Illinois River Flows & Avon Raft | Gear Garage Live Show

This podcast is the audio version of the Gear Garage live show, where Zach answers submitted questions and talks all things whitewater. In this episode, Zach shares his excitement for the upcoming Clackfest and provides expert advice on identifying and maintaining vintage Avon rafts.

Episode Summary

Zach kicks off the show with an enthusiastic look at Clackfest, his favorite event of the year. This festival, now in its 40th year, is centered around the whitewater community and features twelve different types of races—ranging from R-II and R-IV rafting to SUP, kayak, and packraft events. Zach emphasizes that the Clackamas River Festival is more about community and fun than being "gnarly," making it a must-attend for boaters of all levels.

The technical heart of the episode addresses a viewer's question about identifying an older Avon raft that is missing its serial number. Zach uses his extensive guiding experience to narrow down the model and age based on physical features. He identifies a 14-foot gray self-baler with two thwarts as likely being the Avon Adventure model. He also provides a guide for dating these Hypalon rafts by their color: darker gray typically indicates the 1980s to early 90s, while lighter gray suggests the mid-to-late 90s and 2000s.

The episode concludes with practical maintenance advice for older rafts, specifically how to safely remove glued-on foot cups using solvents like toluene or mechanical means, and a brief mention of Zach's recent "rope breaking" tests to understand gear limits.

Topics and links that Zach talked about in this episode

• Events: Clackfest.
• Gear: Identifying vintage Avon Professional series rafts.
• Maintenance: Removing glued-on accessories from raft floors.

Key Questions and Discussion Points

• Topic: Event Highlights. What makes Clackfest unique compared to other whitewater festivals?
• Topic: Boat Identification. How can you estimate the age of an Avon raft serial number without the tag?
• Topic: Raft Models. What are the primary differences between the Avon Adventure, Pro, and Super Pro models?
• Topic: Maintenance. What is the best way to remove old foot cups from a raft floor?

Connect with Zach

• Instagram
• YouTube

Zach Collier is the owner of Northwest Rafting Company and an International Rafting Federation Rafting Instructor. He has decades of river guiding and expedition experience across the American West and internationally, specializing in technical rowing and professional guide training.