Why S-Rigs Are the Perfect Boats for Grand Canyon

There are countless types of boats in the world, and each serves a different purpose. On our river trips through the Grand Canyon, we use a boat called an S-rig. In our opinion, the S-rig is one of the best boats for rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, let’s talk about why.

First, let’s cover the basics of what an S-rig is and take a quick look at its history.

After World War II, a surplus of bridge pontoons sat unused in military depots across the country. Being the creative problem solvers they were, some of the early pioneers of commercial river running, including Bus Hatch, purchased these pontoons and repurposed them into river-running boats.

Early Hatch rafts, from before the company settled on the S-rig design.

Because these boats were built from repurposed materials and were never originally designed for river rafting, each company in the Grand Canyon developed its own unique version of the design. While the boats shared a similar foundation, every outfitter made modifications to meet its specific needs. Don’t be fooled though, the process of perfecting these boats took decades. Even today small design improvements continue to be made in the pursuit of creating the best possible river craft.

Now that we’ve covered a bit of their history, let’s talk about what makes S-rigs so well-suited for the Grand Canyon.

Highly Customizable

One of the biggest advantages of an S-rig is how customizable it is. I sometimes describe them as “Lego boats” because of the way they’re built. They can be completely disassembled and reassembled whenever necessary, and nearly every component can be replaced or modified with far less effort than on a typical boat.

This flexibility allows outfitters to fine-tune their boats for comfort, safety, storage, and performance. If you spend time on the river, you’ll notice that most Grand Canyon rafting companies have their own version of an S-rig. No two designs are exactly alike.

Built to Haul Gear

Another major advantage is their size and carrying capacity. Our boats are approximately 37 feet long, which allows them to carry all the food and equipment we need on opur trips.

Because the Grand Canyon is so remote, we can’t simply restock during a trip. Everything we need, from all our meals and camping gear to safety equipment must be loaded on the boat before we launch. Having a boat that can safely and efficiently carry all of that gear is a necessity, and S-rigs do that job perfectly.

An orange Hatch S-rig–one of the newest boats in the fleet

Fast Enough for the Job

Our trips cover 188 miles with passengers, and many of our most popular adventures are only seven days long. That means we need to make significant mileage every day.

While S-rigs aren’t jet boats by any means, they are remarkably efficient for their size and weight. Their design allows us to travel comfortably and consistently, helping us cover the miles we need without sacrificing the experience.

Stable in Big Water

The Colorado River is home to some powerful rapids, and stability is a huge advantage. Thanks to their size and the addition of side tubes, S-rigs are pretty stable on the water.

Could an S-rig flip? Yes, it’s possible. But it’s rare. Their design helps them handle the Grand Canyon’s challenging rapids while providing a comfortable and secure ride for passengers.

What Makes Hatch’s S-Rigs Great for Your Trip?

S-rigs are great boats in general, but what we really want to tell you is why your river trip will convince you that Hatch’s particular S-rigs are the perfect boats for Grand Canyon!

Get the best seat in the house

Our boats feature several different seating styles throughout the raft, allowing guests to choose the position that feels most comfortable to them. Whether you prefer sitting higher up or closer to the water, there’s a spot for you.

Diagram of a Hatch S-rig from the top. The seating on the side pontoons is only permitted in flat water.

At the very front of the boat is an area we call the “bathtub” These seats give you an unobstructed view of the river, the canyon, and the oncoming rapids. As you might imagine, they’re also where you likely to get the most wet! Behind the bathtub, we pile up all our camp gear into a “duffel pile.” The seating that runs along either side of the duffel pile is called the “boards.” Both the seats in the bathtub and on the boards allow you to use the duffel pile as a back rest. These seats toward the front of the boat are positioned lower than you might expect. While that may not sound particularly comfortable, most people find them surprisingly cozy once they’re seated. More importantly, the lower seating position helps keep passengers secure while running rapids, reducing the chance of being washed out during big waves.

Moving backwards down the boat, the next seating position is in the tea room. In this area, guests sit on top of food boxes facing the middle of the boat. There are no back rests, but your body position is closer to how you would sit in a chair. This area tends to be a little less splashy than the seats close to the front. It’s also where the coolers of water and Gatorade reside, so be prepared to become a designated water bottle refiller if you’re sitting here!

Behind the tea room is guide domain. They operate the boat from within an insulated motor well, and store important trip items in this area. It’s important to stay out of this part of the boat unless you are specifically invited by a guide.

Access Your Gear

Hatch rafts are designed so that wherever you’re sitting, your day gear can be clipped securely within arm’s reach. That means any time you need a drink of water or a dab of sunscreen, you’ll easily be able to get one!

Ride with Confidence

See above re: stability. A stable raft is a bonus all around. It lets you feel more comfortable taking on the Colorado River’s gnarliest rapids!

We’ve spent decades refining our S-rigs to make them as safe, comfortable, and enjoyable as possible. We truly believe they are some of the best boats on the Colorado River and one of the reasons our Grand Canyon trips are such a memorable experience.

If you’re ready to climb aboard one of these stellar watercraft and have an incredible adventure in the Grand Canyon, book a motorized trip today!