Packrafting......Upstream?

Rich M

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2017
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5,106
Location
Orlando
I'm gonna stick with the mud motor idea, and put it on a 16 or 18 ft square stern canoe. You can get a fiberglass canoe for cheap. Hack off one end and put a transom on it - reinforce it pretty good. Add extra flotation.

I don't think you are gonna jump any rapids but it would go upriver very well on a low flow river.

I've got a 9 hp on a 12 ft V nose utility hull, get about 5 mph in it. That's with couple bags of decoys, and two 250# guys.

The comment of rafting DOWN to the spot is likewise a great idea. If the river is pretty calm rapids-wise, a wide 16+ ft johnboat or a big canoe might be a good ticket as opposed to buying a raft.

I've only gone rafting a couple times - Allagash and Snake Rivers but we used to do a lot of river canoeing and would float in a johnboat during duck season (easier to shoot out of).
 
Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Messages
95
I've used my packraft on some lakes and even if there is a slight headwind paddling is brutal. I don't think paddling upstream in a packraft is possible since it is a mile. I also haven't taken it on a slow enough river to consider paddling upstream.

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Copen1822

Lil-Rokslider
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Feb 24, 2015
Messages
156
I've used my packraft on some lakes and even if there is a slight headwind paddling is brutal. I don't think paddling upstream in a packraft is possible since it is a mile. I also haven't taken it on a slow enough river to consider paddling upstream.

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Thanks for the info.
What brand/model packraft do you have and are you happy with it?

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Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Messages
95
Thanks for the info.
What brand/model packraft do you have and are you happy with it?

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I have the Alpacka Raft classic with a whitewater deck and cargo fly. Without a doubt get the cargo fly, it's worth every penny. I'm able to put all my camping gear, some fishing gear and my backpacking bag inside. Then I have a little dry bag with things I need tied in by my feet.

I got it last year when I was in Alaska and used it on some small creeks there, the Kenai and a few lakes. It's been bounced off rocks and other debris and no has signs of damage. It's way more rugged than it looks.

I'm doing a big backpacking/floating trip in a few weeks with it so that will be a big test. I'll let you know how that goes when I get back.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

~Craig

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Copen1822

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 24, 2015
Messages
156
I have the Alpacka Raft classic with a whitewater deck and cargo fly. Without a doubt get the cargo fly, it's worth every penny. I'm able to put all my camping gear, some fishing gear and my backpacking bag inside. Then I have a little dry bag with things I need tied in by my feet.

I got it last year when I was in Alaska and used it on some small creeks there, the Kenai and a few lakes. It's been bounced off rocks and other debris and no has signs of damage. It's way more rugged than it looks.

I'm doing a big backpacking/floating trip in a few weeks with it so that will be a big test. I'll let you know how that goes when I get back.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

~Craig

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Thanks!

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Joined
Nov 22, 2016
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Location
Montana
Packrafts don't paddle well upstream, especially the caribou cause it has a block for a bow and is made to have a big load on front. I'd say anything more than a 2mph current and you're toast. one other alternative would be a sail. but the wind would have to be right for that to work. They do make foldable onesyou make foldable ones
 
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Have you tried to get permission to cross the private to access the public?

What about asking several private owners upstream for permission to access a put in?
 
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Copen1822

Lil-Rokslider
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Feb 24, 2015
Messages
156
Thanks for the input guys. This question is from last yr and I abandoned the idea and hunted some other pieces.



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