STORAGE/CARE/MAINTENANCE
10
Alpacka rafts are low-fuss, low maintenance boats
. They're designed for people who are hard on gear. Part of our goal has been to build boats that
don't need a lot of attention either on the river or off it. Your boat will endure a lot of abuse. Very little is needed to keep your boat in "fighting trim"
from year to year. However, simple preventative care will
lengthen
its life and keep it beautiful.
•
Store your packraft
out of direct sunlight.
We use the highest UV resistant urethane coatings available. These coatings will stay color fast far
longer than cheaper packrafts that “look” like our boats, but use a much cheaper lower UV resistant coatings. Storing your packraft out of direct
sunlight will prolong its life and reduce UV aging.
•
Wash your packraft.
Washing with mild dish soap helps keep your boat clean and prevent the spread of invasive species across waterways.
•
Air dry your packraft
. A wet packraft can spread invasive species. In addition, if your boat is stored wet, it will start to smell like cat urine and this
smell can be very difficult to remove.
•
Clean, dry, and lubricate your Cargo Fly zipper.
See the Cargo Fly Care Instructions for more details.
•
We recommend periodic
Seaworthiness Checks.
These should be done when pulling the boat out after a period of storage, after any non-design
use (ex: using it as a tarp or gear-sled), or after any event that might have damaged the boat.
•
Do not use “UV-Protectant” or similar sprays on your packraft
. These sprays create a hard outer coating that prevents repair materials and glue
from sticking to the packraft. If you do accidentally use a UV protectant spray on your boat, it will wear off after use but you will have trouble with
repairs or gluing any attachments to the boat until it does wear off.
•
Long term storage.
Before long-term storage, wash the raft with fresh water. Get any sand, mud, and debris out of the floor area, where it tends to
collect. Air-dry the raft, making sure it's totally dry before storing it away. Fold the raft loosely so air can circulate around it. The boat's fabric
breathes and resists moisture build-up from condensation better when it's exposed to the surrounding air. Ideally, keep the boat in a cool, dry
place.