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Andy - the cord is about 2m I guess, maybe under. One end is tied to one front tie down, then to each piece of gear with approx 30cm slack in between. When released and dangling, it doesn't hinder turning the boat over, in fact, it heps as it is a pivot point / anchor.
After saying all this, my feeling is you'd have to be running some bigger water to get into trouble (bigger than 3 feet waves), and that is quite a lot on open water. My feeling is other things are potentially more hazardous in the open, such as wind and tides. Still, good to know everything can be righted.
For river, it is a different thing. I don't use any cords due to snag / entanglement hazard. I'd not use any for bikes etc on river, just packtach and straps. Getting turned in a river, apparently (according to Roman Dial) the thing to do is to climb onto the upturned raft and paddle for shore. Fun when the bike is scraping along the bottom!
For sure I'll give you a shout if I'm up in Aviemore, although that probably won't be for the foreseeable. If you are in Edinburgh, let me know, I may don my wetsuit and give you a demo 🙂
Pentlands Packraft Party?
a canadian dude once told me how a lot of the guys round his way would head out "mudding" in their big 4x4s.. basically they'd go driving through mud and filth for a bit and then give it a good wash afterwards drinking as they went.
Mudding seems like a brilliant idea now ive seen this packrafting thing.
Shouldn't knock it til I've tried it I guess but I don't really fancy that thing at all in open water loaded with a bike in anything other than fairly benign conditions.
Theblackmount
You'd be surprised therevery stable even in big winds or swell and seem more so when loaded
Andy
Yeah I'm sure they are - it's more the consequences of a capsize with no wetsuit on etc. Guess you just need to chose your conditions carefully.
I think it is the same thing as you wouldn't do your 1st ever shot on a MTB full pelt down Spooky Wood, you wouldn't do your 1st shot in a Packraft on a grade 3 rapid, or as a 2k crossing packed out and with wind and waves.
The boats seem to handle big swell ok, but 4 foot breakers will push them over no problem, as will smaller surf if the boat is let side on.
For wind, it is possible to power into a 20mph wind for a short distance, but longer distances get progressively more tiring with lesser winds. The boats do have windage, and do get pushed about surprisingly fast in moderate 10 to 15mph wind.
Splashing about in salt water with a £1000+ MTB tied to the front is somewhat trying on the nerves!
it's more the consequences of a capsize with no wetsuit on etc. Guess you just need to chose your conditions carefully.
A capsize with no wetsuit would be cold, but self rescue is easy. But you are better wearing a wetsuit if you think you may go for a swim. obviously for multi day bikepack trips, that isn't really an option (bulky and extra weight), but in the warmer months in the UK, it's fine. Alaska or Iceland in the winter, well...
Pentlands Packraft Party?
I'd be up for that, although would recommend Mussleburgh lagoon instead, as it is more accessible, of a uniform depth, and there are no fishermen to annoy. I'd love to see one of the cheep dingies there as well to compare (and race hehe). This month isn't good for me, maybe organise something next month? I'd be happy for ppl to have a shot in my raft.
Packrafting party
Maybe we could bring our boats down too.
We would love to spread the blow up fun.
Andy
Hmm yes maybe do something... if it is gonna be a proper get together, how about down on the beach? Maybe have a barbie / camp over as well?
Barbie yes sounds like a great idea
Beach.... Only if you can guarantee no sharks and none of those monsters under the sand that eat you.
But I'm in
Andy
I agree with comments above about (particulalry) wind and tide being bigger hazard than a capsize. They do seem somewhat inneficient to paddle, and so making headway into wind and waves would be difficult with only a minor rise in windspeed.
As I said above, keen to have a play with one of these.
For anyone interested, the course I was on is being run again..
August 10th/11th/12th
http://www.backcountrybiking.co.uk/courses/back-country-courses/2-day-backcountry-beginners/
I can thoroughly recommend it!!
A blog of a terrific packrafting trip - no bikes involved - showing the sort of thing that could be done with a bit of imagination.
http://gridnorth.blogspot.co.uk/
Now that is cool, I like the idea for walking, just not bikes.
I only joined this forum because if this is a chat about Bikerafting, you surely can't leave this fine example out. 7000 miles of Arctic Alaska, 7 rivers - that's an adventure! [url= http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/77zero/fatbikerafting-the-arctic ]Surely this is the most epic-est, awesome-est, Arctic-est trip ever[/url]
I don't even have a bike, just wanted to share this. 🙂