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Questions answered in this section:
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| Forrest "raft packs" over the Absorkas |
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What size boat should I get?
Most boaters will want a boat that fits snugly but doesn't cramp their legs. We have a special page to help you choose your boat size: click here to go to our sizing page.
How durable are Alpacka rafts?
Our boats are very durable for their size and weight, and we see very few punctures, even in hard use. That said, our fabric is also chosen for light weight. We recommend you never packraft any stretch of water you aren't capable of swimming out, in a worst-case scenario. Some of our world-class boaters do Class IV-V water and waterfall drops, but they're also superb paddlers and swimmers. For more info and case-histories, check out our Durability Page.
Do I need to be "an athlete" to packraft?
Nope. Packrafting is more an activity than a "sport." In fact, the most senior Alpacka rafters we've spoken to are in their 70s.
No special fitness is required for floating a river or fishing at the lake, although it helps to be "at home in your own body." High levels of fitness and/or training are only required for endevours like doing extended backcountry trips and doing challenging whitewater.
How do you inflate an Alpacka?
Alpacka rafts are inflated using an ingenious device: the Inflation Bag. Developed by our inventor, the Inflation Bag, or "I-Bag," is a high-volume air pump that weighs about 3 ounces. It's faster than a foot pump or hand pump. You can also use a small, hand-held fan to inflate the boats. In fact, one of our big-rig-trucker boaters inflates his raft off his truck's air compressor!
Where can I learn to packraft?
The basics of packrafting are as simple as inflating your boat, donning a PFD, and paddling out onto the water. Paddling a packraft is so easy to learn we'd almost call it an instinctive act. There's also a large and growing body of information on packrafting. As a start, we suggest you:
- Check our "Packrafting 101 " page in "Tips & Techniques ." In Tips & Techniques you can find specific pages on fishing, hunting, and whitewater, as well as ways to repair, modify, and maintain your boat.
- Roman Dial's book Packrafting! is a great source of information for the the beginning or experienced packrafter.
- Check the Alpacka community forums , which we maintain as an open resource for all members of the packrafting community. We also recommend checking Bretwood Higman & Erin McKittrick's website: www.aktrekking.com and www.groundtruthtrekking.org .
Can Alpacka rafts run Whitewater?
Yes. Alpacka rafts are built to run Class III and some higher-class whitewater. Our boats handle whitewater differently than kayaks do. We recommend checking our page on Whitewater & Technical Paddling to get oriented. If you're a proficient whitewater kayaker, we suggest reading our Kayaker FAQ .
Where can I learn Packrafting Whitewater Safety & Rescue Techniques?
For those looking for advanced safety & rescue techniques, we recommend completion of a Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT) course accredited by a reputable sponsor, such as Rescue 3 International. Currently, Scott Solle, a WRT Rescue 3 instructor and former river guide, is offering WRT courses tailored to packrafters. You can contact Scott at solgear@msn.com or visit his SolGear website .
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| The Odd Catch |
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Can I rent an Alpacka?
Yes. Currently, there are dealers who rent Alpacka rafts in Anchorage, Alaska and Seward, Alaska. Check the "Friends" section of this website to find more information.
What paddle should I get?
This really depends on your use. See our Paddle Chooser page for help with this.
An upturned bow is a little better in whitewater, when the boat is unloaded or carrying normal-sized backpacks/rucksacks on the bow. The "flat" bow of the Explorer and Double Duck when both ends loaded heavily (such as having two people in the boat). If you've got each end of the boat loaded, you lose any benefit from the upturned bow, and - for carrying very heavy loads - we feel the "flat" bow of the Explorer is a little better.
Why don't Alpacka rafts have multiple air chambers?
We feel a packraft with multiple air chambers would be less safe and not perform as well as our boats. We focus our energy into making one tough air chamber. On a boat of this size, multiple air chambers introduce stress points, rigidity problems, and more weight. See our "About " section for more on this subject.
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These Men Are Professionals!
Professional Goofballs.
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How much weight can I carry in an Alpacka?
How much weight you can carry depends on how you expect the boat to handle. The actual maximum numbers are "soft," meaning they aren't fixed. Your realistic load limitations are cargo bulk and handling loss. As a guideline we suggest:
- Yourself + 0-60 lbs. (0-27 kgs.) Agile boat handling.
- Yourself + 60-100 lbs. (27-45 kgs.) Noticeable handling loss.
- Yourself + greater than 100 lbs. / 45 kgs. Your boat will handle progressively worse as you continue to load it.
Users have loaded their boats easily in excess of 500 lbs / 225 kgs, even floating out moose quarter and partial buffalo kills. The boats aren't maneuverable when so heavily laden. In testing, we have put 4 men in an Explorer, for an estimated 700+ lb. load... it floated, but it wasn't exactly "nimble." Thus far, we have not seen any loading/pressure-related structural failures, even on boats subjected to waterfall drops, overloading, swamping in ocean surf, and "mystery moves" (being held totally underwater). However, that does not mean our boats cannot be ruptured by extreme overpressure. Our boats are not designed to be submarines.
What can I glue to my boat?
Your boat is coated in polyurethane (PU). You can permanently attach anything that can be glued or otherwise adhered to polyurethane. Although a PVC-only adhesive will not work on our boats, a dual-purpose adhesive such as Clifton 1-Part will let you adhere either urethane or PVC items to your Alpacka raft. You can temporarily attach items with duct tape or Tyvek® housewrap tape (or, as it is known at Lowe's hardward, "Lowes tape.") Tyvek / Lowes tape is superior to duct tape, in terms of sticking to the boat.
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Merriweather Lewis & Captain Clark explore the Colorado.
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Does Alpacka make a boat for children?
No. Our current boats are high-performance adult vehicles, just like kayaks and mountain bikes. We'd love to build a boat for children, but we don't at this time.
Does Alpacka make a multi-passenger raft?
Yes. You can carry multiple people in our boats, particularly in the Explorer and the Double Duck, for general flatwater use. However, these aren't for multiple people in whitewater. Our boats are highly survivable and withstand great stress, but are not designed to run demanding whitewater with multiple occupants. Because of the unique dynamics of a one-person raft, any packraft loses significant technical performance when occupied by more than one person.
Let's get to the important question: Can I bring my dog?
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| Hey girl... yeah, I love you too. |
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Of course. Although we don't think it's an official certification, Alpackas are definitely dog friendly. We've never observed or heard of a dog causing significant damage to hull, floor, or any critical components of an Alpacka.
For some water dogs, it takes a little practice until they realize the appropriate response to the slightest nervousness is not to jump out of the boat. That said, we have found that if you do need to convince a labrador to abandon ship, throwing a tennis ball overboard is profoundly effective.
Looking for a doggie PFD? We know Takashina Life Preservers makes some.
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