new self bailing whitewater and fly fishing rafts from jack's Plastic Welding

New Rafts from JPW spring 2013

Flat bottomed cargo hauler for Alaska fishermen:

This boat has a 2 inch kick, and that is all. We wanted to give this boat the maximum capacity for hauling gear down a river without having it weigh too much. The main tubes weigh 52 lbs, and the drop stitch floor weighs 22 lbs. The floor unlaces from the main raft so different people can help haul it up the river for the next fishing trip. Because of the way our drop stitch floors wedge themselves into the raft, (see how we engineer self bailing rafts) this Drop Stitch floor actually adds flotation to the raft while making a comvortable place for the fishermen.

So here is the scenario. 6 to 8 fishermen hop in the raft and float to a nice fishing spot, get out and fish, then do it again. They float this way 2 or 3 miles downstream to where they are picked up by the lodge. The guide packs up the boat and hauls it back to the put in for the next days trip. My computer model tells me that this 13 ft long raft with a 2 inch kick will handle a load of 1143 lbs at 4 inches of draft. That is 6- 190 lb people. And at at 5 inches of draft it will handle 1481 lbs or 6- people that weigh 246 lbs. Made to float over river cobble and get to where the fish hide.

So this seems a bit strange to non-fishing folk, but this is the performance that Alpine view Lodge wants for this kind of fishing experience from a raft. By the way they have been a customer for over 15 years, and have purchased a number of catarafts from us. They made one into a great little motor rig. He came up with the idea of the spray skirt, and spray flaps for the frame floors of cats.

Modified raft for fly fishing by Fast Eddie LLC:

Fast Eddie has commissioned 3 rafts like this so far. They are unique because they have the upswept drop stitch floor, seen here in the computer model.

Here is what Aaron Galway (one of the Fast Eddie Owners) says about this boat

“I have rowed a few rafts, mostly in the 13 ft range. Not one of them has even come close to rowing as well as the Fast Eddy. I am looking to get a few of the guides who fish out of rafts on the river in the next few weeks to get their opinion.

I had my brother out 2 weeks ago, he was a rafting guide on the American river for 2 summers. He was amazed by the speed and responsiveness and related it handled as like a kayak while rowing Class III whitewater. He has been bugging me ever since to get him back on the water. “

One of the things that amazed me about this rig was that Ed landphere (the other owner of Fast Eddie llc) towed this self bailing raft behind the jet boat, and here is what he said “It was incredible. It rowed beautifully and towed perfect....up and down the river. We have great video of Aaron and myself shooting through channels with it in tow. I'm going to tow it behind my Mastercraft next month.” This shows that our new kicked floor design really does work to get a better foot hold for fishermen, with more flotation, and the best hull speed of any inflatable on the market. Fast Eddie is a system, and we will notify you when the frames are complete and the system is ready. However for now, the boat is an asymmetrical raft with a 4 inch kick on the back end, and an 8 inch kick on the front. With a lower kick on the back it is easier to mount a motor on the ample D ring patches that are supplied for that purpose. Stay tuned for more information on fast Eddie.Stretched Fat Boy raft with a kicked up drop stitch floor.

Stretched Fat boy raft:

This boat is stretched 1.5 feet and 6 inches wider than the original fat boy, This raft was commissioned by Chirs Jeffares through River Boat works. It has not been completed yet, but we will post pictures here when it is finished somewhere around May 22. The boat is 11 ft 8 inches with a 10 inch kick, 31 inches between the tubes, 20 inch diameter tubes with a rockered drop stitch floor. Of course all of these models are available for 3 d viewing at our custom rafts web site. Keep in mind that customers have a huge part in the design and fabrication of these models. Fast Eddie rafts are marketed only by Fast Eddie LLC., our new dealer in California. However the other models can be purchased directly through us or through one of our dealers. They are not stock items, and you may need to wait up to 6 weeks for production to keep up in the busiest times of the year.

Of course all of these models are available for 3 d viewing at our custom rafts web site. Keep in mind that customers have a huge part in the design and fabrication of these models. Fast Eddie rafts are marketed only by Fast Eddie LLC., our new dealer in California. However the other models can be purchased directly through us or through one of our dealers. They are not stock items, and you may need to wait up to 6 weeks for production to keep up in the busiest times of the year.

Order inquiries: shop.jpwinc@gmail.com
Custom & Prototype inquiries: pschoser.jpwinc@gmail.com