AIRE Sabertooth 12 Cataraft AIRE

The AIRE Sabertooth 12 Cataraft, or as we like to call it – the Slaybertooth – is quite possibly the finest paddlecat on the market. It’s fast, nimble, and tracks like it has 4-wheel drive. At home in Class IV & V, this boat pushes paddle raft performance to the edge of what’s possible, and is extremely forgiving to guide. The capability of the Sabertooth is unmatched, in our opinion.

Known for its superior performance as an R2 ‘shredder,’ the Sabertooth is also a blast to throw a small frame on and row with 8′ shorty oars. Whether you are rowing or paddling, this boat serves up plenty of face shots since it lacks the spray guard that is common with other paddle cats.

They say money can’t buy happiness… whoever said that hasn’t paddled a Sabertooth!

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:

1. Field repairs are much easier and more effective since you can access the air chamber by unzipping the PVC outer skin.
2. You can patch holes in the outer skin from the inside, making a more effective watertight seal and a less noticeable patch.
3. Leaks are extremely uncommon since wear and tear on the outside of the boat doesn’t directly affect its ability to hold air.
4. 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

We highly recommend picking up 2-4 AIRE Thwart Handles with this boat to give yourself some interior D-rings for clipping gear or throw bags. The interior of this boat has few places to secure gear without them.