Claude,

I can't speak for the Futa... but I can understand where you are coming
from.

I went to the Zambesi with my son last year - and was fairly nervous
about rafting that intense of water - particularly since we hiked up to
the "minus" rapids prior to the days that our group was going to have a
raft available.

My son had already paddled the gorge by the time we had a raft. The
morning of our first trip down I remember this conversation with
Seth...
"I will come back at the end of the day right?"
"yes it will be fine"
"Not coming back at the end of the day isn't an option"
"I know Mom - its going to be fine - you are actually going to like it"

Of course there are never full guarentees on any river - but I did find
the rafting on the Zambesi - awesome, delightful and not as scary as I
had anticipated...

It was interesting listening to the commercial trips at the put in -
all the guides said
"if you do not want to fall out of the raft you need to go back up the
trail right now"
Flips are pretty common there - but the water is warm - swims are long
but not horrible...

With all that said I think the Futa... is a differant situation - I
don't know the water temp - but warm water makes a huge differance - I
have had way worse swims out of a Shredder on the Lower Gauley than
both the swims I took on the Zambesi....

There is virtually no manuevering on the Zam - it is pretty much point
and shoot and "get down"...after the raft is organized at the major
rapids - everyone gets down on the floor and holds onto the lines
....until the major drop is cleared...

I think the Futa...may have more manuevering - anyways all those things
are worth asking...

You will probably be fine - but just figure out what your tolerance is
- and if the run fits into your idea of a good time go for it.

I haved rafted in Costa Rica too on the Pecuare' - it was excellent
though the water was quite low (and colder than the Zam)...

Also is the Futa...drop pool or continuous? The Zam was huge - but it
was drop/pool at the level we ran it at - so swims did come to an end
eventually...

Also how good are you at staying in the raft? If you don't usually come
out of the raft and the outfitter doesn't usually flip rafts then you
will be fine... (My two swims on the Zam were from raft flips - one
intentional and one accidental - we ran the river 5 times)

Have a great time - what a great birthday present - I may have to
consider that one for my 50th in two years :-)

sheila