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The Aire Cub Self-Bailing Raft is a little raft with a BIG attitude. It excels in its element of R1-R3 rafting in rowdy and technical whitewater and was designed with ultimate playboating in mind. We pushed the Cub’s limits out on the Gauley River in the fall of 2019. The boat was super nimble and exceeded all expectations. As with every AIRE boat, the Cub comes with our 10-year, no-fault warranty. If you’re looking to buy the ultimate playboat for small paddle teams or something to carry a light day rowing frame, the AIRE Cub is for you.
What makes the AIRE Cub Special?
- Ultimate Play Boat: The AIRE Cub is 10’ 5” long, 5’ wide and weighs in at only 61 pounds. It surfs like nobody’s business and, with the right 2-3 person crew, it will give you the ride of your life on big water.
- Quick Resurface Time: When you’re out playing in big water in a little boat, waves are going to come crashing over the top. The trick is getting the boat to resurface quickly enough so that you’re ready for whatever comes up next. The Cub’s 18” diameter tubes do just that.
Why AIRE?
AIRE boats are designed based on a component system with urethane chambers ("AIREcells") that are separate from the rest of the boat, rather than chambers that are formed by the welded seams of the outer material of the raft. While this makes the boat a bit heavier, there are superior advantages to this system:
- Field repairs are much easier and more effective since you can access the air chamber by unzipping the PVC outer skin.
- You can patch holes in the outer skin from the inside, making a more effective watertight seal and a less noticeable patch.
- Leaks are extremely uncommon since wear and tear on the outside of the boat doesn't directly affect its ability to hold air.
- In the event that you really cause some damage to the inner air chamber, you can pull it out and replace it; you're not stuck with a patch that is responsible for holding air for the rest of the boat's life.
Well taken care of, these boats last longer than any other PVC boat out there! They are a great investment for a private boater looking for a quality setup at non-Hypalon prices.
Pro Tip
AIRE raft floors are attached to the tubes (the raft collar) by lacing them in with rope. The "Unlaced" models do not come with the floor pre-installed but include the rope you'd need to do it yourself.