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Welfelt raft frames

A 14 lb raft frame you can backpack into remote rivers.

The original Welfelt frame is a revolutionary design that takes minimal cargo space. It's lightweight, extremely strong, durable, and totally dependable, and its five pieces are a snap to put together and take apart.

  • Weight14 lb
  • Total pieces5
  • FrameAluminum
  • FittingsStainless steel
Schematic of the original Welfelt raft frame Illustrative top view of a raft fitted with the five-piece frame: oar towers, adjustable side poles, and a honeycomb fiberglass bench seat, joined with stainless fittings. Oar tower Bench seat — honeycomb fiberglass Side pole (adjustable) Stainless fittings

The original Welfelt frame

Lightweight, strong, and totally dependable.

$700 Mini-Me / Mini-Max

Price as listed. The cost of metal keeps going up and we're holding our frame prices as long as we can. Call for current pricing and availability.

  • 14 lbs, in 5 total pieces
  • High strength, lightweight aluminum
  • Rust proof stainless steel fittings
  • Honeycomb fiberglass bench seat with a custom sewn cover
  • Fits the Hyside Mini-Me and Mini-Max

Construction

Built light enough to carry in.

The frame takes minimal cargo space and weighs 14 lbs. With five total pieces, it's a perfect setup to backpack into remote rivers and a snap to put together and take apart.

The frame is high strength, lightweight aluminum with rust proof stainless steel fittings. The bench seat is honeycomb fiberglass, the same material used in airplane floors, finished with a custom sewn cover of high grade outdoor fabric.

  • FrameHigh strength, lightweightAluminum
  • FittingsRust proofStainless steel
  • Bench seatSame material used in airplane floorsHoneycomb fiberglass
  • Seat coverHigh grade outdoor fabricCustom sewn
  • Weight14 lb
  • Total piecesOar towers, side poles, and bench seat5

Assembly

How the five pieces go together.

Oar towers, side poles, and bench seat connect to each other, then strap to the raft's D rings.

  1. Mount the oar towers

    The oar towers attach at the middle thwart knuckle.

  2. Slide in the side poles

    The side poles slip into the underside of the bench seat and through the holes in the oar towers.

  3. Set the seat for your height

    The frame is adjustable: slide the bench seat forward or back depending on your height.

  4. Strap the oar towers

    The oar towers are further attached with 1 ft straps to the outside middle D rings, and with straps to each outside front and back D ring.

  5. Strap the bench seat

    The bench seat straps to the outside back D rings.

Frame prices

Frames and seating, as listed.

Welfelt raft frame prices
ItemPrice
Original Welfelt frameHyside Mini-Me / Mini-Max$700
Frame for Max 12.0 / Paddle CatCustom made for the Hyside Max 12.0$800
Battle Cat frameCustom made for the Hyside Max 12.0Call for pricing
Front seat for Max 12.0$400
Front seat-to-table conversion for Max 12.0$650

Prices as listed. The cost of metal keeps going up, and we're holding our frame prices as long as we can. Call 970-874-5737 for current pricing and availability.

What it fits

Frames for Hyside rafts.

The original Welfelt frame fits the Hyside Mini-Me and Mini-Max.

  • Mini-Me
  • Mini-Max

We also make custom frames for the Max 12.0 raft: the Paddle Cat and the new Battle Cat.

  • Paddle Cat
  • Battle Cat
See Hyside rafts

Start a project

Tell us what you have in mind.

Call the shop, send an email, or use the request form. We'll talk through the project and what it will take to build it.

970-874-5737

Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm

1770 Gunnison Avenue, Delta, CO 81416

welfeltfab@aol.com

Fax 970-874-9138