Search found 105 matches
- Thu Jul 03, 2014 5:35 pm
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: BackPack bow tiedown setups???
- Replies: 3
- Views: 7381
Re: BackPack bow tiedown setups???
I don't have a good photo handy, but we put a string between the two front loops, a second string between the two loops behind that, and put a strap with a clip between the strings. You drop your pack on, clip the clip, and crank it down tight. Need to have a strong clip, and it may need to be repla...
- Thu Jul 03, 2014 5:30 pm
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: A packrafter rescue experiment.
- Replies: 5
- Views: 5910
Re: A packrafter rescue experiment.
On packraft rescue: We use a very similar position for ferrying people across rivers, except usually with the person face up instead of down (minor difference.) It's pretty stable, but obviously with a pack on front you'd have difficulty, and I haven't tried getting into this position while in chall...
- Thu Jul 03, 2014 5:25 pm
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Lightweight PFD
- Replies: 18
- Views: 25096
Re: Lightweight PFD
One additional factor to consider is the degree to which a vest will help/hinder re-entry, especially on very large rivers or open water. I haven't systematically experimented with this, but my sense is that buoyancy helps because you have less distance to lift your weight, but bulk in front will be...
- Sat Feb 08, 2014 2:25 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Packraft as a bathtub?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 12517
Re: Packraft as a bathtub?
We bathed our kids in a packraft tub during our time on Malaspina Glacier, using water heated on a stove. It was less than ideal conditions, but worked. We've also had them out in the yard as kiddie-pools. I wouldn't worry too much about damaging them with hot water. I've even considered (but never ...
- Sat Feb 08, 2014 2:18 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Seawater: wash or not?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4821
Re: Seawater: wash or not?
We've never worried much about it - and often have left saltwater on boats for long periods. The only thing that may be a problem related to that is that some of our old boats are a little hard to glue to. It may be that the salt somehow alters the chemical composition of the fabric.
- Fri Sep 09, 2011 12:17 am
- Forum: Southeast
- Topic: Life on Ice
- Replies: 0
- Views: 1778
Life on Ice
We're headed off in a few days for 2 months exploring Malaspina Glacier with our two little kids: http://www.groundtruthtrekking.org/Journeys/LifeOnIce.html We'll be using our big red double duck to paddle some rivers that are only recently emerging from under ice, so I think we can claim to be the ...
- Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:13 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Bikerafting
- Replies: 34
- Views: 37934
Re: Bikerafting
I've never tried this with a bike, but it's for this purpose that we first experimented with something like Alpacka's packtach. For open water (where re-entry is sort of required) we'd set up a cord that went from the raft, through a loop on the pack, to the paddle. Sometimes would use a wrist loop ...
- Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:04 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Packraft adventure documentary premiering in Anchorage
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2876
Re: Packraft adventure documentary premiering in Anchorage
And there will be another showing! The movie did awesome in the Anchorage International Film Festival, and was voted "Best in Fest" so it'll be showing at the Bear Tooth on Weds. at 8:00 pm.
- Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:03 pm
- Forum: Design & Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: Seal Sealing
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3770
Re: Seal Sealing
The inflation bags are sil-nylon, just like a lot of tents... Sil Net will work fine on them.
That said, the air-leakage around the seams doesn't seem to make much difference. I've used them with pinkie-sized holes in them even.
That said, the air-leakage around the seams doesn't seem to make much difference. I've used them with pinkie-sized holes in them even.
- Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:01 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Packraft adventure documentary premiering in Anchorage
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2876
Re: Packraft adventure documentary premiering in Anchorage
One thing that's fun about a small, relatively cheap, durable video camera is that it seems like a good idea to pull it out when, say, you're engulfed in stinging wet sand that sticks to everything...
That said, there is so much video we should have taken, but didn't...
That said, there is so much video we should have taken, but didn't...
- Mon Nov 15, 2010 12:15 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Packraft adventure documentary premiering in Anchorage
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2876
Packraft adventure documentary premiering in Anchorage
As some of you know, my wife and I took a yearlong packraft trip from Seattle to the first Aleutian Island a few years ago. We carried a video camera, and now that video has become a full-on feature length documentary, that will be showing for the first time on Dec. 6th, in Anchorage (7:45 pm, One N...
- Sun Nov 14, 2010 11:56 pm
- Forum: Europe
- Topic: Iceland video
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3363
Re: Iceland video
Very nice work. I love the photo of the nose sticking out of the hotspring on your site... Many other good ones in there too.
http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/advent ... nsiceland/
What video camera did you use? We're looking at updating our old-school 2007 tech for our next expedition.
http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/advent ... nsiceland/
What video camera did you use? We're looking at updating our old-school 2007 tech for our next expedition.
- Sun Nov 14, 2010 11:42 pm
- Forum: Design & Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: DIY raft
- Replies: 35
- Views: 30123
Re: DIY raft
Seems like the trick, if you don't have a full floor, is to replace the shear strength and tension provided by the floor. Sounds like your frame mod might achieve that? It sounds like the sort of thing that would have a really rough rough draft... 

- Sat Sep 25, 2010 12:07 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Packraft Surfing
- Replies: 16
- Views: 12298
Re: Packraft Surfing
Hull speed is less of an issue once you're on the foam, and doesn't apply if the boat is planing. I've also had fun out on the olympic coast, though on one visit a friend of mine almost died. Life jacket is key unless you have a really good way to stay associated with your raft. He got caught in a b...
- Sat Sep 25, 2010 12:00 am
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Broken Aqua Bound Paddle...Uh oh
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4795
Re: Broken Aqua Bound Paddle...Uh oh
I also had a good experience with Aqua Bound replacing broken blades for free. Not that that's much consolation when you're still a week from civilization, but nobody builds a totally flawless product.
- Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:57 pm
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Alpacka Inflation Bag
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7102
Re: Alpacka Inflation Bag
On occasion I've lost or broken sticks and had to use the bag without... I didn't like it nearly as well, though it's certainly possible. I don't know why just removing the sticks when not in use didn't occur to me. Good idea. I'll go with my sliding sticks thing for a while and see if I like that b...
- Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:49 pm
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Hello and a few questions ! :)
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2630
Re: Hello and a few questions ! :)
To put in a good word for flatwater... True, I'd rather paddle another craft in open flat water, but... The failure to track well seems to me to be purely a psychological barrier. It's easy to go in a straight line, your bow just wiggles. As soon as you throw in a handfull of portages between paddle...
- Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:43 pm
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Bikerafting
- Replies: 34
- Views: 37934
Re: Bikerafting
You might be able to just make a buoy (maybe using a dry bag?) that would float the bike if you had to ditch it for a bit. For a sense of size... 3 gallons is about 24 lbs flotation (ie exactly equal to displacement... the weight of 3 gallons of water.) Given the bike has some displacement, then you...
- Sun Aug 08, 2010 12:50 am
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Air Mattress Flooring
- Replies: 12
- Views: 8207
Re: Air Mattress Flooring
I've tried several approaches, and found none easy. Initially I unsealed the heat-seal, cut the thermarest, removed a bit of foam, and then re-heat-sealed them. Then I sealed leaks with Aquaseal. This worked ok, but the leaks that did happen were really difficult to seal and tended to come open in t...
- Sun Aug 08, 2010 12:38 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Can I damage raft by rolling or folding too tight?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2434
Re: Can I damage raft by rolling or folding too tight?
I'm always a fan of a very tight roll to pack my boat away, and I've never seen signs of issues, even when rolling in subfreezing (rarely even subzero) conditions. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Has anyone seen the fabric on old boats crack for any reason? Like after long sun exposu...
- Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:03 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Open Water Basics (Saltwater)
- Replies: 3
- Views: 5460
Re: Open Water Basics (Saltwater)
Nice post Andrew. A few thoughts: The paddle + current + wind equation is an important way to think about open water travel. Also, there's a big difference in the way wind and current affect your raft. One way of thinking about it is that current affects your velocity (speed and direction) while win...
- Mon Jul 26, 2010 11:13 pm
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Alpacka Inflation Bag
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7102
Re: Alpacka Inflation Bag
A note that is slightly tertiary here...
I just refurbished an old worn out bag. One change I made was to make the sleeve that holds the sticks at the top continuous so the sticks can slide. This way the sticks move around on their own and don't wear through the fabric as fast.
I just refurbished an old worn out bag. One change I made was to make the sleeve that holds the sticks at the top continuous so the sticks can slide. This way the sticks move around on their own and don't wear through the fabric as fast.
- Mon Jul 26, 2010 11:11 pm
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Packs
- Replies: 21
- Views: 20039
Re: Packs
Right now I'm using MLD's largest pack. Here's their site: http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/index.php?cPath=25 Overall I like it... but for use packrafting I think it's good to cut off the little plastic hooks that can grab hold of any string that might be about and become an entanglement h...
- Mon Jul 26, 2010 11:01 pm
- Forum: Southwest
- Topic: Alaska Peninsula, Kamishak Bay: Bruin Bay to Cape Douglas
- Replies: 5
- Views: 5293
Re: Alaska Peninsula, Kamishak Bay: Bruin Bay to Cape Dougla
Pixels... http://www.groundtruthtrekking.org/static/thumbs/uploads/photos/IMG_B006857.JPGaX08_D/_thumbs/__IMG_B006857_JPG_300x300_q85.jpg Geologists call the flat bedrock plane that appears at low tide in some places a "wave-cut platform." In Kamishak this phenomena is particularly dramatic, with va...
- Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:25 am
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Alpacka Inflation Bag
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7102
Re: Alpacka Inflation Bag
I've found you can inflate a boat with a mismatched fitting if you have a second person hold the nozzle in place. There's enough volume coming out of the inflation bag that even quite a bit of loss around the mismatched fittings is ok.
- Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:14 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Tracking ideas for Yak
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1949
Re: Tracking ideas for Yak
Hi Mark, I've messed around a little with a primitive version of your option B, and never got anything to work. I think it has potential though... it'll just take a fair bit of tuning to get it to sit stably and do what you want. I think a 1.5 cm rod would be enough to have an effect, but only a mod...
- Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:40 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Active Topics Button
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2171
Re: Active Topics Button
I'm not sure if yours is the same issue, but I use the "view unread posts" link, and after the migration the forums thought I hadn't read anything... I had to click the "Mark forums read" link on the main page and then things worked normally again. Maybe this will fix your issue too?
- Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:39 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: On book tour near you?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1298
On book tour near you?
I should have let you all know about this much earlier... Erin and I are on a second book tour, and would love to have any of you come check out our presentation. We show lots of photos and a few videos, Erin does some readings from her book, and we show a selection of our gear. Gear includes Erin's...
- Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:31 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
- Replies: 15
- Views: 11240
Re: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
I know nothing of entrapment or difficult whitewater, but I thought I'd provide a reflection on Sheri's original point that a hard-shell kayak will always serve better than an Alpacka in hard-core river-running. When we do presentations (which incidentally we are right now: http://www.groundtruthtre...
- Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:41 pm
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Air Mattress Flooring
- Replies: 12
- Views: 8207
Re: Air Mattress Flooring
When I've put Thermarests in, I just cram them really tight into the bottom and they seem to do pretty well. But that's not in big hydraulics.
- Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:40 pm
- Forum: Design & Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: Tie Downs and Strap Plates: Location, Location, Location
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1870
Re: Tie Downs and Strap Plates: Location, Location, Location
My take: I'd be hesitant to do this unless you're game to field-repair anything that goes wrong. Only do it if you feel like you could cut the part of the patch that overlaps the deck off, since that part is not going to be providing useful strength, and may be endangering the deck. You could take a...
- Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:17 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Alpacka Raft and Feathercraft
- Replies: 19
- Views: 20188
Re: Alpacka Raft and Feathercraft
Oddly they do not mention the word "packraft" anywhere in the post. I wonder if this is a deliberate decision?
This is the permalink for the post mentioning their new "Baylee Inflatables":
http://fckayaks.wordpress.com/2010/01/2 ... hitewater/
This is the permalink for the post mentioning their new "Baylee Inflatables":
http://fckayaks.wordpress.com/2010/01/2 ... hitewater/
- Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:36 am
- Forum: Design & Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: Paint or vinyl on Alpackas
- Replies: 7
- Views: 6842
Re: Paint or vinyl on Alpackas
We've also written on our boats with sharpie. No problems, except it does eventually fade or wear off...
- Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:33 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Fixed length trekking pole attachment
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3084
Re: Fixed length trekking pole attachment
You can also just put the poles cross-wise way out on the bow. You have to get them way out there so they don't constrain your stroke, but it's quick and easy and requires no new loops. We've done it with skis, as well as with walking sticks collected along the way.
- Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:29 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: How to Eskimo Roll a Packraft
- Replies: 13
- Views: 14405
Re: How to Eskimo Roll a Packraft
Well... if the failure was simultaneous failure of the entire glue surface, then it would be exactly the surface area difference you're describing that was important. But that's probably fairly far from the case. In this case, and in many gear failures, the failure probably begins at a point. Once a...
- Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:16 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Rolling an Alpacka brings up issues...
- Replies: 17
- Views: 6869
Re: Rolling an Alpacka brings up issues...
Esben, I expect that punching holes in your cookpot would do little to protect your neck from being broken by strong currents... I'm assuming the situation here is that your head is in the helmet, unlike the situation you described with the bucket. Your head + helmet has a little more surface area t...
- Thu Nov 12, 2009 1:10 pm
- Forum: Partners & Logistics
- Topic: Ketchikan/Misty Fjords?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2815
Re: Ketchikan/Misty Fjords?
Overall, I think exploring in Misty Fjords is amongst the most exciting packrafting frontiers in Alaska. Between amazing ocean paddling, alpine hiking, and river running, the packraft opens up some really cool options. The Unuk was not particularly sketchy... we were going up it, so it was walking. ...
- Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:02 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Pack raft seats uncomfortable for others???
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3274
Re: Pack raft seats uncomfortable for others???
Dave, I tried that... but for me over the last 10 years the fat just goes to my torso and avoids my butt... my youthful butt fat is sorely missed. For flatwater paddling where I'm not moving much, I do find the seat becomes uncomfortable after an hour or so. A little air out and some small shifting ...
- Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:12 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Packraft Book tour
- Replies: 0
- Views: 1217
Packraft Book tour
Erin finished her book! It's not quite as packraft-centric as Roman's book, but it tells the tale of our 4000 mile Seattle - Aleutians trip, which was fundamentally a packraft trip. So I'll call it a packraft book. :) And we're going on tour! We'll be through Homer, Kenai, Seward, and Anchorage in t...
- Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:17 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Beginnner question on losing raft + gear
- Replies: 6
- Views: 5235
Re: Beginnner question on losing raft + gear
I'd be interested to see a picture. One thing I'd like to do is figure out a reliable breakaway point in a cord... Something that'd break under 50 lbs pressure or so. Maybe the fast-tack release is a better way to go though. One reason I like having a lanyard even in (moderate?) whitewater, is that ...
- Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:16 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Tracking in open water
- Replies: 9
- Views: 7573
Re: Tracking in open water
The degree to which you track with a keel is far higher than what you get with a counterweight (even as large as a second person.) It really feels like a keeled boat... a kayak or whatever. It also depends on the size of the keel-pole. A thicker pole provides more resistance to turning. The first on...
- Sat Aug 15, 2009 4:12 pm
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Tracking in open water
- Replies: 9
- Views: 7573
Re: Tracking in open water
The paddle in the water works particularly well when running with a strong wind. You can use it as a rudder and get a fair amount of control. If the boat isn't moving relative to the water though, it's not as useful, and regardless you do have to use one hand to keep it under control. The "sea ancho...
- Sat Aug 15, 2009 4:04 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Is Fjord Explorer fun to row ?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3100
Re: Is Fjord Explorer fun to row ?
For someone who is quite practiced with the inflation bag, it only takes about 4 "poofs" to get the scout mostly full... probably 1 minute. I'd guess double or tripple that for an explorer. Then you have to top it off by breath, which will take another couple minutes. It takes practice to do it quic...
- Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:31 pm
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Tracking in open water
- Replies: 9
- Views: 7573
Re: Tracking in open water
I've been meaning to try the single-boat pole for some time, but just haven't quite done it (I keep carrying straps with me and not getting around to it.) Also, there is a psychological component to "tracking" on flat water. When I first paddled an Alpacka on flat water, I found it awkward because o...
- Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:24 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: How wide can a person be
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2833
Re: How wide can a person be
And the scout is a bit narrower than an Alpaca or Yak. I'm 5' 9.5", 173 lbs, and I find it fine for me, but Erin, who's 5'3" 130 lbs but has a woman's wider hips finds it a bit too tight (with the boat blown up as taught as we can get it.) I also prefer a smaller boat than Sheri suggests, as I like ...
- Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:23 pm
- Forum: Design & Do-It-Yourself
- Topic: What custom boat mods would you like?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 22430
Re: What custom boat mods would you like?
Brad, out of curiousity, have you tried putting the wineskin behind your butt instead of at your feet? It'd mess up the back-rest support, but it might allow you to lock your feet against the bow and also move your center of mass more to the center of the boat. (I'm 5' 9.5" and drive an Alpaca, whic...
- Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:57 pm
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: In Search of A Dry Boat
- Replies: 22
- Views: 10033
Re: In Search of A Dry Boat
We found the velcro's life-span to be far shorter than the rest of the deck, so I'm hoping a zipper might do better. We also installed a clip at the end and corner of the velcro (2007 style decks) once the velcro got weaker. There are little tab-clips that are weak enough that they easily pop under ...
- Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:44 pm
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Helmets
- Replies: 17
- Views: 9051
Re: Helmets
Brad! You stole my idea! We generally go helmet-less... sticking to almost never swimming as protection for the head, but I've often founded myself wishing for that additional layer of protection, especially if it could double as foul-weather insulation and didn't add much weight. I look at our tita...
- Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:59 pm
- Forum: Partners & Logistics
- Topic: Anywhere in Alaska - mid-June through mid-August
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3280
Re: Anywhere in Alaska - mid-June through mid-August
The SPOT is good fun... we may well have to give that a try on our next big trip. Though the SPOT line suggests otherwise, he didn't actually do the Beluga-Hope paddle. It was blowing 30 down Turnagain when he got there, and would have been riding the tide up the bay. Not a good combo. I think he hi...
- Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:54 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Thanks for the repair
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2161
Re: Thanks for the repair
I've been happy with the valve on the stern of the scout... I like that you can stand the boat on end to use the mouth-valve.