Alpacka Raft Gnarwhal Packraft
Our stock is live and accurate.
Ride the wild waters with confidence, The Gnarwhal is your ultimate adventure raft!
The fun hog of the packraft world, the Alpacka Gnarwhal is your ticket to tackling lightwater and Class III whitewater with confidence. Designed for beginner to intermediate paddlers, it offers an incredibly stable, forgiving hull that keeps you upright when the water gets wild. Its self-bailing design ensures you can keep paddling without needing to stop, even after an unexpected swim. Whether you're cruising mellow rivers or challenging your skills on technical rapids, the Gnarwhal is built to make your adventures fun, easy, and unforgettable
BUILD CONFIGURATIONS
Self Bailer
A self-bailing packraft has drainage in the floor, so when water gets in, it drains back out. You will get wet in a self-bailing raft, so they are best for white water in warm weather or use with a dry suit. Alpacka's self bailing design features a lightweight thick seat in the rear that is protected by a sleeve and a heavy-duty baffled foot brace in the front that keeps your feet up and out of the water.
Cargo Fly Zipper
The cargo fly zipper is the ultimate packraft gear storage solution. The cargo fly is an airtight zipper installed in the stern of the boat to allow you to load your gear inside the tubes. The system provides drier and more secure gear storage and improved paddling performance due to a lower centre of gravity. The cargo fly zipper option is perfect for expeditions, whitewater performance and keeping your gear dry in wet conditions.
Internal Dry Bags may be purchased separately and are designed to work with the Cargo Fly system. The bags clip in place along each side of the tubes with a side release buckle and allow for better organisation and weight balance than placing the contents of your pack loose inside the cargo fly. They also act as additional balanced air chambers to make it easier to get to shore in the event of a puncture.
FEATURES & USES
Features
- Attachments: 4 bow grab loops, 2 stern grab loops, offset D-Rings, ankle loops, 3-position thigh strap ladder plates, 3-position backband ladder plate
- Seating and Rigging: 3/4 Length Self Bailing Seat, Self Bailing Footrest, Foam Backband, Patented 3-point Thigh Straps
- Materials: Proprietary TPU Coated 210d or 420d nylon hull and 840d nylon floor (Made in USA)
- Includes: Inflation Bag, Stuff Sack, Cargo Fly Kit, and Basic Repair Kit
Uses
- Whitewater: The Gnarwhal offers unmatched stability and forgiveness, ideal for beginners building confidence or experienced paddlers seeking a forgiving ride in technical whitewater. The self-bailing design ensures easy self-rescue and continued floating without resetting.
- Lightwater: Perfect for lightwater adventures, the Gnarwhal provides exceptional performance with easy handling and forgiving control. Its self-bailing build and 3-point thigh straps deliver maximum control for warm water trips.
- Versatile: A versatile option for warm water, the Gnarwhal suits beginner to intermediate paddlers in both lightwater and whitewater.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
Gnarwhal vs. Mage
The Gnarwhal is recommended for the beginner to intermediate whitewater packrafter, whereas the Mage is recommended for more advanced paddlers, or intermediate paddlers looking to improve their skills. The Gnarwhal is more stable and forgiving for beginner and tentative experienced paddlers than the Mage. The Mage is much faster, edges and holds an edge better, and rolls better than the Gnarwhal, but requires a higher skill level to engage these benefits. A beginner to intermediate paddler that wants to advance their skills and is not intimidated by a steeper learning curve in whitewater should consider the Mage.
Gnarwhal vs. Expedition
The Gnarwhal and Expedition are mostly distinguished by their builds, with the Gnarwhal being a self bailer and the Expedition being a decked boat. In fact, the small and medium versions are the exact same hull. The self bailing build is preferred for warm water and skill development in whitewater where you can self rescue and keep paddling rather than going to shore to reset your spray skirt. The decked builds are warmer, drier, and more versatile for arctic climates like Alaska, winter paddling, and icy spring runoff.
SIZING AND SPECIFICATIONS
Paddler Sizing Chart
| Size | Small | Medium | Large | X-Large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddler Height (Feet/Inches) |
Under 5'7" | 5'6"-5'11" | 5'9"-6'2" | 6'1"-6'6" |
| Paddler Height (CM) |
Under 170cm | 168-180cm | 175-188cm | 186-198cm |
The Gnarwhal is designed for a true-to-size fit with enough knee bend to engage the thigh straps but keep your legs more extended for better downriver performance. If you are in between sizes, the smaller size will generally provide more positive thigh strap engagement.
Dimensions
| Size | Small | Medium | Large | X-Large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Length | 231cm | 238cm | 255cm | 262cm |
| Exterior Width | 88cm | 89cm | 96cm | 94cm |
| Interior Length | 109cm | 116cm | 123cm | 131cm |
| Interior Width at Hips | 38cm | 38cm | 37cm | 38cm |
| Packed Size | 23 x 56cm | 23 x 56cm | 23 x 56cm | 23 x 56cm |
Due to the handmade nature of our packrafts, dimensions are averages and will vary slightly from boat to boat.
Weights
| Size | Small | Medium | Large | X-Large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210d Base Weight | 2.5kg | 2.6kg | 2.8kg | 3.0kg |
| 210d Kitted Weight | 3.4kg | 3.5kg | 3.6kg | 3.9kg |
| 210d Complete Weight | 3.7kg | 3.9kg | 4.0kg | 4.2kg |
| 420d Base Weight | 3.0kg | 3.1kg | 3.4kg | 3.5kg |
| 420d Kitted Weight | 3.9kg | 4.0kg | 3.7kg | 4.4kg |
| 420d Complete Weight | 4.2kg | 4.3kg | 4.5kg | 4.7kg |
Due to the handmade nature of our packrafts and natural variances in weights between different colors and production runs in our fabrics, all weights are estimated and will vary from boat to boat.
Base weight is the boat only. Kitted weight includes the seating and rigging. Complete weight is everything in the stuff sack at shipping.