How to Care for Your Packraft for Years of Use
6-minute read
Packrafts are designed to be tough enough to use for hundreds of miles at a time in backcountry waters, both flat and whitewater. But it’s essential you care for yours properly to ensure long life and top performance.
(Photo courtesy of Caj Koskinen)
Packrafts offer wilderness adventure opportunities like no other type of boat can, due to their packability and ruggedness.
The ability to stow a packraft that weighs a handful of pounds easily in your backpack or bikepack opens up so many options that a heavier, bulkier inflatable boat prohibits. And quality packrafts are made with durable materials that can take a beating.
[NOTE: Before we go any further, if you want to do some serious packrafting on wilderness lakes and rivers, it’s key that your packraft is from a reputable manufacturer. We recommend Alpacka Raft (the innovators of modern packrafting) and Kokopelli.]
That said, you must keep up with some key maintenance practices to ensure your packraft stays in top condition for many years of use.
To help us out, we found three videos from our friends at Alpacka Raft that address these key practices: how to store your packraft in the off-season, how to maintain the all-important cargo fly zipper, and how to patch a hole in the field and at home:
Long-Term Storage Musts for Your Packraft
There are three main must-dos to prepare your packraft for storage during the off-season or when there are a few weeks between trips:
1. Dry your packraft thoroughly, inside and out. Allow all the moisture to evaporate from your boat, including inside the tubes, before you put it away. Storing it wet or moist will shorten its life.
2. Maintain your cargo fly zipper well before you put it away. In the video below, Will says, “We want to avoid zipper decomposition at all costs. It’s generally a combination of heat, moisture and exposure to ultraviolet rays. (Our next section covers this topic in detail.)
3. Don’t store the packraft in its stuff sack. You should only store the boat in its stuff sack when you’re transporting it in your vehicle, backpack or bikepack. When you’re at home in between trips, it’s best to fold it loosely (after you’ve done steps 1 and 2). It can be layed flat or hung. Be sure the zipper is flat and uncreased during storage. Don’t store it inside anything that won’t allow the material to breathe (i.e., in a covered plastic container).
Watch the video below for more details:
How to Maintain the TiZip Cargo Fly Zipper
If your packraft includes a TiZip cargo fly zipper, it’s critical that you maintain it properly so your boat can live out its full lifespan. No zipper, no packraft!
Every packraft with a cargo zipper will come with a zipper maintenance kit. This includes a special lubricant you’ll use often, even before your first trip.
“Zipper care and maintenance is one of the fundamental aspects of packrafting. You have to figure out how to keep these things in great condition,” Will points out in the video we’ll show you below.
The silicone-based lubricant won’t harm the packraft’s material or your skin. Apply just enough to rub it evenly into the zipper and surrounding material. Use the rag to rub it in and wipe off any excess so it doesn’t attract debris when you’re out in the field.
Check the zipper after every trip to be sure it’s not dried out. If you live in an arid climate, you’ll have to lubricate it more than if you live in a humid one.
“The important thing here is that the zipper has to be clean and it has to be lubricated. There is no shortcut here. It just requires maintenance,” Will says.
If the zipper has debris and sediment on it, use water and a rag—even soapy water—to wipe it away. You can bring an old toothbrush along with you on your trips to help remove grit and grime. Be sure the zipper is always clean before you open it. Using a dirty zipper will cause wear on the mechanisms and shorten its life.
After lubrication, it’s much easier to “cycle” the zipper. Will suggests deflating and cycling the zipper several times after each lubrication so the gel gets well into the teeth. Be sure the zipper is fully closed before you put it on the water!
Watch the video below:
How to Find & Fix a Hole in Your Packraft
Inflate your boat fully. Fill a spray bottle with soapy water and spray it around any area you suspect has damage. It won’t hurt the material to spray all around the boat.
Look closely to see if you see air bubbles forming anywhere. These will indicate a pinhole. Or listen closely to see if you can hear air coming out.
If you’re out in the field and your boat gets punctured, Tyvek tape works great as a temporary fix until you get home.
Apply a generous section of Tyvek over the hole, ensuring there are no wrinkles. Start from the center and work your way out. Rub the edges down firmly. You can also use AquaSeal UV for a field repair. Both are available on Alpacka Raft’s website.
Once you’re back home, remove the Tyvek tape or AquaSeal and mark the hole’s location with a marker.
Follow the steps in the video below to apply a patch:
- Mark the outline of the patch.
- Wear gloves, eye protection and a breathing mask as you’ll be working with toxic chemicals.
- Apply acetone to the entire area where the patch will be. Once it’s dry, lightly sand with fine grit sandpaper to remove the sheen and give the glue something to stick to. Sand all along the boundary of the patch.
- Will recommends Clifton adhesive or StayBond. You must use glue that’s designed for polyurethane-coated materials. If you’re patching a larger puncture, you may want to put a piece of masking tape on the inside to prevent any glue from getting inside the hole to the material beneath.
- Apply several coats of adhesive thoroughly to both the boat and the patch. A small paintbrush works well for this. Let the glue set for 5 minutes.
- Apply a second layer to the boat and the patch. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Place the patch on the boat. Position it without wrinkles to ensure it’s airtight.
- Work out any air bubbles by hand, then again with a silicone glue roller to ensure a tight bond.
- A heat gun or hair dryer will help bond the patch to the boat.
- Give the patch at least 24 hours to cure before you take it on the water. Then inflate the boat to be sure it doesn’t leak.
(Photo courtesy of Bound for Nowhere)
Whether you’re considering buying a packraft or already have one and want to be sure you’re doing all you can to take good care of it, we hope this helps.
Happy paddling!
What paddling questions can our friendly Customer Service team help you with? Contact us at 715-755-3405 or sales@aquabound.com
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