Ready to Ship - Alpacka Raft GNARWHAL 420D Self Bailer + TiZip®
Ready to Ship - Alpacka Raft GNARWHAL 420D Self Bailer + TiZip®
** Alpacka Raft Gnarwhal Self Bailers in burly 420Denier Arctic Blue material. Size XL length in-stock and Ready to Ship directly from Pack Raft Australia. On sale in this configuration for a limited time only. Limited stock available - updated 18/4/24 **
Handmade in Colorado, USA
Available Material/Colour:
Arctic Blue 420D
Available Ready to Ship Size:
Extra Large
Weight: Approx. ~4.17kg (weight determined by configuration/material, see chart below for comparison)
Build Configurations: Self Bailer
Integrated Stern TiZip - Cargo Zipper: as Standard (internal dry bags sold separately, available here)
Shape: Rally Hull
Tube Diameter: 11.7-inch
Fit: Whitewater (See sizing and specifications)
Valve: Temper assist valve for inflation and deflation
Attachments: 4 bow grab loops, 2 stern grab loops, 2 offset double D-Rings, 2 ankle loops, 2 multi-slot strap plates, and 2 strap plates
Seating & Rigging: 3/4 Length WW Seat, WW Foot Brace, Adjustable Foam Backband, Patented 4-point Thigh Straps
Materials: Proprietary 420-denier high count nylon hull and 840-denier ballistic nylon floor (Made in USA).
Includes: Alpacka Raft packraft, inflatable 3/4 seat, inflatable foot pillow, adjustable seat backband, integrated TiZip, inflation bag, small basic field repair kit and ultralight stuff sack
Backed by Pack Raft Australia’s 100% Stoked or Exchange It policy
The Alpacka Raft - Gnarwhal
Powerful or playful, addictive or intimidating, enlightening or terrifying, clean or chaotic. Whitewater can be the ultimate in contradictions, but the Gnarwhal will be there when you need it most so you can get to the bottom of the run with more laughing and less swimming. Advanced paddlers get the most from the Gnarwhal by setting up early and paddling hard, making it ideal for high volume rivers and messy features that require speed, power, and stability to clean. Novice and intermediate paddlers will get the most from the Gnarwhal’s unmatched stability and forgiveness, which makes rapids fun so that you can focus on honing your technique and building confidence without worrying about getting flipped every time you make a mistake.
Trying to choose between the high-volume Gnarwhal and the mid-volume Wolverine? You’ll love the Gnarwhal if you want a forgiving and easy to paddle packraft that takes the intimidation out of paddling moderate whitewater, if you want to charge hard in bigger water and features, or if you need to carry a large cargo load on a long trip. You’ll love the Wolverine if you want to squeeze as much as you can out of every run with our most engaging whitewater packraft that likes to hit every eddy and play feature, and boof off every lip. Both the Wolverine and Gnarwhal can be reliably rolled by skilled boaters with thigh straps, but the Wolverine roll is a bit easier for most people. The Gnarwhal and Wolverine are sized to fit most average sized adults, but larger and heavier (over 6’0” and 100kg) paddlers will fit better in the Gnarwhal while smaller and lighter paddlers (under 5’7” and 70kg) will fit better in the Wolverine.
Configuration - Self Bailer
The Alpacka Raft Gnarwhal Self Bailer is perfect for warmer conditions, quick entry and exit, and anyone that prefers a self bailing setup. It is slightly slower than the WW deck version when punching through waves and small holes, but it tends to stabilize in these situations which helps boaters navigate through tricky spots. If you swim, no dumping is required and you can just self rescue right back in. The seating systems in the Self Bailer and Whitewater Deck are identical except the Self Bailer features a 7-inch thick seat versus a 5-inch thick seat on the Whitewater Deck. Please note, there is a gap between the seat and the footbrace where your feet may be wet.
Cargo Zipper (stern TiZip®) aka The Cargo Fly
Alpacka Raft’s innovative Cargo Zipper internal storage system comes standard on the Gnarwhal. The Cargo Zipper features an airtight TiZip® zipper installed in the stern of the boat to allow you to store your gear inside the tubes. The system provides drier and more secure gear storage and improved paddling performance due to a lower center of gravity.
Internal Dry Bags may be purchased separately and are designed to work with the Cargo Zipper system. The bags clip in place along each side of the tubes with a side release buckle and allow for better organization and weight balance than placing the contents of your pack loose inside the Cargo Zipper. They also act as additional balanced air chambers to make it easier to get to shore in the event of a puncture.
Sizing & Specifications
The chart below shows Alpacka Raft’s recommended size based on your sit length and the Gnarwhal's fit profile. To determine your sit length, sit against a wall with your legs flat (wearing your preferred paddling shoes) and measure the distance from the wall to your heels. Gnarwhal is sized for a whitewater fit, meaning that a typical paddler in the recommended size will be able to deeply bend their knees for maximum engagement in the thigh straps for the most secure high-performance fit. You can size up or down for a more performance or relaxed fit.
*Max Capacity is the maximum total weight (paddlers and cargo) that the boat can reasonably carry in flatwater under ideal conditions. Actual capacity for any given trip will vary widely based on the paddler’s skill and water conditions. Please review our weight carrying capacity guide for further details.
*Weight includes all components except inflation bag, repair kit, and internal dry bags for Cargo Zipper.
**Packed size is a reference measurement based on folding each lengthwise edge of the boat to the center and rolling from the bow. There are many other methods of rolling and folding the boats that will result in a different packed size that may be more or less efficient for packing depending on the situation.
Pack Raft Australia has independently weighed boats constructed in the 420D material and found the weight difference from the same boat constructed in 210D material is generally approximately ~150-200grams heavier and slightly bulkier, but with improved rigidity and tear resistance.