Packraft Care: How to set-up and inflate your packraft.
There’s no time like the present to start something new, like packrafting! But once you've got the raft home, how on earth do you get it ready to do all the adventures you have planned? We're here to break it down for you (no dancing involved) and give you our top tips to get you packraft ready!
Here are three things to think about before you inflate your packraft:
1. Do you have all the equipment you need to head out on the water? Both practical to get you on the water - the actual packraft and a paddle - and any safety equipment. A PFD (with a whistle), helmet, throw bag, repair kit, and appropriate clothing and footwear, etc.
NOTE: This is by no means a full safety gear list. If you need some guidance, the Packrafting Association of NZ (PRANZ) is a good place to start, and you can of course come and chat to us at the store about the things our paddlers do to stay safe on the water.
2. If your packraft has a removable Skeg, attach it before inflating your packraft. (Some of our MRS Packrafts have this option, but none of the Alpacka Rafts.) The Skeg is a plastic fin that comes in two different sizes and is interchangeable between our MSR packrafts. The purpose of the Skeg is to keep the packraft stable and help focus the energy you exert on forward propulsion. A small Skeg works in all water depths (including white water) and is more durable when it hits the bottom of riverbeds. It also reduces the swing of the packraft, making paddling more efficient while remaining agile. A large Skeg is for cruising long distances, making the raft more stable, reducing hull swing, and helping to increase paddling speed.
3. The internal storage can't be accessed while the packraft is inflated (unless you want the packraft to quickly deflate), so think carefully about what you plan to store in there. And NEVER store your PLB in there. Your PLB (Personal Location Beacon) should always be with you. Internal storage is an excellent system for things you don't need while on the water (tents, pots, and cooking equipment, etc.) Both MRS and Alpacka have their own storage bags and systems to keep the bags securely tucked away in the side tubes. (Only Alpacka Rafts with the ‘Cargo Fy Zip’ can store things inside the side tubes, and the MRS Packrafts with ISS.)
Notes on packraft storage:
- Make sure you load up each side of the raft evenly (dividing gear) and wrap any hard objects in something soft, storing them at the top of the storage bags to avoid a ‘pinch puncture’ - when the packraft is caught between internal (pots, etc.) and external hard objects (like the riverbed or a rock).
- If you are travelling in a group, more than one person needs to have safety equipment; you don’t want to “put all your eggs in one basket,” as the saying goes, in case something happens to that raft. The same goes for things like food and stoves; don’t give it all to one person to carry, make sure all the kit is spread around evenly.
- Internal storage is also not the only option with packrafts. Both MRS and Alpacka have their own bow bags that clip onto the front of the raft, and there are paddle-specific dry bags for this purpose as well. Some people strap their hiking packs to the front of their rafts using the built-in attachment points and a length of rope or speciality clips if they’re not worried about them getting wet.
Mollie with her Aarn Pack on the front of her packraft.
After those things have been sorted and thought through, you’ll need to know how to inflate your packraft!
(Every packraft will be slightly different, so check your instruction manual before you inflate for the first time.)
Inflating your packraft:
- Connect the inflation bag to the valve; most of these will have a twist-on connection.
- Hold the sides of the inflation bag (one in each hand) and pull it up quickly to fill with air. Fold and roll the top of the bag to trap some air. Squeeze the air from the inflation bag into the packraft. Repeat this step (the number of times will depend on the packraft) until the packraft is almost filled. Quickly close the valve to prevent air loss.
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Use a micro pump or your mouth to bring the tubes up to the correct pressure. The packraft may lose pressure when entering colder water. If this happens, top up the packraft with more air to increase the pressure.
Dan Shows us how to inflate an MRS packraft using the inflation bag.
How to inflate an Alpacka Packraft using the inflation bag.
Important things to think about when inflating packrafts:
- Make sure water doesn't enter the hull through the valve. If water does enter the hull, dry it with an air pump as soon as possible. Water in the hull can damage the packraft if left for too long.
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In warmer weather, things may expand. Be wary that the air pressure in any inflatable seats and/or backrests (if applicable to your packraft) isn't too high, as these parts will not cool when entering the water and are more likely to become pressurised in the weather. (Lower seat pressure also makes it more comfortable!) This also applies the other way. Putting a warm raft into cold water can deflate it slightly, so have a little more air in your raft than you would normally to compensate for the loss of air when you’re on the water.
Inflating a packraft using the inflation bag.
For additional information and diagrams, the MSR User's Manual or the Education Center section on the Alpacka Rafts website is a great starting point.
And if you're not sure where to start when it comes to choosing a place to get on the water, where to buy gear or where to go to find the NZ Packrafting community, Packrafting Trips NZ is an amazing resource and place to start! It's NZ's biggest database of Packrafting trip info! Dan, 100% in his own time, has put together this website with his own knowledge and knowledge of the packrafting community, so it's a pretty awesome resource to check out!
If you liked this blog, check out the other two parts of our Packraft Care series: How to Clean and Store your Packraft and Troubleshooting.
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