Beginnings
Bullet Watercraft was started in 2008 after a discussion between longtime whitewater industry professional, Roland Stevenson, and engineer and recreational paddler, John Armstrong. Stevenson’s RiverIndia was pioneering descents on some of the world’s largest whitewater, through the lower gorges of the Tsang-Po River, and needed high-quality rafts that would:
- meet commercial outfitting standards
- stand up to daily wear and tear against rock, sand, and big-water
- look great in photos and video
- ship to almost anywhere in the world
- be affordable for everyday people who enjoy rivers
A Bullet Dwarfed by Waves on Class V Palsi Rapid: Siang River, India
Research
Research into the whitewater inflatable raft market yielded many popular Hypalon and PVC models that met commercial standards, but in the end, none came with all of the things we wanted to see:
- Easily Customizeable Options to Match Our Colors and Personality
- Wide Geometries and Fat, Buoyant Tubes with at least 4 Tube Chambers
- Affordable and Fair Pricing: Reflective of today’s economy
- Minimized metal on the boat: no zippers, optional key-rings
- No floor bladders, thwart belts, or buckles and a strong strength to weight ratio
- Plenty of handles on a side
- Well-tended perimeter lines with multiple D-rings for gear
- A solid thwart attachment system- no buckles or belts to chafe fabric or scrape skin
Prototypes and Construction
So after a well executed search, we decided to create our own unique design, with enough built-in flexibility to be customized for outfitters and private boaters wanting to set themselves apart on the water. After creating a protoptype, we partnered with a production facility in the Shandong Peninsula of China, a region where many of our competitor’s boats were also being produced. Unlike most of our competitors, though, we chose not to order large quantities of mass-produced boats. With Bullet, each boat is built to specifications chosen by a customer.
We have worked with the same talented team of about a dozen engineers exclusively since Bullet’s inception. We have regular video-conferences where we discuss production, brainstorm new ideas, and joke around a good bit too. US-based Bullet staff, including our multiple regional reps, have degrees in engineering and over half a century of combined international rafting experience; allowing us ensure quality and design a boat that focused on simplicity. For a name, we shook off the “Inflatables” label, because to us, inflatables sounds like a pool-toy. Instead, like a Bullet, our watercraft would have a smooth finish, a focused target, and finally some sex appeal.
Field-Testing
The Bullet Prototype on a RiverIndia Trip
We developed and field-tested our product and soon began offering Bullet Watercraft to the commercial retail market. In the end, we ran and continue to run Bullet Watercraft down some of the largest whitewater in the world.
Bullet Guides Testing the 6'11" Wide Bullet 12 ST
The Future
We hope you’ll join us in believing that great boats should be well-designed, affordable, and fine lookin’. Look out for more great Bullet products in the near future!
