Select your Craft:  River Rafting And Boating Choices

Far Flung uses only the most dependable modern whitewater self-bailing rafts. They are strong, resilient and easy to fix in the field if necessary. Only top brand names like Riden, Sotar, and Hyside are in our modern fleet. 

 Far Flung offers a choice between four different styles of inflatable river craft: 

1. The paddle raft  (at right):  In a paddle boat each participant has a paddle, like a canoe paddle (often mistakenly referred to as an oar), and helps to propel and manuever maneuver the raft. This is the most popular option. There is a guide in every paddle boat, they are the captain of the boat, and will give instruction and call commands. They sit in the back of the boat and steer. This in the most active boat, needing full participation from the crew in responding  to the guides’ commands.

2. The oar raft, (below left)  In the oar boat the guide sits in the middle compartment on the rowing frame. He has two oars, as in a row boat, and does all the work and navigation. Passengers sit in front and back compartments and hold on and enjoy the ride. Riding in the oar boat is a more casual and relaxed way to go, great for taking photographs.

3. The third choice is a hybrid of the two boats. We call this an oar boat with paddle- assist, or perhaps a paddle boat with oar-assist, depending on how much paddling you do. This is a good choice for a group that has some people who want to paddle and some who want to ride, and they all want to be in the same boat. In this boat those who want to paddle get to, as long as we have a balanced number, and those who want to hold on can just hold on and enjoy the ride.

4. On some  trips we offer a fourth choice: Funyaks (right foreground), which  are canoe shaped inflatable rafts.  In a funyak you sit on the floor and paddle with a double bladed paddle like a kayak. Funyaks take some strength and skill to use, but they are very stable and forgiving craft, and allow beginners to challenge some respectable  whitewater. 

As river levels change, so does the boat of choice. In middle to late summer, as river levels drop, often only the paddle boat is available on the Rio Grande and the funyak becomes easier for everyone!  Feel free to call 1-800-359-2627, or e-mail farflung@taosnet.com and our experts will help you select the most suitable option.