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Give Your Wooden Oars a Fresh Life This Fall
Even though I’m still mentally stuck in summer, this time of year always has me reaching for a sander ocassionally instead of a fly rod. Fall and winter are prime “boat shop” seasons — a good time to do the small projects that keep your gear in shape. For me, that usually means giving some love to …
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Jonboat Hull Slap Fix?
Jonboat hull-slap got you down? Check out this wild little fix from Coastal Angler. Looks simple, but it just might work—and some folks swear by it.
After our little ode to the, "Ugly, Loud and Perfect" boat the other day we went down a jonboat rabbit hole...
Too good to be true? Watch the video …
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5 Quick Fixes for Boat Trailer Light Problems
Let’s be honest—if you’ve owned a boat trailer for any length of time, you will battle with the lights sooner or later. The longer you tow, the more gremlins creep in. Just last week, I hooked up one of my trailers and discovered that not a single light would turn on. No brakes, no blinkers, nothin …
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No More Sore Back: How the Canoe Chair IV Transforms Your Floating Setup
Together with Flylab.fish, we’ve been digging into boat gear that actually matters to anglers. Flylab keeps it real with unfiltered reviews, pro tips, and member perks you won’t find anywhere else. Check out our latest review below.
A surprisingly durable, well-designed and comfortable fitting row …
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JOIN Protect Our Rivers for NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY
From Protect Our Rivers
We’re returning to the Upper Colorado River for the 4th year in a row to celebrate National Public Lands Day! Join us on Saturday, September 27th for an unforgettable day of river stewardship, community, and celebration.
This year, we’re excited to welcome even more amazin …
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Jon Boats: Ugly, Loud, and Perfect
Rowing a 14-foot jon boat back to shore on a quiet Adirondack lake after a stellar day of smallmouth fishing this summer I couldn’t help but reflect on how much I both admire and curse these boats. They’re awkward to row, rough around the edges, and downright unattractive yet they always manage to …
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Looking for the best 3HP small electric outboard?
Our friends at EMO Electric have put together an excellent primer on 3HP electric outboards for dinghies, sailboats, canyon rafts and "smallish" fishing boats.
They explain:
“These motors have become extremely popular, and several manufacturers now offer portable 1 kW / 3HP electric outboards. …
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Small Craft Sales Presents: The 15th Annual Colorado Wooden Boat Float
Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2025Location: Upper Colorado River – Pumphouse Recreation Area to Rancho Del Rio
The Colorado Wooden Boat Float (COWBF XV) is back! Join a flotilla of handcrafted wood drift boats and river dories for a 10-mile float down the Colorado River. Boats launch at 9:0 …
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You’re Invited! Colorado Stream Access Coalition Event
When: Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, 6:00 PMWhere: Upslope Brewing Co. – Flatiron Park1898 S. Flatiron Court, Boulder, CO 80301
Join us for an evening celebrating Colorado’s rivers and the people who protect them.
What’s happening:
Stream Access Panel – hear from leaders and advocates shapin …
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Slow the Fu?k Down - Grand Canyon Guide Advice
Paddy O'Connell and the Outside interview, professional Grand Canyon guide, Cindell Dale, who gives some solid advice and perspective in the latest episode of The Outside Podcast. Cindell doesn't just navigate massive rapids in her dory, Ticaboo - but she carries on a legacy of female river guides …
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AIRE, Outcast Sporting Gear, and AIRE Environmental are now 100% Employee-Owned!
We’ve run enough miles in our AIRE boats to know they’re built by river people. Now those same river people own the place — that’s the kind of eddy we want to hang out in.
From AIRE:
We’ve got BIG news — AIRE, Outcast Sporting Gear, and AIRE Environmental are now 100% Employee-Owned! As of last …
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SOLD!!! - 2024 PAC 1150 Fishing Raft w/MRF Micro Raft Trailer
SOLD!!! - 2024 PAC 1150 Fishing Raft w/MRF Micro Raft TrailerWe just received this excellent testimonial from a seller in Montana."Just sold my Outcast raft and MRF trailer! Quick rundown of how it went for me.1.Listed the boat…super easy and straight forward.2.Received a message from a buyer about …
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Squirt boating: like kayaking, but with more sinking...
Ever heard of squirt boating? No? You’re not alone…
Instead of charging rapids in a big, floaty kayak, squirt boaters hop into absurdly low-volume boats that are just buoyant enough to keep them on the surface—most of the time. The real trick isn’t paddling forward, it’s slipping under the surface …
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Yeti and Sawyer Launch Giveaway Extended!
To celebrate our launch, we're giving away:
A YETI Tundra Cooler (your choice of 45 or 65) andA $500 gift card to Sawyer Paddles and Oars to one lucky winner.
Perfect for upgrading your gear, impressing your paddle buddies, or just keeping way too many beverages cold.
And here’s the best part—no …
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🚨 Outfitters, retailers, fleets we're building out a new “whale” program just for you.
List your boats for FREE right now on Small Craft Sales and we’ll toss in a free Instagram boost to help move ‘em faster.We’re not here to compete with your biz—just to give you another channel to sell "mostly" used boats more effectively.Some ideas we’re exploring:• Company pages• Branding & outbo …
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Call for Nominations to the American Whitewater Board of Directors
From American Whitewater:
American Whitewater is now accepting nominations for volunteer positions on our Board of Directors. Serving on the Board is a rewarding opportunity to help shape the future of river conservation, access, and safety while giving back to the boating community.
About Board …
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Wooden Boat School Still Has Some Spaces Available for 2025 Classes
From The Wooden Boat School:
While the season is half over, a few courses towards the end of summer have seats left. For those that don't plan too far in the future, we have pulled together a list of available spaces for you look over. There are some great opportunities available to come learn in …
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Small Craft Sales Stumbles Onto the Airwaves with America Outdoors Radio
We somehow managed to land a spot on John Kruse’s America Outdoors Radio, which airs on over 160 stations nationwide. Not totally sure how we got past security, but we were honored to be included on this past weekend’s show.
This week, John talks with:
Nick Courtright, founder of O Fishal Pro …
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Your Dream Boat Called—It Wants You to Enter This Sweepstakes
Another Boat Giveaway? Yep.
The 2025 Florida Boat Sweepstakes is officially underway, and it’s borderline ridiculous—in the best way possible. Each ticket gives you three chances to win one of three ridiculously dialed-in fishing boats, built for Florida’s wild mix of salt, flats, and mangroves.
…
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Down River Equipment Drops Mid-Season River Knowledge Digest
DRE gives us a load of info for first time river runners, grizzled experts and everyone in-between with info on, "how to buy a new raft, trip planning 101, rafting with kids, swiftwater info, cold weather boating and TONS of other great info.
Check it all out here. …
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Legendary WoodenBoat School has a couple of openings for Northeast Dory Class
From Chesapeake Light Craft:
Build Your Own Northeaster Dory at the WoodenBoat School
It's been called the ultimate summer camp for adults -- boat-loving adults, that is. The legendary WoodenBoat School in Brooklin, Maine, has a couple of openings left in the August 24th Build-Your-Own Northe …
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Win your dream skiff that could help save Florida waters 🌊
Enter to win this 2025 HELL'S BAY PROFESSIONAL
From Capatins for Clean Warter:
A one-of-a-kind rig, generously donated by Hell’s Bay, built to honor 160+ years of adventure and conservation with Orvis.
This year’s Hell’s Bay Professional giveaway skiff sports a classic Orvis-inspired vint …
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Road Access Update (Again) For Colorado’s Blue River
From our friends at Flylab via the Bureau of Reclamation:
On August 1, the Bureau of Reclamation will reopen Summit County Road 1812 near Green Mountain Dam and Powerplant to vehicles and pedestrians. Periodic road closures may occur in the future if rain or snowmelt cause unsafe conditions below …
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Road Access Update For Colorado’s Blue River
From our friends at Flylab.fish
One of the few public access points for fishing and floating on the Blue River–north of Green Mountain Reservoir near Heeney, Colorado–has been closed since mid-April 2025 due to unstable slope conditions, according to the Department of the Interior. The affected sl …
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SMALL CRAFT SALES LAUNCHES STREAMLINED ONLINE BUYING AND SELLING HUB FOR “LITTLE FLOATERS”
Boulder, Co. — Small Craft Sales isn’t just another online classified website, it’s a community for all factions of water nerd tired of wading through scam-riddled cesspools like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to find the perfect small vessel or a new home for their old baby.
"Anglers, white …
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Boatbuilders: Chesapeake Light Craft 4th of July Sale Still On
From CLC:
Boat and Camper Kits 10 - 15% OFF!
Vast price shrinkage on our fleet of more than 100 designs, from kayaks and canoes to sailboats and rowing craft, paddleboards, powerboats, Teardrop Campers, and ProKits. Most are discounted up to 10%, some even more!
Get all the info here. …
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What's Happening on the Colorado River?
From Western Resouce Advocates:
In 2022, the water levels in Lake Powell dropped so low that experts worried the Colorado River wouldn’t be able to flow past Glen Canyon dam. This situation is called deadpool, and it’s one of many concerns surrounding a drier and hotter Colorado River.â¯
The c …
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Suspenz boat storage and boat hauling Open Box Deals
Almost two decades ago, Suspenz began providing paddling enthusiasts confidence that their watercraft is stored safely, securely, and easily accessible. Today, they are known as the premier provider of more than just storage solutions. Theline has grown to include a wide array of products designed …
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“Flood the Lines” Public Lands Day
From Flylab:
A faction in Congress, led by Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah, wants to steal your public lands–the pristine places you fish, hunt and recreate–then sell them to the highest bidder.
SAY NO.
What can you do?
Take Action TODAY With Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
“Flood the Lines …
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Five Great Rowing Boats, According to Chesapeake Light Craft
As a proud CLC boat owner, I always pay attention when John C. Harris—owner, designer, and managing director of Chesapeake Light Craft—shares his thoughts. Recently, he gave a deep dive into five standout CLC designs and what makes each one excel at rowing. All five have proven themselves in the gr …
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Ohio River Way Earns National Water Trail Designation, Largest Addition to National Trail System
From the Ohioriverway:
The Ohio River Way, a trail connecting communities across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, has officially been designated as a National Water Trail at the recommendation of the National Park Service. This rare recognition marks the largest addition to the National Trails System …
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The Slightly Cheeky Guide to Evaluating a Used River Raft
(Because no one wants to buy a lemon... that floats)
Start with the Basics
Check for an HIN (Hull Identification Number). Like a birth certificate for boats. No HIN? That's sus. Ask who's loved it before you.Original owner? Great! They know its life story. Multiple past owners? You’re dating a my …
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Reuben Smith's Tumblehome Boat Shop Shop Talk June 14th
Deep in the Adirondacks, Reuben Smith's Tumblehome Boatshop is focused on high end restoration and new construction of historic and classic wooden boats.
If you're in the area this weekned, June 14th - don't miss Saturday Shop Talk!
Join for coffee and muffins and talk shop. They'll walk through …
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Pyranha Reactr Walkthrough and Review
Is the Pyranha Reactr all it's cracked up to be?
Adam Wetherell, 4Corners Shipping and Warehouse Manager, recently ripped Brown’s Canyon in Colorado in the Reactr, and he has a few thoughts.
Is the Reactr all it's cracked up to be?
Watch the vid below and get a far more in-depth review on the ka …
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How the Grand River became the Colorado
How the Grand River became the Colorado.
What’s in a River’s Name?
Is the name of a river really that important? If it's the "Colorado River," absolutely. The Colorado River is a lifeline in the West for people, birds, and nature. On July 25th, Colorado River Day, we pause to celebrate and reflec …
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Upcoming Summer 2025 Boating Events on the East Coast
The WoodenBoat Show in Mystic, CT June 27-29
No-Octane Regatta at Blue Mountain Lake, NY June 28
Antique & Classic Boat Show in Old Forge, NY July 12
Antique & Classic Boat Show in Lake George, NY August 23
ACBS International 50th Boat Show in Clayton, NY September 19-20
Bolton Landing No-Octa …
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Did you know Denver, Colorado is hiding its very own custom boat shop?
No, we’re not talking your run-of-the-mill raft and frame shop. We're talking the full treatment for your floating beauty—wood restoration, fiberglass acid washes, engine service, polishing that would make your mother weep, bilge cleaning (yes, even that), full-on detailing, fresh paint and varnish …
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The Women Who Rowed
The Women Who Rowed
Ellen Tibbetts, Jan Kempster, Elena Kirschner, Denice Napoletano and Mary Williams greeted each other with hugs in front of the OARS Grand Canyon headquarters in Flagstaff. One by one, they walked into the building through the teal door frame and past the photo-plastered walls. …
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Chesapeake Light Craft on Boatbuilding Blunders (and How to Fix Them)
Chesapeake Light Craft has helped more than 50,000 boats take shape—from nimble sea kayaks to elegant dories, sleek paddleboards, and even powerboats. And while their precision-cut kits and detailed manuals make it feel like you’re halfway to launching just by opening the box, let’s be honest: you’ …
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Just get a Kayak (Official Trailer)
Ryan Huck—resident wildman and moderator of White Water Inflatables Colorado—and his crew of R1 maniacs have been taking rubber where rubber arguably doesn’t belong: Vallecito Creek, Oh Be Joyful, Daisy Creek, the North Fork of the Crystal, and the North Fork of the South Platte. These dudes aren’t …
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