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Packraft whitewater enough, and you will eventually find yourself taking an unplanned swim. When that happens, the best option is often to quickly climb back into the boat while still floating down the river. You'll have better maneuverability to avoid upcoming drops or strainers and better protection from rocks if you are back in your boat and paddling than if you are swimming. Practicing getting back into your boat - wet reentry - under controlled conditions will help the process go more quickly when you need to do it for real.
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Companion forum thread to:
Video: Packraft Wet Reentry
I hate to be a wet blanket, and hope this is taken constructively, but I think it would have been much better for the demonstrators to actually use the recommended techniques. If two of the big re-entry no-no's are letting go of your paddle or pushing off of the bottom, it would help to see how to do it without doing those things.
I've never been packrafting, but I have done a lot of kayaking and canoeing as well as climbing onto inflatable rafts… which brings me to my point… maybe it's just me, but is this video really necessary? Anyone can figure out how to get back into a raft when it tips…you just climb in… It's not hard, especially if you can stand on the bottom (as in one video), it's calm water (all videos), or you don't have to worry about losing your paddle (several videos). I hope future articles focus on more interesting and informative topics and not things such as How to inflate an air mattress…
Wet re-entry of an Alpacka is not nearly as straightforward as with some other types of watercraft and takes practice, especially in deep water. See here for a diary of my struggles prior to ‘mastering’ the technique. It’s difficult until it’s easy, and frankly no amount of distance learning will compensate for hands-on practice, but at least it’s a worthwhile place to start.
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