NRS Raft Frame Setup: Ultimate Guide

AQ Staff Rafting
February 25th, 2022 7 minute read

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Maybe you already have a raft, or are thinking of getting one, but feel lost about setting up the raft frame. Centre or stern mount? How many sections? How do you attach it to your raft? How do you figure out what size raft oars you need?

We’ll answer all these questions in the article below, for NRS raft frames. NRS has a long, storied history of producing high-quality, performance driven raft frames. And, thanks to their modular design, you can adjust them as much as you want, for any kind of raft.

Here at AQ Outdoors we’re a proud supplier of everything NRS produces, but especially raft frames. We sell some pre-built frames, or you can totally customize your raft frame from the ground up.

For each of the sections below, we have a full companion article and video to provide you with more in-depth detail. And, as always, if you have any further questions or want to try different raft frame configurations in real life, come visit us in store!

Shop AQ Outdoors Raft Frame Collection

NRS Modular Raft Frame Overview

NRS LoPro Frame Fittings

$48.95

The LoPro Fitting allows you to easily configure and customize your frame. Made from hot-forged aluminum alloy for a strength-to-weight ratio that can't be beat, this streamlined, polished piece of hardware is the heart of the NRS frame system. The… Read More

All of NRS’ raft components are designed to work together and are completely customizable. This means you can adjust everything to accommodate your raft, your paddling style, and the kind of gear you want to carry.

You can make room for a couple coolers, or none at all. You can adjust where your raft seat is, your foot braces, and any specialized spaces you need for your gear.

NRS are the raft frame pros and it shows in the quality of their products. A raft is a longtime investment, and so is the raft frame. But once you get it all setup exactly how you want, it’ll be there for you year after year. And if you ever decide to further adjust or add new pieces to your frame, it’s as easy as loosening a couple screws and sliding things around to where you want them.

For more information, check out our NRS Modular Frame Overview.

Stern vs Centre Mount NRS Raft Frame

NRS Stern Raft Frame

$843.95

NRS Raft Frame Setup: Ultimate Guide NRS Modular Raft Frame System: Key Features How to Size and Customize a Raft Frame How to Attach a Frame to a Raft Centre vs Stern Mount Raft Frame Easily navigate the raft from… Read More

The next thing to consider is your basic starting point: should you get a stern mount or centre mount raft frame?

Stern mounts are great if you always have other paddlers in the raft to provide power, you have a longer raft that you need help maneuvering, and you’re in moving water where you need to follow a line. The extra power from a stern mount frame, when you have paddlers in the front of the raft, provides that boost you need to get through a hole or over a wave.

Centre mounts are ideal if you don’t have other paddlers, and especially if you’re loading your raft down with gear on longer multi-day trips. Centre mounts also provide more stable control of the raft if you don’t have paddlers.

To learn more about the differences, check out Stern vs Centre Mount Raft Frame.

How to Size and Customize a Raft Frame

NRS Bighorn 1 Raft Frame

$1,181.95

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The next step is sizing up a frame for your raft, and figuring out how you want to customize it.

Using measurements between the sides of the raft, and the length from bow to stern, you can figure out the dimensions for the base of your raft frame. Once you have that established, you can start messing around with the modular frame parts to figure out your exact configuration.

You can buy pre-built NRS frames, or build your own from the ground up. Having some idea of the kind of trips you’ll do and the gear you’ll carry will give you a starting point for setting everything up with the exact raft frame components you’ll need.

This is a great step to do in store, so you can see exactly how everything works and fits together. You can even bring your own gear to help make sure you get things just the way you want them!

For more information, check out our article How to Size and Customize a Raft Frame.

Attaching Your Frame to Your Raft

After you have your frame all setup, the next step is actually attaching it to your raft.

Although this sounds like an intense task, it is pretty straight forward.

You simply use straps to attach your frame to the various D-ring connect points around your raft. NRS straps are especially useful for this task as they’re designed to perform in wet, sunny environments.

You never know what the river may throw at you, which is why it’s important to properly secure your frame to provide a stable platform.

For in-depth instruction on this process, check out How to Attach a Frame to a Raft.

How to Size Raft Oars

Cataract SGG Oar Shaft

$280.95

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Now that your raft and frame are all setup, the last piece you need are your raft oars.

Raft oar length can vary quite a bit depending on the size of your raft, how your raft frame is setup, whether you’re on a seat or just sitting on a dry box / cooler, your height, and your personal paddling style.

That’s a lot to consider!

A good starting point is the rule of thirds: one third of the oar should be between the oar lock and your hand, the other two thirds should be the length of your oar and blade from the oar lock outwards.

You also want to make sure you have about a fist-sized gap between both oars when you bring them across your chest. This makes sure they aren’t hitting each other, but are still close enough that you can paddle comfortably.

To learn more, check out How to Size Raft Oars.

Sizing Up a Raft Perimeter Line

This is completely optional, but something to keep in mind if you’re tackling tougher whitewater and plan on having other people in the raft. A raft perimeter line gives you something to hold on to for balance on more adventurous rivers, and gives you something to grab onto if you fall out of the raft and need help climbing back in.

For a full walkthrough, read How to Size and Setup a Raft Perimeter Line.

NRS Raft Frame Setup Summary

Hopefully that gives you a quick outline, and shows you what's involved, in setting up an NRS raft frame (or any raft frame). Your raft is a big investment, but it’ll provide a ton of fun and recreation opportunities for years.

This longevity is why it’s so important to take the time and make sure it’s setup the way you want it. The great thing about NRS’ modular raft frame design is that if you decide to modify it later on, it’s really easy to do so.

Setting up your raft frame is fun, and we’d love to help you out! As always feel free to contact us with any questions you have. And if you want to setup your frame in real-life, so you see how everything looks and works together, then definitely come visit us in store!

Shop AQ Outdoors Raft Frame Collection