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Recommended boats for Alaska
Posted by Michael Strahan on Dec 03 2005
Florida,
Some really good advice posted here already. Given your situation, my suggestion is that you try renting before you buy. This way you can find something you really like and are comfortable with. Perhaps the best place to rent in Alaska currently is Alaska Raft and Kayak in Anchorage. Here's their website:
< http://www.alaskaraftandkayak.com/ > The folks there are very helpful, and some of them post on this site, mostly in the hunting forum.
You might want to start with the AIRE Jaguarundi cataraft. The boat is 16' long and can be configured to handle a small outboard if you so choose. It's a great drift rig and you'll see lots of them on the upper Kenai River, Willow Creek, and so forth pretty much all summer. It's an ideal boat for two people and gear. Because catarafts take longer to set up than other boats, many people opt to leave the frame completely assembled all the time. In my case, I'm using the larger boat, the Leopard. I keep it put together all the time and just trailer it. You might want to go that route. If you do, a snowmachine trailer is the perfect size for the Jag. Keep in mind though, that most snowmachine trailers float. So if you're taking out at Jim's landing in the upper Kenai, you can't get the trailer all the way in the water or it will drift on you! Here's a link to the manufacturer's website for the Jag:
< http://www.aire.com/AIRE/jag.shtml >
Don't get too caught up in the picture you see there of the boat. Catarafts can be configured many different ways. The one in the photo is set up for whitewater. Yours will be set up with a floor and two seats. Here's a picture that will give you an idea:
< http://www.northernrim.com/itmidx1.htm > You might surf this site; there are several cataraft pics there.
You might want to check out the AIRE Super Puma as well. It's a good boat for two people and a light gear load, and can be set up with an anchor system just like a drift boat. Here's a picture:
< http://www.aire.com/AIRE/SuperPumaAF.shtml >
Again, don't get too caught up in the picture. If I were setting one up for Alaksa fishing, I'd remove the three cross-thwarts and put a frame on it with two seats. Alaska Raft and Kayak has them, and I believe you can rent one fully rigged. This will help you decide what works best for your situation. Here's a picture of a Puma rigged for fishing:
< http://www.alaskaraftandkayak.com/gallery.php?id=Raft%20Rentals&img=366&r=0 >
Hope this helps! If you want more info, feel free to send me a private message and we'll get together on the phone. It won't cost you a dime, and I get nothing from trying to sell you something (I don't work for any of the companies involved).
Having said all that, you might do a search in the archives on this website; there's been a lot written on this subject already and there's a wealth of info here for you.
-Mike
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