Review: SB140

After 11 years in a 13.5-foot, standard-floor raft, I had a good idea of what I wanted in a new boat. It had to be a self-bailer, have removable thwarts, and since my family was bigger, it needed to be longer and wider. Problem was, I didn’t have a ton of money to spend on this new and improved raft. After many hours of research, I managed to find the perfect replacement: the SB140 from Rocky Mountain Rafts. This affordable, heavy-duty raft is made out of 44-oz/2000-denier RockShield PVC. In simpler terms: super durable material that will stand up to scraping rocks, gnarly strainers, and whatever else the river throws at you. The seams are welded, the two thwarts come out easily, and the self-bailing floor is laced into place. This 14-footer is nearly seven feet wide, providing ample room for the whole family. The burly material make this a very heavy boat, but once it’s on the water it rides high and is surprisingly nimble. Although the company is fairly new, it stands behind its product with a five-year warranty on workmanship and materials. $2,969; https://rockymountainrafts.com.