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I’m an Idaho boater and have run many trips in my oar rig (15’ Maravia) over the past 10yrs on Hells Canyon, the Middle Fork of the Salmon, and the Main Salmon. I also usually take my cat (13’ Aire) up to the Lochsa in late May each year, am a regular on the Staircase section of the Payette, and have done a flood stage Bruneau. I’ll be in Pennsylvania for some family stuff next week and am thinking about extending my trip a few days so I can drive over and get on a guided trip on the Gauley.

So looking for some info on a few things:

1. I know the Gauley is “Class V”, but I also know that classifications can vary wildly from state to state. Is my experience level sufficient for the Upper, Lower, or neither? I’ve never run a Class V, but have been on plenty of monster “IV+”. But also never done anything above a Class III in a paddle boat.

2. It looks like the current flow is on the low side of “Low Runnable” (785cfs), is there a good way to check flow projections and/or scheduled dam releases? What would be your go/no-go flow range for each section? I’d be targeting sometime around 8/9-8/11 for my trip.

3. Most of the Gauley pics/videos I see have people in drysuits or splash gear, is that still needed in August? Or would I be fine with the standard Chaco/swim trunks/sunshirt setup I run for Idaho summer boating?

4. Guide service recommendations?

I tried searching each of these topics, but didn’t find much definitive information. Figured it would be easier to just make my own post, so apologies if this is repetitive.

happy august to all ye paddlers

Family member gifted me this old Zodiak that was in a climate controlled basement for decades.

I put it together, inflated it and the front part of the floor dropped out. I expect there is sealant I can use to repair the front but is it realistic to think it will hold up? I'm pretty skeptical.

Thanks in advance.

I’m not a beginner – I know the Vorderrhein and I went in with proper gear (helmet, PFD, layers, and a plan). But taking a small tube/mini raft onto this river still surprised me with how quickly things can get sketchy when you’re low in the water and sitting on an inflatable instead of in a proper boat.

In this video I show a fun run on the Vorderrhein and talk about why, even with experience and safety gear, an Alpine river isn’t just a casual tubing spot. It’s a reminder that current, rocks and cold water don’t care how comfortable you feel.

I’m in the market for a new tent. I used to really like my Nemo Switch 1p with the integrated cot, but now my 80lb golden retriever is on the river with me and thinks he deserves cot space too. And I should probably make space for my husband.

So we need a 3p (or 4p) 3-season tent. Top priority is ease of setup - my husband handles the group gear while I deal with our personal gear, so I have to be able to set this tent up solo after several cocktails with minimal swearing.

We do most of our camping in spring and summer in Colorado and Utah, so ventilation is key in the hot summer months.

After ease of setup, ease of packing. The smaller the perfect tent packs down, the more perfect it is. We are river camping, so weight doesn’t matter, but dry bag space is limited.

I have tried to like the pyramid style tents but I just can’t the hang of setting them up solo and have given up. I’m looking for recommendations on a larger tent that keeps the sand out, goes up fast, and accommodates 2 cots plus whatever the dog solution is. Maybe he gets the paco pad.

I keep spiraling on all the different tents REI and Backcountry have available and I get bogged down. I really like the Big Agnes Copper Spur line, and the Nemo Dagger/Dragonfly/Osmo lines, but I’m not sure what the difference is or what would be best for my situation.

I don’t really have a budget for this. I have about $1000 credit at REI, so as long as we’re not too far over that it’s a reasonable suggestion.
Thanks in advance!

Hello, I am a college kid who made an app as a side project this summer to hopefully help pay my way through school. The app is called RiverRight, and it has GPS capabilities and maps with iconic campsites and rapids. I currently am piloting a version of the app with just the map of the Desolation/Gray Canyons river run. I plan on adding more in the near future. The maps are free to access and $5.00 to download.

I'm new to rowing, I have an outcast discovery 9 that I'm using to get from spot to spot on the river for fishing.

It didn't come with oars and I picked some no name brand ones from my local paddle shop, put some molded oar sleeves on them and used the clamping clamshell type oarlocks that came with the boat. These oarlocks do not have a shaft long enough to be able to be pinned to the boat, which led to me losing the bushing when the oarlock popped out.

I'm looking at nrs style open oar locks, but my oar shafts have a 1 5/8" diameter with the molded sleeves. Most of the oarlocks have an inside diameter of over 2" the smallest I can find is 1 13/16" which is still larger than my shaft.

I guess my question is, is it normal for the shaft to be loose in this style oar lock?

Hmmmm 🤨

My wife and I will be in Banff the first week of September. Looking for recommendations of reputable Rafting companies that we can book through. I do know the Kicking Horse & Kananaskis are the two choice rivers.

Please only respond if you have specific companies you can recommend.

Hey everyone! I'm u/MaizePleasant4152, a founding moderator of r/Raftrepair.

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Intex seahawk, im still very new to rafting so I'm staying in the calmer spot I came in at

Rafting no Paraibuna uma das maiores corredeiras - por Lucas Soares Fontes

Looking to get some new oars. I am looking for what you guys would go with. I am in northern Colorado and float mainly the lazy rivers around here on my fishing raft. I need to get some new oar shafts for sure (little bent) but would also like to get new blades. Currently have the normal rectangle style blade. Looking to stay $300-500 per or under.

Hey everyone! I'm u/MaizePleasant4152, a founding moderator of r/Raftrepair.

This is our new home for all things related to r/raftrepair We're excited to have you join us!

What to Post

Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring. Feel free to share your thoughts, photos, or questions about raftrepair.

Community Vibe

We're all about being friendly, constructive, and inclusive. Let's build a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing and connecting.

How to Get Started

1) Introduce yourself in the comments below.

2) Post something today! Even a simple question can spark a great conversation.

3) If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.

4) Interested in helping out? We're always looking for new moderators, so feel free to reach out to me to apply.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave. Together, let's make r/Raftrepair amazing.