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Pro Pioneer | SOAR Levitator

Pro Pioneer Inflatable Canoes

Purchase Pro Pioneer Now!

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Pro Pioneer Video Presentation / Testimonial

The Idea:
During the spring of 2003, I approached Larry Laba, President of SOAR inflatables with an idea for a watercraft, inflatable canoes, that would be ideal for adventurers requiring maximum maneuverability under heavy loads to be transported into and out of remote regions under potentially poor river conditions. A mouth full, yes, but these such conditions could be described as extremely low water, shallow and braided glacial streams, alpine creeks and streams, restrictive access areas, or even rivers without known data regarding water levels or presence of hazards (i.e., pioneering). Such a watercraft would be considered invaluable and irreplaceable amongst owners and therefore users.

With Laba's focus on quality and craftsmanship, coupled with my knowledge of Alaska's rivers and experience paddling with heavy, cumbersome loads of equipment and big game, we designed an inflatable boat that delivers everything I expected, and more!

The Boat:
Shortly after delivery of the prototype, I bundled up the Pro Pioneer and hundreds of pounds of hunting gear and video equipment, intending to field test this inflatable canoe. Before going afield, I mentally rehearsed my vow to objectively trial this product as if it were inadequate until proven efficient. Once underway, I demanded of myself to remain as a consumer of a new product and not as an enthusiastically delusional investor. I planned a route coursing more than 300 miles of river corridors, all within the far reaches of Alaska's backcountry. In short, once dropped off at each location, there would be no reprieve if my watercraft failed.

What's the difference between the Pro Pioneer and the Standard S16 (SOAR)? The Pro Pioneer inflatable raft is a Larry Bartlett/SOAR creation. The concern I had with the S16, which was a minute one at best, was that the SOAR had too much flex to its hull when heavily loaded (air pressure influences this greatly); thus, my reasoning for coming up with a solution--the Pro Pioneer. This new design is more rigid, beefier, wider, more maneuverable, handles heavier loads, and is even more responsive in whitewater than other boats. What I tried to do, and succeeded well, was to put the best of all the paddle boats I've paddled together into one boat that has already impressed me (SOAR). Now, I am happy to say that the Pro Pioneer is "the" boat for anyone who needs a workhorse and a playmate from an inflatable canoe. Whether expedition canoeing, float hunting, river running, family boating, or just working with heavy loads, there is no canoe better than the Pro Pioneer!

Specifications

The Story:

To make a long journey seem like a day at the races, here's the story of the prototype's maiden voyage.

After being dropped off via bush aircraft, I paddled the Pro Pioneer inflatable boat out of an alpine lake resting quietly in Alaska's western flank. Our party included five people and a small squad of inflatables: one 13-ft raft, one 16-ft cataraft, and my Pro Pioneer. We were faced with a 1.5-mile route from the lake to the main river channel through a willow-choked creek bed, barely wet with current. It wasn't long before all the heavy gear ended up inside the Pro Pioneer, and we still were forced to drag the two other watercrafts nearly the entire leg. I estimate the load planted on the Pro to be over 600 pounds at this point, and it maintained a draft of less than four inches. As you can tell from the photos, the other members of the party were stunned by the Pro Pioneer's excellent floatation, all the while damning themselves for bringing such cumbersome boats and heavy equipment.

The first 50 miles of the river journey was spent eye bugging each turn, paddling swiftly around 120 degree switchbacks and hairpins littered with felled trees and sweepers. The Pro Pioneer and I shined like a new toy at Christmas. While the other rafters struggled to the safety of shallow eddies, bend after bend, I merely coached the Pro along with impressive responsiveness. The load during this venture was less than 400 pounds. Even solo, the Pro handled like its name implies-professionally!

Once we harvested our first Alaska caribou, we loaded the Pro Pioneer with an additional 150 lbs. and its draft was still less than 5 inches. It wasn't until I had three caribou, all my personal and expedition gear, and all camera equipment inside the Pro Pioneer that I knew a challenge would be offered. Again, the Pro handled every pound of that load, estimated at 800 lbs. Mile after mile, I was able to guide the Pro into and out of narrow channels, stiff rapids, and unforgiving chutes, and this boat handled like a fine automobile. I had to work hard to slow my river speed, merely to avoid leaving the rest of the group. The Pro's slick design allowed very impressive speeds.

After over 100 miles and time after time, the Pro Pioneer impressed us all. My only complaint at the end of this trip was that the other members were too slow! I ended up waiting on the rest of the group at the take-out for 90 minutes, after descending 15 miles of flat-water currents and strong headwinds the last leg of the river journey. It was a brutal final 3 hours for me, burdened with roughly 800 lbs. of personal body weight, meat and gear; but I empathized with my friends' pain of fighting their watercraft seemingly upstream for nearly 5 hours!

My last trip with the Pro Pioneer was to test the boat under similar conditions but with a heavier load. I had a pilot fly my partner and me, as well as our Pro Pioneer into a remote river corridor in Alaska's Interior, then hunted diligently until we bagged a heavy trophy bull moose. As you can see in the photos, that bull fit the bill! After field dressing was complete and the Pro was finally loaded, it had roughly 1000 lbs. of total weight inside. Once again, the Pro Pioneer never hesitated to deliver a stellar performance. My friend, having never paddled a SOAR, was so impressed by its maneuverability that he placed an order for one. I paddled this tonnage roughly 50 miles down a slack water stream, choked by beaver dams, felled trees and sweepers. The Pro drafted less than 9 inches of water with nearly 1000 lbs. of total weight, allowing passage through shallow riffles.

Not only is the Pro Pioneer worthy of discussion, but it deserves the highest marks in quality, performance, and delivery. I feel confident knowing my investment is safely placed on a sure winner. Having paddled the Pro Pioneer with extreme diversities-light and heavy, shallow and deep, fast and slow-I'm convinced that this boat has the qualities to replace all other inflatable canoes on the market.

I tested the Pro Pioneer against several inflatable canoes: AIRE's latest creation, the Traveler, as well as a Grabner 14-ft Outside and Incept's C42T. And while I liked some traits of each boat, I found that the Pro Pioneer gave me everything I demanded with less sacrifice.

Click Here for 2003 Inflatable Canoe Test Results

Order Your Pro Pioneer Inflatable Canoe Today!

Retail Price $2,195.00
Member's Price $2,050.00

Become A Member for FREE!

Special Prices available, call for details:
Larry Bartlett: 877-716-4366

SOAR Levitator Inflatable Rafts

Purchase Soar Levitator Now!

Download Video:
Soar Levitator Video Presentation / Testimonial

Offers rafters the weight carrying capacity required for serious expeditions, and this model is built with innovative technology to lower pack-in weights and gear bulk!

• Sixteen D-rings for lashing all loads
• Twelve carrying handles
• Impressively shallow draft
• Designed for shallow rivers and creeks
• Float Hunts in areas inaccessible to others
• Self-bailing model with unique floor design

  Order Your Soar Levitator Inflatable Raft Today!

Retail Price: $3,600
Member's Price: $3,100.00

Become A Member for FREE!

Special Prices available, call for details:
Larry Bartlett: 877-716-4366

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