Made by River Rat USA: See the Pro Series on riverratusa.com
The River Rat Pro Series is a 12-foot by 58-inch inflatable fishing raft, designed and built in Utah, with a 6-inch drop-stitch floor and a multi-piece T6 aluminum frame. It carries a rower and two anglers and is rated for Class III rapids. FFIP score: 8.4/10.
Overall: 8.4/10 | Badge: Highly Recommended
Verdict: A raft with a Utah builder you can call for first-hand answers, and an owner, Bryan, who is always willing to help.
Best For: Anglers who want a stable standing platform for two anglers plus a rower, in a raft that breaks down to fit a truck bed or trailer.
Not For: Whitewater-first paddlers who want a big-water paddle raft, or anglers who need a one-piece frame with zero flex.
Price: $5,300 for the Pro Series, per the maker site at time of writing (guide discount of $400 listed with proof of a guide license).
Pros:
- 58 inch beam, which the maker calls the widest in its class, for a stable standing platform
- 6 inch drop-stitch floor pumped up to 14 PSI creates a firm, flat deck
- Hauls three ways: ready to go on a trailer, in a pickup bed, or deflated in the back of a 4Runner
- Ships ready to row with Cataract KBO oars, a two-stage hand pump, a patch kit and a wide, deep gear rack
Cons:
- The earliest frames, like mine, had a few flaws (lock pins and oar locks) that River Rat has since improved; the maker also offers the Apex frame for a more rigid, bolted feel
- It is a smaller raft, so you need to be a skilled oarsman and pack light or the boat feels busy fast
- You still need to buy an anchor (the maker recommends about 25 lbs for most water)
The FFIP Scorecard
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance on the water | 35 | 8 | The RR is a small boat, bigger than FlyCraft-style boats and smaller than a full NRS; it handles well but wants a skilled oarsman |
| Build quality | 25 | 8 | Build is on par with other rafts I have seen and plenty durable for me; a guide may want something bigger |
| Comfort/ergonomics | 15 | 7 | Good rower seat height, though I would like it higher, and rod holders would help when it gets busy |
| Ease of rigging/transport | 10 | 10 | Hauled it on a trailer, in a pickup bed and deflated in a 4Runner; all three worked |
| Value | 15 | 10 | Bang for the buck on a boat that handles a lot of water types, plus a great owner |
| Overall (weighted) | 100 | 8.4 |
How Is the River Rat Pro Series Built? The Engineering Behind It
Mine is an early, standard three-person River Rat (Pro Series), one of the earliest models, and River Rat has improved it since (the lock pins and oar locks are the examples I know). The specs below come from the maker's current site and spec sheet. A fishing raft has two jobs that pull in opposite directions: it has to be light and compact enough to haul, and stable and rigid enough to fish from while standing. The River Rat Pro Series resolves that tension with geometry, a drop-stitch floor and a modular aluminum frame, all of which River Rat USA documents on its site and spec sheet.
Hull: size, beam and chambers
The spec sheet lists the Pro Series at 12 ft long by 58 inches wide, with 16-inch tube diameter, a five-chamber design, six reinforced handles and eight reinforced D-rings. The beam is the headline. Width gives a boat a large righting moment: when you shift your weight to one side, the buoyancy of the far tube pushes back over a long lever arm. That is why a 58 inch beam feels planted under a standing angler. The maker also lists a 4 inch draft, so it can read skinny water and still float bigger rivers. C7 valves and a Class III rapids rating round out the numbers.
Fabric and reinforcement
The tubes are woven PVC at 0.9 mm, reinforced with 1.8 mm woven material on the bottom of the boat and where the frame touches the raft, with a reinforced rubber bumper along the side. Reinforcing the contact zones is smart: the frame feet and the bottom of the hull are where abrasion and point loads concentrate.
Drop-stitch floor: why it feels like a deck
A 6 inch drop-stitch floor is built from two fabric skins joined by thousands of tiny threads. When inflated, the threads hold the skins parallel, so the floor goes flat and rigid instead of ballooning like a pillow. River Rat says the floor can be inflated to 14 PSI, which it describes as making an extremely firm and sturdy platform for two anglers to stand on. Stiffer decks transfer less wobble, which matters when you are making a cast with line in the air.
Frame: 1.5 inch T6 aluminum, modular
The frame is 1.5 inch T6 aluminum tube, connected with couplings and D-pins, so it breaks down for transport and reassembles quickly. T6 describes a heat-treated aluminum temper that gives high strength for its weight. Multi-piece frames trade some absolute rigidity for portability; for those who want less play, River Rat sells an Apex frame version that uses seven pieces joined with two countersunk hex bolts, which the maker says gives zero movement between pieces. The Pro Series spec sheet also lists a fully welded integrated transom, an adjustable rower seat, premium composite fold-down seats and a 360 degree swivel, front and rear lean bars, and a transom rated for up to a 5 hp motor.
What is in the box
The spec sheet lists Cataract KBO oars, premium oarlocks, a waterproof repair kit and a two-stage hand pump. The only item River Rat says you must add is an anchor.
On the Water with the River Rat Pro Series Raft
I have been down a number of different waters, but one of my more memorable floats was the Green River in Utah with an old friend and our dogs. He has since passed, and I hold the memories close. The raft was a great option for two anglers and two dogs, one of which weighs 65 pounds and is clumsy. We had the storage dialed, and the water was just right for a long float and a quiet river.
The Green is a producer. We brought in a number of browns and rainbows that day. Even better, we had a blast enjoying the emptiness and watching the hair freeze on the dogs. That was a two-day trip, but I now have easily 50 days on this boat. The good news is that I now know five or six other people with the same setup, so I am lucky enough to travel from state to state and hop into a similar rig.
The moment I knew I wanted my own came on a River Rat demo float, paddling a section of the Snake River in Idaho. I started thinking about not being dependent on others. Garage storage, setup and paddling were all easy.
How Does the River Rat Pro Series Score, Criterion by Criterion?
Performance on the water (Score: 8/10)
On the water, the River Rat Pro Series gets its stability from width: a 58 inch beam and a drop-stitch floor at up to 14 PSI. The maker rates it for Class III rapids and says it drafts in 4 inches of water, so it covers shallow, technical sections and bigger flows. My take: the River Rat is a small boat. It is larger than the smaller FlyCraft-style boats but smaller than a full-on NRS. It handles well and gets around, but like any smaller boat you need to be a skilled oarsman.
Build quality (Score: 8/10)
Build quality starts with 0.9 mm woven PVC reinforced with heavier material where the frame touches the raft, plus a 1.5 inch T6 aluminum frame. Welding and fabrication are in-house in Utah; the owner's bio on the About page describes a career in fabrication and welding. In my experience the framing now is top notch, and River Rat fabricates in-house. Warranty terms appear differently on the product FAQ and the spec sheet (lifetime defect warranty versus 1 year on the raft and 5 years on the frame), so confirm with the maker before you buy. My take: the fabric is no different in build than anything else I have seen, and the durability has been plenty for me. If I were a guide I might want something bigger, depending on where you go and what kind of guiding you do. I had one of the earliest models, so the frame was well built but had a few flaws. What River Rat has addressed since, like the lock pins and oar locks, looks far better where I saw weaknesses.
Comfort/ergonomics (Score: 7/10)
The ergonomics come from the seating and the rack. The spec sheet lists an adjustable rower seat, fold-down composite seats, a 360 degree swivel, front and rear lean bars, and a wide, deep aluminum gear rack, which is the red frame in the photo. An adjustable rower seat is important: our piece on the captain's position and rower seat height explains why small changes in seat height change oar leverage and sightline. My take: the rowing seat has a good height, but I would like to see it even higher. There is room for other anglers, though rod holders would be a nice addition, since it gets busy quick. In this boat you need to prepare lightly or you will feel busy. It is not a big old drift boat.
Ease of rigging/transport (Score: 10/10)
The frame breaks down using couplings and D-pins, the raft weighs 160 lbs ready to row, and River Rat says it travels easily by trailer, truck bed or car. The raft is 12 ft long with a 58 inch beam. A multi-piece frame means a few extra minutes at the ramp but a much easier ride on the road. My take: I traveled with the boat ready to go on a trailer, in a pickup bed, and deflated in the back of a 4Runner. All three scenarios worked well, and it would even fit in the back of a Subaru-size vehicle.
Value (Score: 10/10)
At $5,300 (per the maker site), the Pro Series arrives with oars, a pump, a repair kit, a rack and the frame, so you are not adding thousands in extras. River Rat positions the price as approachable and offers financing through Affirm and a $400 guide discount. My take: for the ability to get into a boat that handles a lot of water types at a good price, this boat rocks. The owner, Bryan, is a great guy and is always willing to help.
Who Should Buy the River Rat Pro Series (and Who Should Skip It)?
Buy the River Rat Pro Series raft if you fish rivers and lakes with a partner, want to stand and cast from a firm platform, and need a boat that fits in a truck bed or a small trailer. It suits guides, weekend anglers and anyone who wants a Utah-built option. Skip it if you want a one-piece rigid frame (look at the Apex option), if you need a large whitewater-focused raft, or if you only float once or twice a season and could rent. If you are weighing rafts against drift boats, our drift boat tips are a good starting point, and our netting guide on netting tips matters when you are fishing from any boat.
How Does the River Rat Pro Series Compare With the River Rat Apex Frame?
The most useful comparison is inside River Rat USA's own lineup, because both boats share the same hull design and differ in the frame.
| Feature | Pro Series | Apex Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Price (maker site) | $5,300 | $5,800 |
| Frame style | Multi-piece, couplings and D-pins | Seven pieces joined by two countersunk hex bolts per junction |
| Rigidity (maker's claim) | Quick to assemble and disassemble | Zero movement between pieces |
| Hull | 12 ft x 58 in, 6 in drop-stitch floor | Same hull design, per the maker |
If you want the fastest assembly, the Pro Series is the pick. If you fish from the frame and want it to feel like a one-piece cage, River Rat's Apex frame costs $500 more.
Our Pick in the FFIP Shop
We do not stock River Rat rafts; buy the Pro Series through the maker link at the top. For the gear that fills a raft day, from truck setups to camp, browse the Offroad, Overlanding and Car Camping collection, which differs from the raft itself in that it outfits the rest of the trip. If you need a net for any boat, the shop carries the Rising Lunker Net.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the River Rat Pro Series raft?
River Rat USA lists the Pro Series at 12 ft long by 58 inches wide, with 16 inch tubes, a 1,200 lb capacity and a ready-to-row weight of 160 lbs. It carries a rower and two anglers.
What is the River Rat Pro Series floor made of?
The floor is a 6 inch drop-stitch design that River Rat says can be pumped up to 14 PSI. The hull is woven PVC, 0.9 mm, with 1.8 mm woven reinforcement on the bottom and where the frame touches the raft.
How much does the River Rat Pro Series cost?
River Rat USA lists the Pro Series at $5,300 and the Apex Frame raft at $5,800. A $400 discount for guides with proof of a guide license is listed on the maker site. Prices change, so check the maker.
Does the River Rat Pro Series come with oars?
Yes. River Rat lists Cataract KBO oars, premium oarlocks, a two-stage hand pump and a waterproof repair kit as included. It says you need to add only an anchor, and it recommends about 25 lbs for most water.
Where is the River Rat Pro Series made?
River Rat USA says its boats are designed and built in Utah, and its About page says every boat is built in its fabrication shop in Fruitland, Utah.
Final Verdict
River Rat has had a number of copycats when it comes to its size, and there is a reason why: it gets it done in a lot of scenarios. Personally, the framing now is top notch, and I do not know of a supplier able to repeat it, because River Rat fabricates in-house. Combine that with the pricing and a down-to-earth owner, and I am in all day.
Christian's Pro Tip: Don't leave anything in the boat that is not strapped down when using a trailer. Ask me how I know!
Tight lines, everyone!
