Podcast: Alpacka Packraft Safety Design Features

Designer Sheri Tingey talks about the history of safety design in Alpacka packrafts and the latest tweaks she's made to the boats to improve whitewater performance and safety.

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Packrafts are small and light enough to be carried in a backpack. They are opening up a whole new world for exploration by backcountry enthusiasts. Rivers that are formidable obstacles to a hiker can be crossed safely in a packraft. In the Grand Canyon, routes have been put together using packrafts to safely cross the Colorado that haven't been explored since famous explorers Colin Fletcher and Harvey Butchart risked their lives on air mattresses. Fantastic traverses involving equal parts paddling and hiking have been created in places like the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and in Alaska and New Zealand. First packraft descents of rivers have been logged in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

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Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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Jan 20, 2009 at 7:39 pm #1233403

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

Podcast: Alpacka Packraft Safety Design Features

Jan 22, 2009 at 8:20 pm #1472211

Jerry Cagle
BPL Member

@xclimber
Locale: Southwest

…hmm… Too bad this, and the last several podcasts, haven't been showing up in the iTunes feed. I would love to be able to load them to my Shuffle…

Feb 3, 2009 at 5:56 pm #1475205

Brett Tucker
Member

@blister-free
Locale: Puertecito ruins

I've never found Alpacka wet exits to be anything other than "automatic." Maybe in my case it's the 200lb object steering the raft, but the velcro-secured spraydeck never fails to disengage itself before the raft is even beyond 90 degrees. I then fall out, generally alongside the raft, head upright and legs down. As the velcro wears, the odds of a problematic exit would seem to become even less likely, though I'd be interested to hear what experiences others have had, especially those with less dead weight in the boat!

Feb 3, 2009 at 6:16 pm #1475215

Brett Tucker
Member

@blister-free
Locale: Puertecito ruins

Jerry, try right-clicking on the Download link alongside the BPL media player, 'Save Link As.' Then in iTunes select File > Add File to Library, and copy or Sync the mp3 podcast to your iPod.

Feb 3, 2009 at 7:04 pm #1475232

Carol Crooker
BPL Member

@cmcrooker
Locale: Desert Southwest, USA

I've only had one unintentional wet exit. I had to deliberately reach for and find the grab loop to open the spray deck. I didn't connect with the loop on the first pass. I've attached a whiffle golf ball to the loop to make it easier to find underwater.

What I'll have to try is to practice wet exit without using the grab loop to figure out how best to push off to get out of the deck.

Feb 3, 2009 at 7:31 pm #1475244

Brett Tucker
Member

@blister-free
Locale: Puertecito ruins

I usually keep the upper part of the spray deck, the torso portion, open, mostly because it's a little tight fitting to seal the velcro all the way up to the elastic & toggle closure, especially when wearing a foam PFD. (Really only a 43 chest / 35 waist here)

I wouldn't be surprised if a full closure would be less inclined to open of its own accord, especially for lighter folks.

The wiffle golf ball idea sounds like a good added safety feature.
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