found this out my first day on the Little Salmon. I ran a larger drop and then relaxed in the pool below. I am not sure if I took my feet off the cross bar, but before I new what happened I was floating between my tubes. Right, there is no floor between the tubes on most cats.<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/p>\n

I have now rowed a cataraft over 400 miles and have not fallen in again, yet. I even managed to slide down the ramp on the Middle Fork of the Salmon (MF) without falling off. The maneuverability of the cataraft versus a raft allows you to surf. I have included a video of my first surf on the MF. A cataraft is a great surfing machine and is much more comfortable than a kayak over an extended period of time.<\/p>\n