Rigging Your Packraft

[@j.w.osullivan429]

'The Packraft Handbook' is such an awesome book. Thanks, and well done. :)

[@JasonBrown-is3kb]

My 13 year old daughter and I are just getting into packrafting. Between your book and your videos we have learned a ton. Thank you!

[@e-tumleh]

Just found your channel too, your book has already found its way to us and is being read eagerly. Thanks very much ! I'll subscribe right away so I don't miss anything interesting.

[@sethmurphy7656]

Thanks for taking the time Luc.

[@EckieOutdoor]

That is a stunning raft and beautiful for the eyes as well. Thanks for sharing this, you got a new subscriber here!

[@peterharris3096]

Great safety tips from your experience. Have you ever experienced a loss of air from a small tear and had to get the raft to shore? if so how did or would you manage that .

[@lucmehl_ak]

small leaks, have allowed me plenty of time to get to shore (i'm on creeks more than big water). i had one major tear, 5 or 6 inches, and just pushed the boat off of my legs. it wasn't a scary experience in part because i had an extra long seat ... lots of flotation from the seat alone. Some friends have had rapid air loss and been pretty spooked about separating from the boat. but the priority will be to get out of the boat and then either swim it to shore or hopefully have partners that can deal with it while you get to shore.

[@matthewbeck2553]

Thanks! Great tips. What did you use for the second layer seat?

[@lucmehl_ak]

i used a second alpacka seat or an inflatable PFD (like what is under the airplane seats). closed-cell foam is a good option too.

[@gratnak8618]

Thanks for the useful and great video. What is the use for the tail?

[@lucmehl_ak]

Some people like using the tail to hold on to the boat if they capsize. It can also be used to tie the boat to shore, or drag the boat through shallow water.

[@2musiclover534]

Liked. Thanks. I've only had experience with PVC (0.7 and 0.9 mm) and not TPU. How strong are the TPU in comparison? any TPU that is as strong as the PVC fabric? Thanks for any insight. Thanks for any insight.

[@lucmehl_ak]

My understanding (and very limited experience with PVC) is that PVC is quite a bit stronger. Also heavier, which is why it isn't as popular with packrafters. The main advantage I hear about is being able to inflate to higher pressure.

[@bobb2634]

Excellent pointers👍

[@PatrickMacLachlan]

Really excellent video. It’s instructive when you provide the back story to your decisions - HOW you arrived at it - rather than just telling us the end result. I especially like the “vestigial” tail story...we’re evolving all the time ;-) One random question: what is the term you used a couple of times at the beginning “n member” or “end member”? Is that a decision theory term or something? Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to make and post this kind of info..

[@lucmehl_ak]

"end member" ... funny story ... i used it a few times in The Packraft Handbook and one of the editors pointed it out as weird. I thought it was a common term so I looked it up ... turns out I learned it in my geology studies (igneous petrology). a better way to say the same thing is that there is a range or spectrum of options. I adopted that terminology in the Handbook. thingstolucat.com/packrafthandbook/

[@PatrickMacLachlan]

@@lucmehl_ak Lol. It’s a good term...I’m gonna incorporate it into my daily work speak as I’m often talking about two ends of a continuum. Looking forward toward to your book...

[@toddwalsh3332]

I see Alpacka has flipped the zipper so somebody can’t open the zipper trying to hold on to the boat .

[@tomasperez7136]

A mi packraft que no tiene agujeros para evacuar el agua, puedo hacerle los agujeros?

[@lucmehl_ak]

I don't have experience doing this, but the term you want to search for is "self-bailing."

[@Portugal.TheMan]

Good tips. 🤘

[@lucmehl_ak]

Seriously? The real Portugal. The Man? Let's talk packrafting next time you are home in Ak! I'm in Anchorage.

[@moosepassyachtclub]

I just spent like two hours in the wormhole of all things Luc Mehl and Portugal. The Man - It's been great! 🤓

[@davidshumway5268]

So loose vs. tight lines on bow and stern? I went with dynema slings (cut climbing slings) - quite comfortable to hold for their small size/weight, don’t absorb water, and flat resting position (when tight) against boat.

[@lucmehl_ak]

Tight. The concern with loose rigging is that it allows more space for a limb to get caught. Good idea on those slings...

[@tombeno8746]

Your perimeter line looks obviously bigger than standard para, but smaller than typical climbing rope (8+ mm). So are you using 6mm, or thereabouts? I agree with you comments about using somewhat light line, since you carry your boat significant distances.

[@lucmehl_ak]

Hi Tom- I swap out the cord pretty frequently depending on the application. Polypro (floating) cord is best, so I'd use scrap throw rope whenever possible. But for remote trips, I'm inclined to swap it out for minimal 4/5/6 mm cord, whatever I have easily at hand. I've been going without bow line when I have the Alpacka bow bag attached.

[@Joelwilly57]

Thank you for this.

[@CaptainFunby]

I'm thinking of adding thight straps to my classic alpackaraft, it already has a ww deck. Do you have tips for which thighstraps to buy and how to attach? thanks!

[@lucmehl_ak]

i'd probably buy Alpacka's 4-pt straps and plates because you are using an Alpacka boat.

[@tomasperez7136]

Como pegaste y con que pegaste los D-rings para poner las amarras de las piernas

[@lucmehl_ak]

There are some directions here: thingstolucat.com/pimp-my-packraft/, and in The Packraft Handbook

[@slerre]

Great video Luc. Very helpful. Could you tell me what is the purpose of a tail?

[@lucmehl_ak]

Good question... I forgot to say that the perimeter line and the tail are useful for holding on to your own boat during a swim, or enabling a partner to grab your boat if you get separated from it. I have a 'cow tail' on my pfd... a ~ 1 m strap with carabiner on the end that allows me to clip into the perimeter line of loose boats. The cow tail has a quick release buckle so that I can remove myself from it if needed.

[@Jason-Eson]

I've (with much frustration, and limited success), tried to wrangle many lost boats without tails. I've always encourage novice paddlers (> Class III) to have a tail. At some point you are less worried about dumping out of your boat and more worried about getting trapped by loose webbing. As Luc mentioned, there are no right or wrong answers, each situation will dictate a different answer.

[@lucmehl_ak]

Sounds like you might benefit from a rescue vest with cow tail. I really appreciate the ease of clipping into a loose-boat perimeter line to tow it, hands on paddle, to shore.

[@Jason-Eson]

Yeah.....I have one of those. It's the correct tool for the job. Typically only deal with extra weight of vest when I'm teaching a class.

[@joehodges176]

What is the horseshoe shaped cushion you've used to build up your seat?

[@lucmehl_ak]

those are the original Alpacka seats. They've changed to a better geometry now.

[@barbarab202]

What is the name of the knot you ised for the orange webbing?

[@lucmehl_ak]

webbing is most commonly tied with a "water knot." www.animatedknots.com/ is a great resource for knots.

[@north61]

Great!