Team Saturn?

skyriver

skyriver

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I decided I needed a 3-person raft so started looking at new and used. I love the idea of a Flycraft, but I'm just not sold on the quality especially given the price tag. Stealthcraft are nice too and a little less money. I liked the idea of a Watermaster Bruin, but I don't view it as a true 3-person raft. It's 2 + the lightest dude you know. I know @TheFlyFishingFilmmaker has one and did an excellent review of one. Good work btw!!

The biggest reason I was attracted to the 3-person Flycrafts, Stealthcrafts and Bruin is because I could haul them in my 6.5' truck bed and wouldn't need to tow, or more importantly, store a trailer.

Enter the Saturn Triton Whitewater 12'6" raft with a custom NRS frame. At 56" wide it's essentially the same exact profile as a Flycraft Stealth. Just 6" longer. Saturn is the budget raft. It's not an Aire, NRS, RMR, Sotar or Maravia. Which is fine, because none of those brands make a 3-person raft that would easily fit in the back of a 6.5' truck bed. But is the raft part of a Flycraft or Stealthcraft any better? I don't think so. The Bruin might be, but not sure.

Saturn Triton is taking a noticeable bite out of Flycraft and Stealthcraft business and it's easy to see why. I traded my 2019 Outcast Striker straight across for a 2020 Triton 12'6" with full custom NRS frame, including front & rear lean bars. And to buy it new right now, including 7.5' KBO oars (which I already have) would only be about $4500.

I haven't taken it out yet, but all the reviews for these things point to it punching way above it's pay level. Will quality be an issue? Maybe. I've seen a few long haul reviews and they're doing pretty damn well. The NRS stuff is bomber so I know I won't have to worry about that. The only worry is the actual raft, but for the trade, it was worth it to me. And he ended up with a quality 2 seater with a custom frame that fits his needs.

Anyone else out there have one of these? I think she's purty.

20251122_150532.jpg

I would love to hear about any triumphs or failures with Saturn rafts by people on here that have actually used them.
 
Saturn punches well above it's $$$. I believe they're the best value inflatables on the market today. I have 2 Kaboats, have used them for everything from rowing down rivers to using electrics and outboards in lakes and the salt. I have a custom rowing frame that Catchercraft put together that also provides an front electric motor mount and anchor and works on both . Really happy with the quality and I'm in the same 'boat', I wanted something I could throw in the bed of my truck. Both the 13' and 15' Kaboats do that (although I need a hitch extender to support the 15' rig).
 
Just a note here; the Flycraft is expensive, but I believe it's because the quality is that good. I think the Saturn is a good boat, and definitely a better 3-person option. It's a heavier raft and frame. I went with a Flycraft specifically because of the lighter weight. Something about aging has made me more weight conscious of my gear.
 
skyriver said:
make a 3-person raft that would easily fit in the back of a 6.5' truck bed. But is the raft part of a Flycraft
Click to expand...
I've maxxon tubes on my cataraft. Maxxon stuff is generally made from Chinese PVC where Saturn is (or at least was recently) made from european pvc. Part of the cost savings of a pvc boat is they are glued together rather than stitched or welded. PVC degrades in sunlight, so is inherently a less desirable material for rafts than hypalon or urethane or the other materials employed by SOTAR, NRS and others. And among whitewater folks (not known for pedantic or otherwise strong opinions, mind you) PVC is thus held in low regard. The Flycraft boat looks PVC to me.

Criticism of PVC notwithstanding, it makes a fine boat for most of us. Keep it out of direct sunlight and treat on occasion to a coverage of 303 protectant or equivalent (if there is one...) and it should and does last many years. If you're expecting to go expeditioning frequently to to rivers with many named rapids and Class 4 water, packing and folding your boat and such, you probably oughta look at a different material. If you're gonna fish out of it, I bet you'll wear it out or grow out of it before it fails, really no matter the manufacturer.
 
Thanks for the input guys.
Regarding the PVC. I will store it in my garage, slightly inflated. My Striker was also 1100 PVC..at least on the outside. It only got washed once or twice a year and then treated with 303 once a year. Besides the wear marks from the truck and frame it was doing great after 6 seasons.
Even though the Saturn is a 2020, he said he didn't get it out much and I would agree with him based on inspecting it. It looks new compared to the Striker.

It does have one slow leak from a sharp cut on the bottom. Patch kit is on the way. I would guess it was caused by some sort of metal. Maybe during transport or junk in the water. Not sure, but it doesn't look like a rock tear.
 
A guy I knew had a Saturn for years. The old blue ones. Worked very well for him for a while.

I could be wrong but I thought I heard the new Saturns like the one pictured are the same boat as the stealth crafts and the stealths make their frame. A friend has a stealth craft that’s a few years old and it’s a really nice boat and layout. It’s 13.5’ (same as my super puma) but the layout has more room than my ship. Based on those experiences, and assuming it’s not all a whitewater boat, seems to be a good fishing craft.

Often the floors have some porting in the outer cover and gravel and sand get in there and can eventually cause leaks. You’ll want to deflate the floor (every trip if regularly pulling up onto sand banks or every couple trips if not) and clean that out.

I like those paddle board floors a lot.

So if it’s the ship I believe it is, it’s been good and had good experiences with it
 
Thanks. I love the floor!
I haven't had it on the water yet, but easy to tell it's way more solid than the Striker floor. And the Striker floor is decent.

Though the Stealthcrafts and Flycrafts both look like Saturn rafts, the internet seems to indicate both companies make and use their own rafts.
I tend to agree as the Saturn Triton tubes seem just a touch bigger. Very similar so who knows.
 
Oh whoops I totally misread your original post that you already have it… congrats and that boat should treat ya well!!

Buddy with the stealth raft bought a few Tupperware bins from Home Depot and they fit well under the rower and front seat made for carrying the essentials (throw bag, life jackets, tp, extra straps etc) quick to load and unload.

enjoy!
 
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