packrafting.org

Chris S

I got lent an MRS Nomad S1 to try out, a 2.9 metre solo packraft with a skeg, a 'cruiser-style' deck and an elevated seat (like some self-bailers). I paddle IKs so miss the glide of packrafts on flatwater but was very impressed with the S1 on a short coastal run and up a loch. Even at sea the skeg s...

Chris S

I think it must be if carefully applied. After all, Aquaseal is a sealant not a glue - but it works great at both on my IKs and packrafts. But you need to be careful gluing ‘cheap’ PVC film (what slackrafts are made from) as opposed to PVC-coated fabric as used on some ww rafts and Incept IKs. The w...

Chris S

With an Alpacka, Supai and so on, the floor is a single sheet of fabric. In Alpacka's case, quite durable and easily repairable The Sevylors you mention have inflatable floors to give the boat a bit more buoyancy and rigidity I suppose. If you do puncture the floor in a Sevy it won't make much diffe...

Chris S

Not when I did it, but I wasn't surprised. Woven fabric like the BN I used (not like heavily coated Alpacka floors) is better sewn. Having said that, the same BN worked OK when I applied it to my very first Alpacka floor. But I think I used Aquaseal - pricier but better. https://apaddleinmypack.word...

Chris S

I'm not sure they do. Try and buy direct off
https://supaiadventuregear.com/shop/

But I'd rent one first.
I'd say it's a boat where the paddling is either calm with good current or the crossings are short

Chris S

… and just stick to the cut off material for sacrificial armour.

Yep, that may be best. Or just save on glue and be careful near the shore.

Ch

Chris S

I think a J stroke would just slow things down even more, and I'm not sure you can do it with a kayak paddle. Even a proper packraft will yaw a bit at the bow (less so with some weight there). The technique to minimise it is easily learned. The fact is slacks are short, flabby, bin bags - all reflec...

Chris S

Hi Alex, size for size, my guide would be price, ie: the lowest possible wastage of £££ when the thing craps out on you. I do wonder if they are essentially the same shell squeezed out in different coloured PVC, with the Fish Hunter featuring added gimmicks. On both boats a lot of the molded plastic...

Chris S

200 clicks of packing, not much rafting but worth taking the boat as always. • Intro here • Walk here https://apaddleinmypack.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/lw-gepen.jpg?w=500 https://apaddleinmypack.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/lw-085.jpg?w=500 https://apaddleinmypack.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/lw-078...

Chris S

May be too late but you know you can rent a range of boats including Alpackas from packraftstore.de and I think the place in aviemore, backcountrybiking, does alpackas rentals too.

Chris S

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24017646

Chris S

A recent day out with a mate in a slackraft. Next time, I think I'll go alone!

Slackrafting to Clashnessie

Ch

Chris S

Took him a while but here's Jeff's cut of our Fitzroy River trip in 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofOVHrjIf0
Same trip, different PoV.
Anyone else doing some good rivers up north?

Chris

Chris S

Winds have hit 70 this evening but a couple of days ago I did another trip to Suilven; circumnavigating the mountain out along the southern lochs and back along the northside path. There are a couple of nice lochs on that stage too, but it was too windy by then so just three paddle stages over 23 mi...

Chris S

Just found and read it Dave. Congrats on pulling off a fantastic trip. Your route (or variations of it) is about as good as it gets up here.
I wouldn't worry about river water levels for much longer. Summer's over up here - or should I say, back to normal ;-)

C

Chris S

Good on you, JB. I'll check out the Fish hunter 250. Great name! As you may know my mate in Au was not so impressed with his Bestway PT and left it with some kids at Fitzroy bridge. http://youtu.be/l529Qqyxks4 But it got him there with a few repairs. But since I wrote that I've got more into what I ...

Chris S

Looks like this guy could have used a partner or a packraft. Even in June it was too hot down there.
http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Ma ... 706461.php

Chris S

IMO with packraft and feet there nowhere you cant go in Scotland. Just look at a map, the lines of the lochs and string it all together. I've not tried it, but my feeling is that the extra ~13kg of a bike on the boat complicates things unless you've designed a route specifically for a bike and are d...

Chris S

Nice presentation Nik - and a great looking route. I wondered what happened to your plan.
Look forward to reading it over Xmas.

Chris

Chris S

If you live in the Ardeche bastien, then I think you're very close to the best of it. Ardeche of course, (we did it last summer from Les Vans on the Chassezac to St Martin). When I think of all the classic rivers I've done in the Massif over the years with my IKs, I'd love to go back with the Alpack...

Chris S

Four vids from our week on the Fitzroy in the Kimberley - September, 2011.

Chris

Chris S

We just got back from a fun 6 days and about 130km on the Fitzroy River in northern WA, from the Leopold Ranges down to the highway. With a few repairs my mate managed to nurse his $30 pool toy the whole way, but was thrilled to give it away to some local kids at the bridge. My Yak took the beating ...

Chris S

Thanks Steve, looks like he's in a pool toy then unless he's prepared to spend or improvise.
An Alpacka really does tick all the boxes; like my Intex mate, he'll see the light in the end...
I saw your NSW vid already somewhere. Looks like a perfect packrafting river.

Chris

Chris S

Thanks for ideas. I mentioned Flyweight to him yesterday but he's on the way to Au and those boats are only in US, AFAIK. I had another look at the Flytepacker but it looked pretty basic while being 10 inches wider than a Yak, if I interpret the specs correctly. Me, I'd rather haul the extra kilo of...

Chris S

A mate is joining me for a trip with my Yak in WA but’s doesn’t want/can't afford to commit to an Alpacka. Anyone have any ideas down there for a viable alternative packboat for a one-week trip through the bush? Flat water, half walking, carrying food for a week so needs to be quite light. I recentl...

Chris S

http://www.channel5.com/shows/walking-the-amazon
They love that packraft shot! - but probably only viewable in the UK

Ch

Chris S

Thanks Nik and Dave. Just back from Suilven again. What an amazing mountain. We cycled in, climbed up one side, down the other, then paddled Loch Fion 2 miles into River Kirkaig for the footpath back to the car. 2-up 160kg in a 3-kilo boat - not bad! I've splashed about in the sea but I'm quite scar...

Chris S

Nice job David H, would love to pack Rannoch Moor one day.
Here's my recent contribution to packrafting in Scotland - first proper trip in my new Yak. What a great way they are of exploring up here.

Chris S

Chris S

I see the BayLee 1 now comes with a self-bailing floor option, but at a price. http://feathercraft.com/inflatables/baylee-1.php Would that work better than a skirt in gnarly water - less buoyant but more stable? Not that I paddle that sort of stuff, just curious. A bit less rounded too they say, tho...

Chris S

Hi G, I don’t know the bags you mention but I’ve just got back from an overnighter packing my Watershed UDB. Mentioned it here before somewhere, but now I like it more than ever. It’s a plain 96-litre holdall made from a tough, stiff fabric heat welded and with a drysuit-style zip + basic rucksack s...

Chris S

Congrats on knocking it out solo! I was about to ask here if anyone went there in the end. Great pics - the 'snakeskin' reflections are cool. Like you say it's great when you catch your breath and it dawns on you you're not necessarily going to die and you won't have to cut your arm off ;-) I was th...

Chris S

I don't blame you for hesitating before splashing out on an Alpacka or similar. You may think this is a joke but if you've never paddled before and want to try out packboating I'd consider buying something like an Intex Sea Hawk PVC raft which is currently no less that 31 quid on amazon. It's a chea...

Chris S

Hi, I'm selling my green, decked 2010 Llama with extra flooring - see my profile link for more on the boat.
I'm in the UK and take it you're in the US but I'm in AZ next week so could post it from there.
Asking £500 ($800, €570).

Chris S

I'm picking up a new-shape Yak next week having owned a Llama for a year or so (it's for sale, btw). I am 6 1 but 95kg and wouldn't tackle Class IV. After making various measurements I bought the DL over the Yak last year as I'd never seen an Alpacka and assumed I'd need extra buoyancy for touring l...

Chris S

I'm also planning to pack the Escalante this April but just got this from Escalante Interagency Visitor Center: "Sorry for this delayed response.....In short, yes, you show up at our visitor center, there is no fee or limit to permit given out, so just stop in and pick it up. FYI we do not have much...

Chris S

Yes, I was puzzling over that. AFAICT there's more bow too. All up a Llama is half a metre longer; now 2.4m, was 1.89m according to some online specs. The width and internal dims are the same I believe. And no more flopping down seat back as you hop back in! There are two roughly similar pics - old ...

Chris S

Congrats on doing that run John. I've never seen Loch Laidon looking so smooth. I tried the same but in the other direction in early Dec - from off the WHW down to Ba and towards Rannoch stn, but it was a tundra. We were up there again yesterday (only walking WHW to Kingshouse) and this time I could...

Chris S

After doing a few days with my regular 65LTNF backpack plus a mass of roll-top 'dry' bags, I got myself a Watershed UDB. It's a plain 90+ litre submersible seam-welded duffle with a dry suit zip and a basic backpacking harness (and even a purge valve). Lacking a frame, you carry it all on your shoul...

Chris S

Hi Kevin (just ordered your vid, as it happens). Looks like a great idea to me for the reasons you mention and surprised no one seems keen on them here. I've just made myself a WindPaddle-like sail (see my sig) from an old tent after trying an umbrella which I saw mentioned on another forum. Hope to...

Chris S

Nice vid Damien. It looks like you took the north pass over from Morar. How did the Dessarry river look? I was back there on the weekend on the south side (Pean) which this time was high enough to run into Loch Arkaig. I can see why people talk about thigh straps.. Did you not paddle down to the sea...

Chris S

Thanks, it's good to get a response direct from the manufacturer and a warranty replacement offer. But right now, like AK lanche and not being in the US anyway, I don't want to risk losing the seat with my first big trip lined up end of the month. As a back up I may get something like an Exped pillo...

Chris S

Thanks for your replies; I'll leave the floor as it is then until it wears out more. On a similar matter, the seam on my seat base burst inside the 'U'' while bashing slowly through low water rocks. The boat only has about 15+20 hours on it and I weigh 95kg/210 lbs. I did have it fully pumped up whi...

Chris S

Hi all, just getting into my new Llama. I'm heavy and the rivers here are shallow so after a few butt and heel whacks, I wonder if it's a common mod to glue a patch of floor material underneath to protect these high abrasion areas? I notice RD's post below talks about wearing holes with his heels. I...

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