The NRS Otter 130 Self-Bailing Raft strikes a perfect balance between performance as a paddle raft and utility as a gear boat. At 13' long, it can pick its way through bony lines in technical whitewater, yet its capability in big water should not be underestimated. The 18" tubes of the Otter 130 bring the weight of your gear or your paddle crew closer to the waterline, making for a more stable ride and lower center of gravity.

The Otter 130 can support up to 8 paddlers or about 2-3 people for multi-day trips and can handle big water when loaded down. It's small enough that it feels sporty to row, but it's large enough that it can accommodate standard-sized coolers and dry boxes with its 37" interior width. NRS has a wide variety of fishing accessories that are ideal for the Otter 130; this is one of the most popular boats for a three-angler flyfishing setup as well.

The Pennel Orca material that Otter Series rafts are made out of is essentially the same thing as Hypalon, marketed under a different brand name, and it has superior abrasion and puncture resistance versus other rubbers or plastics. If this boat is well taken care of, it will easily last over 20 years. The Otter 130 is a solid investment for any boater looking for a quality raft that performs well in all areas of boating.

Pro Tip

Otter or E-Series? The Otter Series takes the Expedition (E-series) boats from NRS that have a time-tested reputation from outfitter use and dials back some of overbuilt features to make these boats lighter and more affordable for private boaters' needs. Otter rafts have three air chambers (rather than four) and smaller abrasion pads/chafers on the bottom of the boat than E-series boats do.