One Man Raft Kickboat: An Inflatable Raft Better Than A Drift Boat

The best kickboat raft on any river or lake for Total Access!


Water Strider Rafts Online Store

Water Strider Raft Inflatable Boat
Best one man or one woman raft on any river or lake.

WATER STRIDER RECEIVES

FIELD & STREAM 2005 BEST OF THE BEST AWARDS

Water Strider chosen by Field & Stream 2005 Best of the Best Awards
for Fishing Craft!
Click here to read what Field & Stream Editors had to say about the Water Strider.
Water Strider is now Expedition Grade.  Get one for your next great adventure!
Read about the improvements here.
The fabric used in making the Water Strider™ raft is the very best available and the strongest and lightest in the industry. The raft material is made from PU (polyurethane) and PVC with a standard polyester woven base cloth. PU is a premium grade material that is four times more expensive than the material used in ordinary pontoon raft construction. By using this unique, premium grade material we have reduced the weight of the Water Strider raft by 25%. This produces the lightest, strongest kickboat made.

All seams on a Water Strider raft are hot air welded using a one-inch seam that is sealed on the inside edge, thus preventing porosity. All component parts on the outside of the Water Strider kickboat are RF (electronic radio frequency) welded into place. This process, along with the hot-air welding, makes the Water Strider raft the most durable one man or one woman raft there is. Glued seams have a shelf life and will rot with age. Other fabrics like Hypolon rot with age due to the destructive UV effects of the sun. Unlike other products, the Water Strider raft will literally last for generations.

"Float plane in, drop off, and float out - the Water Strider  raft adds a dimension to my fishing that no other system has. There's not enough room to include all the advantages of the  Water Strider raft."

- Doyle Merrow

 

Water Strider 1-Man Raft / Kick Boat

See a 30 second Water Strider TV commercial showing the raft in action.

Specifications
Length92"
Width49"
Air Tube13" @ front to17" @ rear
3 Air ChambersInside is 62" front to rear
Air Ride Seat31" long 22" wide @ front
Self Bailing Floor31" long opening



See a Water Strider in expedition action on British Columbia's wild Dean River!

See the movie page and a preview here >>

New Zealand White Water Rafting Photos Rangitikei River January 2006  or look at our online Photo Gallery.

  • All of the Water Strider's metal parts are made of stainless steel including all 12 D-rings, oar lock screws and the springs in the air valves.
  • Oar Shafts are made of high-grade aluminum for lightness and completely anodized for corrosion prevention.
  • Oars and the Oar Locks are designed to handle rough use and Class III rivers with ease. An experienced white water rafter can handle more difficult water depending on his or her ability.
  • The two-inch wide Foot Strap is made out of seat belt material and is designed to hold your feet up out of the water when rowing. It's strong enough to sit on when floating and you want to have a lower profile to stay out of view of rising fish that are up close by.
  • The coated mesh Stripping Apron with integral two-inch lip is primarily designed to keep fly line from dropping in to the water around your legs. When not in use it is easily rolled up to the side and is locked onto the raft by the oar shaft and the cord that holds the oar nut in place. The stripping apron also has four large Velcro tabs on each corner to hold it in place while fishing or eating lunch. It is designed to break away instantly when you have to stand up quickly.
  • The 3 piece oars comes packed in a nylon bag large enough to carry a 3rd oar for extended trips.
  • Everything you need for a float fits in the Water Strider Expedition Dry Bag BackpackThe Water Strider Heavy Duty Waterproof Dry Bag Backpack (one included with every new boat) is actually a waterproof PVC dry bag that is large enough to carry the Water Strider kickboat and all of your gear. The backpack has padded straps for easy carrying and compression straps to help compact the internal load when carrying on your back. The bag attaches to the back of the Kickboat with clips when floating and thereby does double duty in carrying your other gear, lunch and any other gear you want to bring along. The dry bag pack is large enough to hold a four-piece rod tube large enough for two or more rods.

NOTE: An extra day bag is available as an accessory for multi-day expedition floats. It can be attached to the front of the Water Strider raft to carry food, your tent, sleeping bag and anything else you need for an extended float camping trip!

Load Capacity - The Water Strider raft has approximately 17 cubic feet of flotation. This puts it in a class by itself. Most pontoon type rafts have very little actual floatation. Safety is our first concern and function is our second most important consideration. The submerged buoyancy of a Water Strider raft is more than 1000 pounds but that is just at water level and with that much weight on it would be submerged. We recommend that the maximum load is 515 pounds. This much weight would have you float at the 50% level or at the strake on the side. This is called submerged buoyancy factor. You see that you can easily carry a person and all the gear you would want to have with you. We often go on world wide trips and carry everything needed for an extended expedition length trips of more than 30 days and be in total comfort.

The Water Strider is the most compact oar and fin driven portable one man or one woman raft there is. The high tech design allows river and lake floating safely. It is easy to carry and has virtually no installation except to add air and put the oars in place. Water Strider raft needs no frame and is rock solid when properly inflated. It takes about 3 to 5 minutes to have it ready for floating. You can also repack it into the dry bag just as easily in 3 to 5 minutes. The compact design allows you to take the Water Strider raft every place you go. You can check it as baggage on any airline without problem. You can put it in a jet boat and be transported up a remote river or float out to a pick up point. Float planes can carry you and all your gear into the wilderness to the drop zone and then pick you up at the bottom. Horse packers can carry you and your Water Strider raft into the back country for great wilderness lake fishing trips. You can even ride a bicycle to a river and float with your bike lashed onto the back. When you're done floating you can ride back to your put-in on your bike by carrying your Water Strider raft on your back in the backpack dry bag

"This is the only kick boat that fills all the needs of the fly fisherman whether lakes or rivers, I've tried them all and the Water Strider  raft is the only craft on the market worth my money and time. So lightweight you can take it anywhere in the world, with a set up time of just a few minutes."

- Dennis Black

The Water Strider raft will easily fit into the trunk of a small economy car. We travel world wide floating great rivers at very little expense. Air fare and a food is all you need and you can stay as long as you want. When you arrive home the complete Dry Bag Backpack will just hang in the garage or fit in a closet out of the way. Young people and women can handle the Water Strider raft with ease after just a few minutes of training. My wife and I enjoy floating and cooking dinner on the river in the lovely summer evenings on the Montana rivers around our home.

The inflatable self-bailing floor and Air Ride inflatable seat and inflatable Back Rest are incredibly comfortable and fully adjustable to fit anyone. The back rest is adjustable for any leg length to fit the foot strap distance with comfort.

The front section of the raft is open to the water and allows you to let your legs hang in the water and steer with your feet when you have Kickboat Fins on. When the water gets shallow (less than knee deep) just put your feet up on the foot strap and row into shore. Once there you can then just stand up and lift the Water Strider raft up and walk ashore with virtually no effort. The two heavy duty handles allow you to lift the Water Strider raft with you when you want to stand up and walk out of the water. With no floor in the raft the hydraulics that are caused when a regular raft or boat fill with water and is pulled under is eliminated. The Water Strider raft design prevents this from happening.

 
Water Strider Expedition Dry Bag Backpack with Oar Bag Attached
Water Strider Waterproof Dry Bag Backpack - Everything fits in here.

There are two Equipment Straps on the sides to attach the oars
to when you want to pick the raft up shoulder it and walk with it fully inflated. You can put in and take out your one-man raft almost any place you want. You don't have to depend on boat launches or docks. Just stop at the shoreline anyplace you want, deflate your Water Strider raft, put it into the backpack and walk away. You can slide down steep banks and place it over fences and go almost anywhere you want.

On big lakes with windy conditions I recommend that you use either small gas or electric motor. Our Motor Mount is compact and will fit flat into the Water Strider Waterproof Dry Bag Backpack. A Water Strider raft will operate very well with a gas motor up to 3 HP or any electric trolling motor. I use a 40-pound thrust Minkota run by a Gel Cell 12 volt battery. Gel Cell batteries have no fluid in them, are very light, are easy to carry and recharge.

Water Strider raft is a complete system.  There is nothing else that comes close to Water Strider raft.

Want to see more before you order?
See complete  details on the Water Strider raft system here >>

 

Kickboat it up a notch! Get a Water Strider kickboat raft now and be ready for outdoor fun and adventure on your favorite river or lake! Only $1595.00

Just add air and water!

Every new Water Strider raft comes standard with:

  • 3 Piece HD Oars with Storage Bag

  • Inflatable Back Rest

  • Water Strider Kickboat Fins

  • Model K 100 hand pump

  • Heavy Duty Waterproof Dry Bag

  • Ruled Stripping Apron

  • Patch kit & Instructional DVD

  • New Roll Up Instructions

Two colors available: Grey or Red

 
Item name: Water Strider Kickboat Raft
Shipping weight: 33 lbs.
Price: $1,595.00

 
Other items you  might want to take a look at to make your Water Strider rafting trip even more enjoyable are our Water Strider Kickboat Fins, the Replacement Oar and a Dry Bag to keep all of your gear dry.
Ordering & Shipping Info for customers outside the 48 States or for air freight shipments
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Ordering & Shipping Info for customers outside the 48 States or for air freight shipments

 
 

New!
Sunglasses by Guideline
 
POLARIZED PERFORMANCE WITH  BIFOCALS

More >>

New!
A Great Gift Idea
PERSONALIZED
FLY BOX

More >>

New!
FISHERMAN Highback Vest

by Stohlquist

More >>
 

New!
SURVIVAL STRAW
Water purification in a straw. 


More >>

New!
Leatherman Knife

This knife makes a perfect companion to the Water Strider and your other fishing and camping gear.

More >>

New!
TRUCK-N-TRAILER

Water Strider Truck-N-Trailer
The all new Water Strider Truck-n-Trailer is a must for the Water Strider Kickboat raft. You can now carry your boat and gear easily to and from the lake or river.
More >>

New!
The Measure Net

Measure Net the perfect gift for all your flyfishing friends.

The all new Measure Nets are a perfect addition to the Water Strider.  More >>

Check out the new Air Pumps for 2008!
Dave's selection of electric, bicycle style and foot air pumps makes inflating your Water Strider a breeze.

New! K- 40 Pump

More >>

BRAVO 12 KITE Pump

More >>

KWIK CHECK PRESSURE GAUGE

More >>

 
 

ZAP the Bears!
New Backpacker/Hunter size Yellow Jacket

Dave's 8,000 volt battery powered portable electric fence keeps bears and other large animals where they belong, not in your camp.
More >>

Hot Water Fast!

There is no faster way to boil water than with Dave's Kelly Kettle.  Use twigs, leaves and small kindling to boil water in minutes.

More >>


 

The Water Strider web is:

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Water Strider
263 Three Pond Drive
Hamilton, Montana 59840

Phone & Fax
406.375.0251

 info@waterstrider.com

Last Updated
May 05, 2008

 

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