AIRE Tributary 12 HD Self-Bailing Raft AIRE

The AIRE Tributary 12 HD Self-Bailing Raft is a compact, whitewater raft for those boaters that are looking for a high-quality product with an affordable price tag. The Tributary 12 is self-bailing and is the perfect size for 4-5 person paddle teams. The urethane air bladders are zipped inside a PVC outer shell; this makes the raft extremely durable and field repairs easy. Due to the high-quality construction and affordability of this AIRE raft, recreational rafters and professional guides alike have been using Tributary rafts for the last 10 years!

Why Tributary?

Tributary boats are of similar quality to AIRE and are designed by AIRE, they just aren’t USA-built and do not have the same 10-year warranty as AIRE boats. They are built with near-identical materials and seam welding techniques. AIRE and AIRE Tributary 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.