Cheaper Raft Options

"What is the right price? I like to hear what the right price point is."

The right price point is the one that the raft manufacturer attains!

Hey that's an excellent modification you've done there! The "Bents basin" is the most substantial river that I have seen these toys in. A thought about mods (LOVE the self bailing mod!): install some "real" or "boston" valves for easy inflation and deflation. I will try this on my crappy pool toy and report!

Hi Sean,

Glad you like the mod. It is really really simple! I was also amazed at how much it improved the performance of the boat. I got in contact with flyweight to see if they are keen to make one, but unfortunately they don't have time now.

I reckon you could buy one of their basic or rugged boats and simply glue in the floor of one of $20 boats and then make it self bailing. It is certainly very easy to cut the floor out of the cheap boats, I have done it a couple of times to make pillows and so forth.

Also, for those of you who are keen, I have added the link to the raft heading down Bents Basin:

http://hiking26.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/packrafting-bents-basin-grade-2-3.html#!/2012/04/packrafting-bents-basin-grade-2-3.html

All the best,

Jeremy.

Feathercraft makes a self-bailing packraft but it’s 10 lbs and more costly than a decked Alpacka. Sitting in water all day is not at all appealing to me either. Self-bailing big boats have you sitting on the thwart tubes and not the floor.

Nice work on the DIY though. Seems fine for the mild stuff.

Hard to tell from the pics, but I am seeing some substantial drops on that little stretch of water. Looks like solid 3 or 3+ to me. One solution would be to raise your butt above the water with a small inflatable seat. That's what I do in one of my more wet duckies.

Just thought I'd throw this out there …

Through my company, Jackson Hole Packraft & Packraft Rentals Anywhere (www.jhpackraft.com), I rent packrafts throughout the Lower 48 and Canada. Cost starts at $40 per day with significant savings for multi-day rentals (a week, for example, is $200).

My process is simple. I Fed Ex you the Alpacka or Feathercraft packraft and you go on an adventure. When you're done, you put the boat back in the box, affix the return label I provide and drop it off at any Fed Ex location.

Questions? My name is Amy and my cell number is 907-830-1016. We just finished our third summer in business, so we have the process pretty dialed at this point.

Cheers!

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I will allow this posting as it is very relevant to this thread – but don't push it. I may change my mind if needed.
Vendors should NOT join in here: go to Gear Deals and offer a DEAL.

Cheers
Roger Caffin
Online Community Momitor
Backpacking Light