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Cataraft floats
Posted by GunsmithRob on Dec 12 2005
Elknut,
I can't agree more with Mike about the 14' being small for a moose hunt. I think he even underestimates some of the weights involved with a moose, so I'd plan on a bigger raft. The only moose we've actually weighed was:
meat (boned, trimmed): 505 lbs.
antlers: 45 lbs.
cape: (we didn't even bother but figure 40 - 60 lbs. green)
We typically hunt with three guys in a Leopard (18 foot Aire cat). If you're going to have only 2 hunters and only one moose you might get away with the Jaguarundi (16') but I would never even consider the Ocelot (14') for a moose trip unless you had some pretty high water levels. It's counter-intuitive but a bigger raft is easier to line, drag, push and handle than a small one when heavily loaded. (Maybe PHIL will weigh in on just how much work it is to drag and push a loaded raft down river in low water!) The best frame set-up we've found has been the AKR frame that Mike mentions with their meat frames front and aft. We use a trampoline material floor by AKR and we use snow fence for the meat/gear lofts. You'll need at least one gear loft to keep the meat up out of the water and with the smaller raft you'll need both to keep it up and keep your load balanced. You could cut poles to make gear/meat lofts but we bought the frames due to the possibility of lack of poles where we fly in to and the rigidness of the aluminum frame bearing more weight more securley for rough water. We've done several float hunts now and for what we do, I wish we had the Super Leopard even (18' Leopard with added 1/2 tubes under the frame) but it wasn't made until the year after we bought our raft. There's no such thing as too much flotation! Fishing in the Leopard is great for 3 people and two healthy guys can pick it up and carry it fully assembled with the gear lofts and AKR frame for moderate distances. (275# including tubes, 3 oars, pump, repair kit, seat, frame, straps, floor and lofts.) The Jaguarundi might weigh 50# less but has substantially less flotation. Contact the guys at AKR for their opinion, they've never steered us wrong. Best of Luck!
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