Packrafting: A Beginner's Guide E-Book

Chris Scott

• Herausgeber: Fernhurst Books Limited
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Packrafts are rugged, portable rafts, small enough to attach under a rucksack, but stable on the water to reassure first time paddlers. Weighing from 1-3 kilos, they open up a whole new world of amphibious adventuring, from navigating easily accessible waterways to discovering more challenging rivers and lochs only reachable on foot or bicycle. Packrafting: A Beginners' Guide is a perfect introduction to the game-changing recreational opportunities opened up by packrafting. It takes you through the different types and features of packrafts to ensure that you buy a boat that is right for you and have the right gear to use with it. It clearly explains the basic paddling skills and how to safely evaluate risks on the water. It also introduces the different types of adventures you can undertake with your packraft, from paddling a local canal or river to lashing a bicycle over the bow or using a packable sail to traverse open water. The book is comprehensively illustrated with over 120 colour photographs making it easy to understand and clear to follow.

Leseprobe

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT PACKRAFTS

ON THE WATER: BASIC SKILLS

INFLATION, VALVES & PUMPS

PACKRAFTING GEAR

OUTFITTING & LOAD CARRYING

PACKRAFT CARE & REPAIR

ON THE TRAIL: BASIC GEAR

SAFETY & WEATHER

BIKERAFTING   ROB ESTIVILL

PACKRAFT SAILING

PACKRAFTS AT SEA

PACKRAFTING ADVENTURES

INTRODUCTION

If you enjoy exploring wild places, a packraft will be a game changer. A boat that’s genuinely portable yet robust and easy to paddle transforms the way you approach outdoor adventures. The clue’s in the name: you can pack up your raft in minutes, hike for hours or days, then reinflate effortlessly at the water’s edge before paddling onwards. On calm water you don’t need any special skills, but as with all paddle boats, it’s important to understand the risks, especially on fast-flowing rivers and exposed crossings.

The picture left was taken at the start of an 80-mile adventure along a wild river in the Australian outback. Dropped off at a remote airstrip, we carried everything we needed for a week, a journey only made viable with packrafts. Nearer home, the Scottish Highlands are where packrafting adventures jump off the map. Obscure lochs and meandering rivers are no longer obstacles but new byways, enabling easy or challenging routes limited only by your imagination.

At a glance, a 3-kilo packraft may resemble a cheap vinyl beach toy, but it’s the durable fabric and hand-made construction that puts these boats in a class of their own. This enables higher pressures: the key to a responsive boat and an enjoyable paddling experience which won’t end with a hiss on brushing past a twig. There are some compromises – if you’re hoping for a nippy glorified kayak, you may be disappointed. On flat water packrafts are relatively slow and easily affected by winds. Above all, it’s the places you can access which sets packrafts apart.

Paddling is also a low-impact way of enjoying the outdoors. Combining walking and even cycling are all part of getting the most from your lightweight boat. Packrafting: A Beginner’s Guide is crammed with ideas, hard-won knowledge, tips and safety advice to show you how to get started. Once you’ve embraced the full potential of packrafting, you’ll look at the outdoors with completely new eyes.

Chris Scott

inflatablekayaksandpackrafts.com