We cyclists can be gearheads sometimes, but you really don’t need much to have fun riffrafting. Here are a few pieces we like:
The boat:
There are a number of cheap inflatable rafts out there, and you can probably strap your bike to any of them. But there are a few that use a protective outer air chamber wrapped around the main inner one. We like these because, in theory, you could puncture the outer chamber beyond repair and still paddle yourself and your bike home.
Some of these include:
- Sevylor Caravelle K55
It’s an old model, but still available “new in box” on ebay sometimes. Sturdiest boat on the list. - Sevylor Caravelle 300
This is the replacement for the K55, with slightly thinner vinyl. - Intex Explorer Pro 200
One of the cheapest 3-chamber boats available. Note that only the “pro” model has a protective outer chamber. - Intex Challenger 2
Slightly larger than the others on the list.
Cheap armor:
You’ll want a sheet of something to cover the bow of the boat where your bike will lie, to prevent any sharp bits of the bike puncturing the boat. Many things will suffice here, but we like nylon because it’s tough and won’t soak up water and get heavy. A 400-Denier fabric or better will do nicely, and can usually be had for about $10/yd.
Presto! Your boat is protected from your bike. But in case of rocks or other gremlins under the water, you’ll want to bring along some patches.
The fixes:
We’ve found several good waterproof solutions for patching holes. While a glue-on vinyl patch will work great at home, these self-adhesive patches are fast and reliable when on the water:
- Park Tool TB-2 tire boot
Seen above, these may already be in your saddle bag and work well in a pinch. - Gorilla “Crystal Clear Gorilla Tape”
This tape can be applied underwater, and is super thick. You’ll need something to cut it. - Gorilla “Waterproof Patch and Seal Tape
Can be applied underwater like the Crystal Clear Gorilla Tape, but a bit cheaper per square foot, and comes in 4″ width to better seal larger tears.
Oars v Paddle:
Most of the boats listed above will come with a pair of pretty flimsy but lightweight oars. Some of these can be combined to make a kayak style paddle instead, if that’s your preference. For easy paddling or for steering your way down a river, these will suffice. For harder paddling — say, into a headwind — you may want something more robust. We’ve found “touring” kayak paddles that break apart into small sections for packing as cheap as $20.
Riffrafting! 