AIRE Cub Self Bailing Whitewater Raft is 10′ 5″.
The AIRE Cub Self Bailing Whitewater Raft Cub raft is a scaled down version of the long-running Puma model. It has a very short waterline of just over seven feet. If you want a thwart or two, they run $359 each, and we would note that paddling any size raft with nothing to brace against is always tricky. So yes, you probably will want at least one thwart.
AIRE Cub Self Bailing Whitewater Raft is as good as a Puma in a smaller package
This model is a foot shorter and 4” narrower than the Puma, and as with the Puma, it will perform best with two or three paddlers rather than four. The 26” wide interior makes finding a rowing frame tricky and AIRE did not intend this to be an oar rig. With no thwarts, it weighs about 60 pounds and does not come with lift handles. There are two main air chambers, plus the floor. As with all AIRE and current Tributary rafts, any thwarts would attach to the floor lacing.
The Cub tubes taper from 18” to 15” at the bow & stern, just like the Puma, and there are three D-rings along each side plus one at each end of the raft. This is a brand new model so color selection may be limited for a while unless you can wait five to six weeks. Call us to check what’s available.
Although the price point is pretty high for a mini raft, if you need a R-2 or R-3 for hike-in trips on high gradient rivers, the fast bailing speed you get with all of AIRE’s smaller models is a big plus. Made in Idaho, with a no-fault ten year warranty.