We’ve been so impressed with the new Slipstream and Approach rafts from NRS, we wanted to dig deeper into some of the “how” and “why” questions behind their design. If you haven’t stopped by the Anglers All Boathouse in Littleton yet and seen these boats, they are innovative, versatile, and easy to transport.
The Slipstream series is designed to be a rugged and durable, yet nimble fly-fishing raft. While the Approach series takes its lightweight and transportable design even a step further.
To learn more about the design process and the purpose behind the Slipstream and Approach models, we connected with Mike Dolmage, Director of Fish & Hard Goods Product Manager for NRS. Mike gave us an inside look at why NRS designed these boats the way they did, and what sets them apart as purpose-built fly fishing watercraft.
Experience and Opportunity
"I came on board with NRS during COVID in 2020," Mike shared. "While uncertainty loomed for many, NRS saw it as an opportunity to break from the norm. It was a great time to step back, reflect, and think about the future. I was a part of that hiring process during the pandemic, and I came on board with a focus on fly fishing.”
For more than 40 years, NRS has honed its craft, designing boats renowned for their durability and versatility for whitewater, guides, outfitters, and recreational floating.
"Our philosophy has always been ultimate utility," Mike explains. "That is, building something that is durable and holds up to the daily rigors of outfitters and guides. That has always been one of the company’s core philosophies. At the same time, we want our boats to be very versatile.
“We understood there were a lot of guides and anglers out there using our boats,” he continued. “But we wanted to understand what they valued in our boats, and what they valued in competitors’ boats. We also wanted to understand what’s not needed on a fly-fishing specific watercraft.”
Designed by Anglers, for Anglers
The development of the Slipstream began with extensive input from over 200 guides and outfitters. The NRS vision for a fly fishing specific watercraft was to empower anglers to be able to get off the grid and think about fishing adventures in new ways.
“That might be an epic adventure into the backcountry,” Mike explained. “Or it could be an urban environment. For example, maybe there’s a guardrail, but down below there’s a stretch of water that nobody ever floats. So, let’s throw the boat over the guardrail and see what it’s all about.”
Up until this point, the typical approach to purchasing a new raft was to buy the boat first. And then you would decide what kind of frame you wanted to put on it. Those were totally separate steps and components.
“But as we collected all that information from guides and anglers, it became clear that if we were going to do a dedicated fly fishing watercraft, the boat and the frame must be integral to one another,” he emphasized. “Instead of viewing it as two separate pieces of componentry, it would be one unit. And so, the frame was built specifically for the boat.”
According to Mike, this approach allowed NRS to eliminate unnecessary components, reduce weight, and enhance performance on the water.
Simplicity that Drives Performance
From reducing line snagging areas to optimizing weight distribution, every aspect of the Slipstream and Approach rafts has been meticulously designed with the angler in mind. And that doesn’t mean bells and whistles. In fact, one of the greatest strengths of these boats is their simplicity.
“We paired that vision for an adventure-ready fly fishing raft, with all the feedback we’d collected from guides and anglers.” Mike told us. “What was valued, what was not. We didn’t want to include anything that wasn’t necessary. If it didn’t provide value to the rower or the angler, we got rid of it.”
The NRS team worked to keep the rafting frame as minimal as possible. In turn, that helped reduce line snagging areas. It reduced weight. It reduced cost. And in the end, it allowed NRS to provide a lower barrier to entry for fly anglers.
“It’s all in the details. For example, on the mid-sized Slipstream 129, we moved the stern angler’s seat inboard further, so the weight wasn’t distributed right over the stern tube. That helped distribute the load to make back-rowing easier. That way, the stern of the boat isn’t digging into the water as you’re back-rowing.
“Then we took our anchor system and started running the anchor rope internally versus how we had always done it, which was an external running rope,” Mike said. “This further helped reduce line snags and also prevents the rope from rubbing against fishing gear in the boat.”
Stability and Storage in a Small Package
“The feedback we heard about many of the ‘ultralight’ boats on the market, was that smaller footprint created stability issues,” he said. “And second, there’s no storage. Anything you put on board with you is right at your feet. And that becomes a trip hazard or entanglement area for your line.”
The Approach lineup is very lightweight and transportable – they’ll fit in the bed of a pickup, or they can be carried rooftop. But along with that nimble size, how do you create a stable platform for anglers?
“On the Approach series, we went with slightly larger tubes than the industry standard,” Mike explained. “Then we dropped the height of where the floor is hung, as low as possible. This was a balancing act, but we wanted to get the angler’s and rower’s base weight lower in the boat. That drop-stitch floor is one of the keys to the stability in these boats.”
Along with the drop-stitch floor in both the Slipstream and the Approach series, non-slip foam padding provides better traction and a stable surface when anglers are on their feet. Molded thigh hooks further increase stability.
“Molded thigh hooks offer a bit more stability, plus they reduce some of the line snagging potential that you see with a frame tubing thigh hook,” Mike told us. “And then that’s where we start to incorporate an element of storage too. There are cup holders on each thigh hook, plus a recess for a mug handle.”
According to Mike, solving the issue of storage on a compact boat like the Approach was another goal for NRS during this design process.
“We went back to our heritage of running rivers for over 40 years and incorporated dry boxes that the rower and the angler could sit on and store things in,” Mike said. “That element of storage really frees up the areas at your feet.”
One challenge to incorporating dry boxes, was the cost. Rafting dry boxes are typically fabricated by hand. They are time and labor intensive, making them very expensive to produce.
“One of the goals of the Approach was keeping that price point down,” Mike explained. “Adding that element of storage was going to be difficult. But we were able to identify a supplier that was willing to invest in an automated welding line to fabricate these dry boxes for us.”
According to Mike, that was a game-changer. “We were able to pull quite a bit of cost out of the dry boxes, put them on board and keep the price right around where we wanted it,” he said. “That was a big key, and it makes the Approach unique. Competitors will have a very hard time providing dry boxes economically.”
Versatility and Adjustability
Whether navigating urban reservoirs for bass and carp, or exploring remote backcountry streams, NRS has always maintained a focus on versatility.
“A critical feature to all our frames is adjustability,” he explained. “As a guide, many times you don’t know who’s getting in the boat with you. Or maybe you invite a buddy and his friend that you’ve never met. Once people get in the boat, there’s a need to adjust where the rower’s position is, where the bow angler’s position is, and to evenly distribute weight. If you don’t have that adjustability, it can be a long day on the water.”
With that in mind, NRS designed the Slipstream lineup with their standard, 1.25” aluminum frame tubing. “Those are frame constructions that we’ve been using for over 40 years that we send down the Grand Canyon,” Mike said. “We know the places you can put that frame through. It’s very rugged, very durable, and also adjustable.”
With the Approach, NRS sought to maximize that versatility while reducing weight.
“That’s where we came up with the slot rail,” Mike said. “The adjustable slot rail is a modular frame that can make quick adjustments. Whether it’s during initial setup or on the fly, anglers can adjust componentry of dry boxes, oar mounts, and seat locations.
“In the ultralight space, with our competitors it’s more or less a fixed frame,” he continued. “If you’ve got a big dude up front and a small angler in the stern, the versatility and adjustability of our frame allows you to offset the weight and trim yourself in the water.”
Mike further emphasized the versatility of the Approach. “If you are wanting to go ultralight, you can shed that exterior portion of the frame – shed the rod holders, shed the transom, and now you can start dropping weight and go truly ultralight,” he said. “You don’t need every aspect of that frame. But we are firm believers that we want to provide you with all the tools that you need to be out there. And then the versatility in how you use them is up to you.”
A Fly Fishing Raft That’s Easy to Transport
In addition to versatility, transportability was paramount in designing these rafts.
“Your mid-size and large Slipstreams are most likely going to be trailered,” Mike said. “But the smaller two-seater Slipstream can definitely go rooftop. But any of these boats are capable of being hand-lined down an embankment or being carried during a portage. You don’t have that same kind of flexibility with a drift boat. You can do it. But it’s not a pleasant experience.”
While the Slipstream boats were designed to be the more full-featured big brother in the NRS fly fishing lineup, the Approach boats were designed to take the next step in transportability.
“We envisioned being able to transport it roof top or being able to transport it in the bed of a pickup,” Mike explained. “Any of these boats are easily broken down and put into a net for flying in on a helicopter or putting on board a fixed wing plane. But the Approach offers a serious reduction in weight. On those fly-in trips, that’s weight you can now put into other gear elements.”
What’s on the Horizon for NRS
Looking ahead, NRS continues to innovate with the upcoming release of a three-seater version of the Approach raft.
"We're committed to providing anglers with the tools they need to explore new horizons and target a diverse range of fish species," Mike concluded. “In 2025 the three-seater version of the Approach will be coming out. While that one won’t fit in between the wheel wells, it will fit into the bed of a pickup truck. And then we will have a bit more of a focus on single-person watercraft coming next year as well.”
Visit the Anglers All Boathouse
We’re excited about the new Slipstream and Approach rafts from NRS. These new models come in a stripped down basic package, and a loaded "Rower's Package which incudes oars, anchor, pulley, and cup holders. We have each of these model set up in our Boathouse so shoppers can see them all put together and in fishing trim. We also have many of these boats boxed up in back stock and can ship them to anywhere in the lower 48, for just $195. If you have questions or want to see them for yourself, stop by the Anglers All Boathouse in Littleton where we’ve got the expertise and the gear you need to get out on the water. If you’re not in the Denver area, give us a call at 303-794-1104.
Thanks to Mike Dolmage for taking the time to give us a detailed look at these new boats! Have fun and be safe out there on the water.