The Lineup
Gear built for
moving water.
Every boat, frame, and oar we carry has earned its place by being the lightest available option for serious whitewater. Nothing extra. Nothing missing.
Boats
Go Light works with two of the most respected inflatable boat builders in the industry — SOTAR and Jack’s Plastic Welding. Each brings a distinct design philosophy and material approach to the lineup, giving you options whether you’re outfitting a solo creek run or a fully-loaded expedition. And if you don’t see exactly what you need, we can order and customize any model they make.
SOTAR
3 models
SOTAR builds some of the most respected catarafts in the world — and now they build them lighter, just for us. The Go Light series uses SOTAR’s exclusively developed UV and abrasion-resistant urethane fabric in a lighter formulation that sheds pounds without sacrificing the durability serious whitewater demands. Same legendary hull designs. Same bombproof construction. Just lighter than you thought possible.
Warranty
Limited Recreational Use Warranty on Go Light Products
- ✓ 5 Years serviceability of Rezcoat Fabric
- ✓ 5 Years on all welded seams
- ✓ 5 Years on D-rings, handles and components
- ✓ 6 Years on valves
Go Light 11-foot Legend
The Go Light 11-foot Legend proves that the best things come in small packages. SOTAR’s precision-welded urethane construction meets Go Light’s weight-reduction philosophy in a creek cat that’s quick, responsive, and confident on demanding whitewater. Oversized tube diameter and a 3-panel continuous curve design deliver stability well beyond its footprint. The ideal solo cat for technical runs where every ounce — and every inch — counts.
Weight
~33 lbs
Length
11 ft
Diameter
21 in
Style
High Kick
Material
Urethane
Best For
Solo/Creeking
Go Light 12.5-foot Legend
The best of both worlds. The Go Light 12.5 Legend delivers the legendary SOTAR Legend profile — 3-panel continuous curve, high upswept ends — in a lighter package than the standard 12.5. The Go Light 12.5 Legend scales down the tube diameter just enough to drop pounds from the set while maintaining the performance that makes the Legend one of the most trusted cats on the water. Agile, durable, and built for serious whitewater — from one-day runs to multi-day expeditions.
Weight
~43 lbs
Length
12.5 ft
Diameter
21 in
Style
High Kick
Material
Urethane
Best For
Demanding Whitewater
Go Light 12.5 SL
Take SOTAR’s precision-engineered Liquid SL — already one of the most agile catarafts on the market — and make it lighter. That’s the Go Light 12.5 SL. The lighter urethane fabric combined with Go Light-specific modifications shed weight from the proven SL design without touching what makes it great: its speed, responsiveness, and precision handling on demanding whitewater. For solo rowers who don’t compromise.
Weight
~35 lbs
Length
12.5 ft
Diameter
22 in max
Style
Asymmetric
Material
Urethane
Best For
Solo Fun
Jack’s Plastic Welding
4 models
Jack’s Plastic Welding has been building dry bags, sleeping pads and quality inflatables since 1982 — and they make exactly the kind of lightweight, durable, affordable cats we demand at Go Light. We work directly with JPW to spec and build catarafts designed specifically for the Go Light lineup. And when it comes to the little things that make river life better — their legendary Paco Pads and superb dry bags included — nobody does it quite like Jack’s.
Warranty
Limited Recreational Use Warranty
Jack’s Plastic Welding Inc. warranties their products to be free from functional defects in material and workmanship for a period of 10 years under normal consumer use. Parts attached with adhesives have a full 5-year warranty that is prorated from year 6 through year 10.
Go Light Traveler
At under 30 pounds for the set, the Traveler punches well above its weight class. This is a serious whitewater cat that happens to be light enough for one person to carry — and compact enough to check as airline luggage. Add a Go Light frame and you have a complete rowing package ready for rivers around the globe. The Traveler is the heart of our International Travel packages for rowers who refuse to leave their boat at home.
Weight
~28 lbs
Length
12 ft
Diameter
19 in
Style
Conventional
Material
PVC
Best For
Solo/Day Trips
Go Light Explorer
Same design as the Traveler. More muscle. The Explorer’s longer tubes and larger diameter mean more stability, more cargo capacity, and more confidence on bigger water — without tipping the scales past 35 pounds for the set. Run it solo, with cargo or a passenger, or fly it to your next international destination. The Explorer goes where other mid-size cats can’t. We can put together an Explorer package that flies well on airlines for rowers who refuse to leave their boat at home.
Weight
~34 lbs
Length
13 ft
Diameter
21 in
Style
Conventional
Material
PVC
Best For
Day/Multi-day
Go Light Jester
The Jester was born from a simple challenge: build a serious whitewater cat that is the lightest in it’s class. Jack’s Plastic Welding delivered. At around 40 pounds for the set, the Jester’s 3-panel design, high-volume curves, and high-kick ends give it the agility to thread technical lines and the muscle to punch through holes on Class IV-V water. Light enough to laugh at the portage. Tough enough to mean business.
Weight
~40 lbs
Length
13 ft
Diameter
22 in
Style
High Kick
Material
PVC
Best For
Demanding Whitewater
Go Light Large Jester
Everything the Jester does, the Large Jester does with more capacity for people and gear. With a longer length and increased diameter, this cat swallows expedition loads whole — up to 1,200 pounds of people and gear, as one of our customers regularly proves — while staying nimble enough to run technical lines. At under 60 pounds for the set, this is the lightest serious gear hauler we know of.
Weight
~58 lbs
Length
15 ft
Diameter
24 in
Style
High Kick
Material
PVC
Best For
Multi-day Expeditions
Frames
Blue Dot — known within the river community as Whitewater Machine Works — builds two aluminum rowing frames exclusively for Go Light. One stripped down for day trips. One built out for multi-day expeditions. Both are welded from 6061 aluminum tubing with a hard anodized finish that won’t fade, chip, or mark your tubes — even after years of abuse on rocky rivers. Custom configurations available.
Features
- ✓ Welded 6061 T6 aluminum tubing
- ✓ Hard anodized non-marking finish
- ✓ Fully adjustable seat bar, crossbars, and oar towers
- ✓ Integral scout bars on inner rails (Optional)
- ✓ Full breakdown for compact transport
Day Frame
The Go Light Day Frame strips the rowing platform down to the essentials — and nothing more. A clean two-yoke design with a removable universal seat mount, integral scout bars on the inner rails, and a front yoke that doubles as the footbar. Everything slides and adjusts on the outer rail, and the whole frame breaks down to a compact package. Light enough for one person to carry. Strong enough to handle serious whitewater.
Weight
~28 lbs
Bays
2-bay
Material
6061 T6 Al
Breakdown
~9×6×56 in
Best For
Day Trip
Expedition Frame
Added length. More capacity. Same Go Light philosophy. The Expedition Frame takes the Day Frame foundation and adds a third yoke and cargo crossbar — giving you the space to carry coolers, dry boxes, or a passenger without adding unnecessary weight. Like the Day Frame, everything is fully adjustable and breaks down completely. The platform for multi-day wilderness descents where ease of transport or fly-in capability is required.
Weight
~40 lbs
Bays
3-bay
Material
6061 T6 Al
Seats
Up to 2
Best For
Multi-day
Cataract Oars
Cataract® Oars provides river outfitters, guides, and enthusiasts with premium composite oars and blades. Cataract Oars have a flex like wood oars at a fraction of the weight. Don’t let the lighter composite material steer you wrong, these are serious whitewater oars with unrivaled power transfer and near indestructible construction. An innovative thumb notch on the end of the rubber-cushioned handles gives you superior orientation of your blade while keeping your eyes on what lies ahead.
Warranty
One Year Limited Warranty
Cataract Oars warrants for one year from date of purchase and only to the original buyer that our shafts, blades, and paddles are free from defects in material and workmanship. We do not warranty products against normal wear and tear or any alterations such as any attempt to remove the handle from the oar shafts, shortening oars, drilling holes in oars, etc. See cataractoars.com/customer-support/warranty/ for full warranty information.
Whether you’re a beginner rower or a professional river guide, the Cataract SGG™ oar is the ideal all-purpose choice for whitewater rafting and drift boating. Made with aerospace-grade fiberglass and epoxy composite, this oar is twice as strong as aluminum yet significantly lighter. The lightweight shaft offers a natural wood-like flex, delivering smooth power transfer and reduced fatigue during long days on the water.
Weight
~4 lbs
Shaft
FG/Carbon composite
Flex
Like wood
Durability
High
Best for
All-around
Cataract X-Wound
The X-Wound™ is the ultimate lightweight performance oar shaft, designed for rowers who demand top-tier efficiency without compromising strength or flex. With a high-end, full carbon exterior, it delivers the smooth rebound and power of the SGG™ but weighs nearly half a pound less.
Weight
~3.5 lbs
Shaft
FG/Carbon fiber
Flex
Like Wood
Durability
High
Best for
Demanding rowers
Cataract StreamLite
Designed for all-day comfort and efficiency, the Streamlite™ is the ultimate lightweight oar shaft for drift boats and fishing rafts. Ultra-responsive with optimal flex, these oars will have you navigating the river like a steelhead. These are some serious drift boat oars that not only have the unrivaled power transfer and near indestructible construction of all Cataract Oars, but they do it in a weight class unmatched by other oars. Feel what it’s like to be smoke rolling over the water.
Weight
~3 lbs
Shaft
FG/Carbon/Epoxy
Flex
Like wood
Durability
Medium
Best for
Fishing
Cataract Blades
The Classic Cataract Blade is a durable, buoyant oar blade. This blade will do great in almost any condition. Also referred to as the “Floating Blade.”
The Cutthroat™ Blade is designed for superior performance in shallow water conditions. Its wide, scooped, and asymmetrical shape increase submerged surface area, allowing longer, more efficient strokes without choppiness.
The Magnum II™ Blade is a powerful, durable oar blade designed for strong, efficient strokes in a variety of water conditions. Its teardrop shape moves large volumes of water for maximum propulsion.
The Streamlite™ Blade is an ultra-lightweight, high-performance oar blade designed to reduce fatigue without sacrificing power. Its asymmetrical shape maximizes submerged surface area for efficient propulsion, especially in shallow waters. Weighs only 2½ pounds.
Accessories
The right accessories make a lightweight kit complete. Everything we carry is chosen to complement Go Light boats, frames, and oars — compact, durable, and worth every ounce.
Every piece of sewn gear in the Go Light lineup is made in the USA by The Summit — a small manufacturer with over 20 years of product development and field testing on the Grand Canyon, rivers across the country, and expeditions around the world. When we say it’s been tested, we mean it.
Go Light Accessories
The Go Light Underseat Bag is custom-made by The Summit to fit perfectly between the seat bar and rear yoke on the Day Frame — or between two bars or yokes on the Expedition Frame. A zippered pocket, water bottle sleeve, and daisy chain keep your essentials organized and within reach on the water.
Why settle for plain straps? The Summit Cam Buckle Straps bring custom-printed style to a workhorse piece of gear. Made with 1″ sublimated polyester webbing rated to 3,200 lbs, these straps secure your load on the river, in the truck, or anywhere gear needs to stay put.
Keep your kit compact and dry with The Summit Ditty Bag — a mesh organizer sized to fit inside an ammo can, with fabric that dries fast between uses. Other custom sizes available.
When it matters most, the rescue bag has to work. The Summit Rescue Bags have earned their reputation on serious whitewater, with a nylon cinch top for quick deployment and 70 feet of 3/8″ Kern-Mantle polypropylene rope rated to 1,800 lbs. Built to throw when it counts.