GCEX Rig Rafts: Built for the Colorado River in the Canyon

Rafting outfitters have been turning to Demaree Inflatable River Boats, (DIB) for over 30 years for rafts that can be used season after season with no problems. Our whitewater boats are designed to be durable and safe for your Grand Canyon Expeditions, 37′ feet in length and 36” inches in diameter, Grand Canyon S-Rig.

Our rafts are fabricated from uncured, nylon coated-neoprene-fabrics. After assembly, we cure the boat as a unit under pressure, approximately 2 pounds of air pressure at elevated temperatures, to produce an integral product. All the fabric coatings, tapes, cements and moldings are chemically matched to yield cohesive bonding when the boat is cured.

The rafts are then painted with a reflective silver paint, as the rafts are black rubber unless color is included in the assemble. The paint helps the raft stay at cooler temperatures by reflecting the sometimes harsh heat of Grand Canyon. Years ago the rafts had a cotton fabric and on a really hot day, you could hear the raft blow out at the seams! That made for a long, long day of river repairs…….ahhh the olden days!

Our rafts have a very low center of gravity, all hard gear goes below the red deck boards…opening up the entire front bow of the rafts for seating our guests. This view point allows everyone on board, a clear line of site for spotting Grand Canyon’s Desert Big Horn sheep or mule deer!

We do still have some prime time space available for 2012..we’ll save you your seat, and that’s the way I see it from the back of the raft…..

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