A: The fabric used to manufacture Water Strider kick-boats is the strongest, lightest material available in the inflatable boat industry. Called an alloy material, it is a blend of Urethane and PVC. This special alloy formula allows us to make a very light and incredibly strong inflatable raft. The special fabric coating is highly wear and abrasion resistant. The alloy fabric seams are hot air welded and seam tape is used over inside edges for extra durability and air retention.

All of the external parts are Radio Frequency welded permanently in place. All of the D rings are stainless steel, the straps and rigging are high strength rot resistant nylon and high strength plastic, the oars are anodized aluminum, the oar locks are stainless steel and high strength structural plastic.  We use Hockley Roberts valves, the best in the world.  The Water Strider has been designed by expert engineers based on many years of personal use and experience.  It is as perfect a system as we know how to manufacture, designed and built without compromise.  I have literally staked my life on the dependability of the design in challenging whitewater all over the world.  The Water Strider raft is designed and built to provide more than a lifetime of use if properly maintained.

Q: Don't you need a rowing frame on a Water Strider raft?

A: The Water Strider raft does not need a conventional rowing frame to function well. The expertly engineered Water Strider raft design eliminates the need for a rowing frame. The air tubes inflate to a rigid shape and properly support the oar lock system. The raft rows well even in Class 2 or  Class 3 whitewater. A paddler who has whitewater experience can handle a Water Strider raft well even in Class 4 whitewater. There is some obvious risk, of course. Class 4 is by definition hazardous water for any boat.

Q: How easy is it to travel with a Water Strider raft?

A: The Water Strider's technically advanced design allows the entire raft package to go anywhere, anytime.  The raft system, when packed in the standard dry back backpack, meets all airline restrictions for size and weight. It is about the size of a large suitcase.  If you're going to fly with your Water Strider raft you can check the entire self-contained backpack as airline baggage.  When you get where you are going, slip the backpack straps over your shoulders and walk away with a complete rafting system weighing less than 30 pounds.

Q: If I am flying on a commercial airline, what do I do with the oars?

A: The Water Strider raft system oars are heavy duty aircraft grade aluminum with 1.25" diameter shafts. Each two piece oar breaks down into two 30" long sections that fit right inside the raft backpack with the rest of your gear. The inflated Water Strider raft itself is 49" wide so the assembled 60" long oars handle the raft very well in fast water or heavy wind. The oars have an ergonomic plastic grip with ridges to make gripping and rowing comfortable. The oar blades are very strong. We have never seen or heard about a broken blade even after frequent hard use. The greatest risk of oar damage is a bent shaft from getting jammed on a rock or sweeper in heavy current.  That's why we advise that you always take an extra oar along with you when you go on a wilderness float trip where you will be floating for several days. While oar damage or losses are rare, it's not a good thing to be "up the creek with a paddle" should you accidentally damage or lose an oar.  Check your oar retaining nuts frequently when running in heavy water!

Q: Can I carry more than one person in a Water Strider raft?

A: The Water Strider raft is designed to be a one person inflatable raft that can carry a total load of more than 500 pounds. If you have small children or a pet dog that you would like to take along, the Water Strider raft will easily do it. If you take a child along always have them wear a life vest.  You should always wear one, too!  To insure the best operation and safety always make sure additional weight is evenly distributed on the raft so that the Water Strider raft floats level in the water. Always test your ability to row before you leave the shore or dock.

Fact: A Water Strider raft has 17 cubic feet of floatation. A cubic foot of air in a raft chamber will float 62 1/2 pounds flush with the surface of the water. For example, if you had 531 pounds evenly distributed on the raft it would draw about 6 inches of water and still function well.  A typical raft load might be a 200 pound guy and 100 pounds of expedition gear, in which case the raft will draw a little over 3 inches of water and be a breeze to handle.

Q: What happens if my Water Strider raft springs a leak?

A: Every new Water Strider raft comes with a patch kit and instructions. Punctures are uncommon but anything can happen.  Typically, if a Water Strider raft sustains a puncture it is due to human error. A patch kit and instructions are included with every raft sold and we recommend always taking a patch kit and a pump along just in case.

For example, I always keep a few turns of duct tape around my oar shaft because of the submerged barbed wire fence I floated over several years ago. I wiped the hole clean and dry and stuck a piece of duct tape over the hole. I finished my float for the rest of the day and patched my Water Strider raft properly when I got home. I used my wife's hair dryer to dry the spot and then put a permanent patch in place.

To patch a Water Strider raft bring the raft to shore, dry the punctured area off with a dry cloth to get the water out of the weave of the fabric. Then follow the instructions in the patch kit. NOTE: The solvent based glue in the Water Strider raft patch kit has a shelf life so it is advisable to check the glue every year to see if it has hardened. Replacement Patch Kits are available if you need them.

If you have any other questions about the Water Strider raft system please call and talk to us about it.  406.375.0251, or use our convenient contact form.