[cdtakacs1]

HI Folks -

I just wanted to reach out and let you know about the most incredible custom raft frame company out there today. It's 'Montana Raft Frames' from Huron, MT and his name is Leo.

Leo is an absolutely standup up guy and custom built the frame for my AIRE Super Puma. A few months later, I drew up some floor plans and had him build me custom floors as well out of diamond plate.

The frame is powder-coated as well to prevent that nasty aluminum 'frame rub'. While it's 100% custom, the OD is still the same as NRS therefore you can bolt on any NRS accessory if you wish.

Another custom accessory Leo makes is his proprietary 'Rod Dog' rod holder. This is a very sleek accessory that keeps your fly rods out of harms way. The hold wraps around the front of the boat a bit to not add any uneccary length of piece your flies can catch on too.

Photos below:
pix.sfly.com/d-wXDM_p

If you're in the market for a new frame or new boat, give Leo a call. You won't be disappointed!

 

[Shamoo]

whats your qualifications btw? just seriuosly curious

 

[cdtakacs1]

Qualifications?

 

[Shapp]

Well it does look sharp, but how good of a frame maker could the guy be if he totally covers up your floor valve with the rear floor deck, or was that your design screw up?

Also it appears that the rod holder partially covers one of the side tube valves, does that hinder accessing the valve too?

I would be disappointed if I spent a bunch of money on a frame and couldn't access the floor valve easily during the day to add or remove air, as the temperature changes and when trailering.

 

[cdtakacs1]

Shapp -

Thanks for the comment! All I merely need to do is move the rear of the frame over 3'' and the rear valve is 100% accessible - there are no issues at all. For the amount of the time and effort it would have been to build that piece into the rear deck, it wasn't worth it.

As for the rod holder, that valve is completely accessible too.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Capn Chicken Man]

Leo is awesome. His Rod-Dog holder is great. But the real winner are the cup holders and caddy station that he makes!

 

[Shapp]

Shapp -

All I merely need to do is move the rear of the frame over 3'' and the rear valve is 100% accessible

Thanks for looking!

Looking at your picture, I don't see how this is at all possible. The first big photo in the album shows the rear casting deck drop bar to nearly be touching one side of the tube, with a few inch gap from the tube on the other side. The gap is on the side with the valve, yet the valve almost totally covered and unaccessible. It doesn't appear that there is any room to slide the rear frame over any farther to uncover the floor valve. Further, it looks as though to slide the casting deck over, you would have to loosen 2 lopros on the drop bars of the casting deck. Is this correct?

If you have to do any amount of de-rigging/undoing any straps or loosening lopros to access the floor valve in the field, then the design is a total fail in my book.

 

[cdtakacs1]

Thanks for the feedback, Shapp!

No, I do not loosen the low-pros to move the frame over. The pics are clearly deceiving to you so if I remember, I'll snap a few pics of the frame moved 'over', allowing me to fill up the floor valve. I have no issues doing so, with this 'total fail' of a frame

Everyone know what happens when you assume, right?

Tight lines, Shapp!

 

[Shapp]

Well you answered 1/2 of the question about the low pros.

The second question:

Do you have to loosen any straps to slide the frame over to access the floor valve? Since the frame is all one piece (when all the low pros are bolted together) - does this mean you have to slide the entire frame over?

 

[Gene S]

Leo builds a great raft frame! He did a retro on my trailer as well which works out really good.

 

[cdtakacs1]

Wow - the custom motor mount is SICK!!!! Beautiful frame.

 

[Shapp]

Wow - the custom motor mount is SICK!!!! Beautiful frame.

Well you answered 1/2 of the question about the low pros.
The second question:

Do you have to loosen any straps to slide the frame over to access the floor valve? Since the frame is all one piece (when all the low pros are bolted together) - does this mean you have to slide the entire frame over?