Alpacka
Raft...Everything else is just a pool toy!
There
is nothing like an Alpacka Raft. They are the
lightest and smallest packable pack rafts in the world. They
are like inflatable kayaks (duckies) but better. A lot better.
Imagine were you can go with a durable 4 pound raft. Now you have
limitless
back country access into the most remote rivers and lakes around
the world.
Not only are they light, but also very durable. Will Blanchard
teamed up with a couple other adventure anglers to test out
Alpacka Rafts in the wilds of north-central British Columbia.
The boats were used for day trip transportation as well as
multi day adventures covering many remote miles. They were
strapped to our packs, stuffed in the back of pickup trucks,
paddled
and pulled up river, floated down countless river miles and
even sledded behind us in powder and crusty
snow.
These little boats are the real deal.
Alpacka
Rafts are perfect for the fly angler who is
looking to get into remote mountain lakes, rivers
and saltwater flats. Other applications include backup
float systems for larger raft trips and river crossings (grass
is always greener on the other side). Bush pilots
in BC and Alaska stash them for emergencies in their planes
and helicopters. Also note that due to the compact size when
deflated they are
perfect
for
air travel. Adds very little space in your luggage. Look below
for more info on each boat offered as well as images and how
to get your very own Alpacka.
Ordering
an Alpacka Raft is easy, just drop us a line here at Animas
Valley Anglers 970.259.0484 or e-mail.
 Images
left to right: Rigging up, sunset on the Kispiox, Jen looking
for the deke, Will swinging a
leech on the Babine,
Larry dropping
in from camp. Photos: Will Blanchard and Jen Ross.
More images below.
Alpaca
Is the shortest and lightest boat made by Alpacka Raft. The
little Alpaca is 3.5 inches (0.11 meters) shorter than the
Yukon
Yak and
a
whopping
8
inches (0.23 meters) shorter than the Denali Llama, the largest
boat in the fleet68u.
river fording with minimal gear.
The Alpaca is a great choice for smaller paddlers.
If small and light is important consider this boat
for fishing remote
lakes and fording streams and creeks with a light load.
The Alpaca
is
a
tight
squeeze
for
anyone
taller
than 6 feet (1.83 meters). This boat is a bit
small for larger anglers looking to
carry a few nights worth of gear.
Packed size rolled down: This raft rolls down to the size
of a very small two person backpack tent. In both
size and weight
think
of adding
a an extra (ultra light 2 person) backpack tent
to your pack. The stuff sack that it fits into dimensions
are
9" x24".
Weight: 4
lbs!
Max Outer Length: 67 inches (1.68 meters)
Max Inner Length:42 inches (1.07 meters)
Max Outside Width: 38 inches (0.97 meters)
Max Inside Width: 14.5 inches (0.37 meters)
Bow Upturn : 4 inches (0.10 meters)
Tube Diameter: 12 inches (2.88 meters)
Price: $775
Yukon
Yak
The Yukon Yak is the most versatile pack raft because it covers
the average sized paddlers. It provides a snug fit for paddlers
who range between 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) and 6 feet
(1.83
meters)
tall.
It lets
smaller paddlers
carry large loads and works for aggressive boaters
who are as tall as 6 feet, 2 inches (1.88 meters).
With
its small size the boat is perfect for most anglers and a day
or two of fishing gear. They are comfortable to fish out of
in lakes and ponds. Perfect for average paddlers.
Packed size when rolled down: This raft rolls down to the size
of a very small two person backpack tent. In both size and
weight
think
of adding
an extra (ultra light 2 person) backpack tent to your pack.
The stuff sack that it fits into dimensions are 9" x24".
Weight: 4
lbs. 7 oz!
Max Outer Length: 70 inches (1.78 meters)
Max Inner Length: 46 inches (1.17 meters)
Max Outside Width: 38 inches (0.97 meters)
Max Inside Width: 15 inches (0.38 meters)
Bow Upturn: 4 inches (0.10 meters)
Tube Diameter: 12 inches (2.88 meters)
Price: $775
Denali
Llama
The Denali Llama is
the best pack raft for mid to large adults on single or multi-day
floats. You can load a lot of gear on the Llama with plenty of
room for rods and rod tubes. Next to the dory this is the
largest pack raft and the workhouse of the fleet. It is
4.5
inches
(0.11
meters)
longer
than the
Yak,
allowing
for
larger packs and
longer legs. People taller than 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) appreciate
the Llama's extra length. The extra space is also useful for anglers,
big game hunters or wilderness travelers taking long trips in
the bush.
We
found that the Llama is the best boat for steelhead fishing, especially
if a couple nights are planned. This is a great boat for fishing
saltwater flats. This boat does very well in the wind.
Packed
size when rolled down:
This raft rolls down to the size of a very small two person
backpack tent. In both size and weight think of
adding a an extra (ultra light
2 person)
backpack tent to your pack. The stuff sack that it fits into dimensions are
9" x24".
Weight: 4lb. 12oz
Max Outer Length: 74.5 inches (1.89 meters)
Max Inner Length: 50.5 inches (1.28 meters)
Max Outside Width: 38 inches (0.97 meters)
Max Inside Width: 15.5 inches (0.39 meters)
Bow Upturn : 4 inches (0.10 meters)
Tube Diameter: 12 inches (2.88 meters)
Price: $775
Alpacka
Dory
Alpacka Raft teamed up with Feathercraft Folding Kayaks to
produce an incredibly versatile raft. The Dory can either be
rowed or paddled and is sized to carry a passenger or extra cargo.
It features a tough, Feathercraft-built oar-frame that weighs
2 pounds 4 oz. and specially built oars that weigh 16 ounces
each. The aluminum frame breaks down to fit easily into a pack.
The oars break down for packing and can also be assembled into
a feathered, two-bladed kayak-style paddle as well as 2 trekking
poles. As with all of our Alpacka Rafts, this rowing frame and
raft are not a toy. This system is a state of the art tool
for wilderness travel.
It is very strong, easy to assemble and operate, and it works
flawlessly. Great for large rivers, still water and salt water
flats.
The
Alpacka dory is easy to row and has a hull speed of approximately
2.5 knots. It comes with a Velcro®-attachable Feathercraft
skeg to improve tracking on lakes and open water. Works well
for the still water angler. It also comes with an incredibly
comfortable rowing seat that can be
left
at home to save space or shave ounces. The dory weighs approximately
5 lbs.8 oz without the frame, oars or rowing seat. It's inside
length is 2 inches longer than a llama. It is 1 inch wider
and
does not taper from stern to bow. The bow and stern shape are
identical. A great feature of the Dory is it can be broken
down in less than a minute to become a regular Alpacka Raft.
With
just two adjustments the oars shift to become a kayak paddle.
This allows the same access to shallow, tight, rocky creeks
that regular Alpacka rafts do so well on and are not suited
for rowing.
The dory is a great choice for anyone who needs a faster, easier to handle boat
on flat water. It makes an excellent tender for sailboats and powerboats that
need an easy to handle, easy to stow alternative to traditional rafts or skiffs.
It is also a great choice for fishermen and hunters who prefer to row rather
than paddle across lakes and pack game down rocky rivers.
The Alpacka dory is designed for use on both flat and moving water and is built
to the same exacting standards as other Alpacka Rafts. The rowing frame was
not designed for heavy duty whitewater, however does pretty well in most situations.
We suggest changing to the paddle mode for
waters class III and above.
The Dory is
sold as a total kit which includes: the raft, rowing frame,
oars, inflation bag, attachable skeg, extra rowing seat.
Weight: Raft-5 lbs 8 oz., Oars-2 lbs, Rowing frame-2 lbs. Total
weight: 9 lbs 8 oz.
Max Outer Length: 83 inches
Max Inner Length: 53 inches
Max Outside Width: 39 1/2 inches
Max Inside Width: 15 1/2 inches
Bow Upturn: none
Tube Diameter: 12 inches
Price: $1150
Images
left to right: Larry using the inflation bag-
inflating the Alpacka is wicked simple. Loaded and rigged for an
over-nighter. Larry
with
a bit of gear. Heading into the afternoon sun.
Photos: Will Blanchard
Alpacka
Raft Details and Info
Colors:
All boats are available in Nautical Blue, Bright Yellow
and San Juan Silt.
Choosing
an Alpacka: Contact us here at Animas Valley Anglers and
we'll help you make the right choice of boat for your size
and needs. 970.259.0484
Boat size and packing gear: You will want to choose an Alpacka
Raft based on your size and gear load. You will want the pack raft
to fit as snug as possible. The advantage of using a snug-fitting
pack raft is that it handles more
like a
kayak
than
a raft. The
drawback is less cargo space. Alpacka's give you the best
of both worlds. Simply strap your cargo to the bow of the boat above your feet.
You can carry very large and heavy loads while your body fits perfectly in the
raft.
This
technique distributes weight along the boat's entire length and improves handling.
Mountain bikers have even mounted their bikes this way and navigated Class III
rivers.
Repairs:
In the rare event you need to repair your boat in the field the
repair kit (Patch N
Go)
from Alpacka works great. Weighs less than a lead eyed leech.
Larry Falk put a small slit in his Yukon after floating over
a
section
of
ledge
rock
on the Kispiox. We dried the area, patched the rip,
waited a couple minutes and then we were off again to the
next pool.
Animas
Valley Anglers and Alpacka Raft
One might ask, how did a fly fishing guide service come across such a boat?
Well it all started when Will was flipping through a back issue of
Paddler
Magazine
and read
an article about a small lightweight raft that pack up to the size of a micro
tent and could run class 5 rapids. Uhmm...these have a lot of use for us
fly fishers Will thought. His brain imagined all the incredible places it
could open up,
especially the wilds of British Columbia. He quickly realized they are perfect
for many other fishing applications as well. We tested three models in BC
this past fall and found Alpackas to do everything we imagined. Now we can
offer them
to you. They
are lioke an inflatable kayak, but much lighter and a lot cooler.
Stay
tuned for more tales from the field...
Dale Womack's annual spring log jam clean up on the upper Animas
north
of
Durango Colorado.
Burly
water,
Alpacka Rafts and chainsaws!
Must
Have Extras
Spraydeck
All of the Alpacka Rafts are available with an attached
spraydeck. From a fishing standpoint the spray deck is not
needed unless you plan on some serious whitewater. We
paddle a decked Yukon Yak in BC and
found the deck was not in the way and was still able to accommodate
our gear lashed to the bow and have the rods in place ready for
the next pool. In calm sections the deck can be rolled down and
is
completely
out
of the way. Jen found the decking was nice to have when sledding
out wet gear. She just stashed her wet (frozen) waders and jacket
along with rod and paddle under the decking for the hike out. As
we hiked the gear through the bush with the boats behind us everything
stayed put under the spraydeck.
The
entire deck adds just 11oz to the weight of the raft and almost
no bulk. The rafts still roll down to fit in the same size
stuff sack. The attached deck is ordered as an accessory, but
your
boat will come with the deck welded on so everything is one
piece. This option turns your raft into much more of a small
kayak. It makes your boat 99% dry, and much warmer.
Inflation
bag
Inflating any of the Alpacka pack rafts is incredibly simple
with an inflation bag. The system is so simple and smart
you will be
floored
the
first time
you
use
it.
If a big boar griz is on your tail, no worry you should be able
to get your raft inflated in a stunning minute or two. If you
kick
back and enjoy a coffee
while
filling your boat it will take a no more than 3 or 4 minutes.
Once inflated a few quick mouth breaths will top the boat off
making it firm and ready for the water.
Weight: 3 oz.
Price: $15
Patch N Go
Small,
light and reliable, the Patch N GO works very well for repairs.
Price: $8
Paddles
The Sawyer Packraft Paddle is now our #1 choice. It is
light, tough, adjustable, and beautiful.
The Aquabound Splat is our tried-and-true backcountry whitewater
paddle. 210 cm is the best length. Glass-shaft Manta Ray Fiberglass is an excellent
value. Although heavier than both the Sawyer Packraft Paddle
and the Splat, it's a good workhorse paddle, and it's tough! |
