9/7/2010 | by: Richard Wisner

156E When we bought our AIRE 156e in the Fall of 2007 we outfitted it with a Recretec frame, dry box and Yeti cooler. Cascade in Boise provided SCAT system, oars, fire pan and many of the other things necessary to run well and run legally. Plywood decking for the top of the frame over the tubes, painted with non-slip varnish were built at home, as well as an upholstered seat for the passengers with a piano-hinged seat back. A drop bag custom-made by Scott Solle, of Solgear is attached to the frame under the front seat, providing storage for 20 gallons, roughly 170 lbs., of potable water in Cubitainers, along with an ugly old ~ 10 lb. sand screw. This boat has taken us down Hells Canyon July 2 - 3 of '08, the Main Salmon in early August '09 and the Green in the beginning of the second week of June '10, not to mention many trips down the South Fork of the Snake, with no load except passengers and lunch. This is an extremely comfortable high performance boat capable being nimble while carrying expedition weight. It is a joy to oar and provides efficient, low-center-of-gravity storage for extended class III and class IV trips (and higher classification no doubt, depending on the skill and experience of the oarsman). On our visit to the AIRE factory in the Fall of '07 we were greeted and treated like family as we engaged them in our plans and enlisted them in helping with our design concepts. These folks are driven to provide an absolutely first rate product.