[KascadeFlat]

I am partially finished with a DIY pack raft build and it's time to start thinking about picking up the required accessories. To those that pack raft - 1. What paddle are you using and what do you recommend? 2. Do you carry a PFD? If so, what kind? I will be pack rafting exclusively on nice, calm, alpine lakes. Most of these excursions will be overnights so I am *somewhat* worried about weight. There is no white water in my future.

[Slim]

[Chief Joseph]

I like the paddles that came with my Curtis raft, they are like ping pong paddles only lighter. You might PM Brian Curtis here he might have more info on those. I also sometimes use a thermarest for the bottom, especially handy since the floor seems to always leak on my raft so keeps you dryer too. The Curtis raft had the option of a double floor or just double at the end so you could stand on it. Wish mine had the double floor as leakage has been an issue...back to patching again.

[Ski]

did anybody mention packraft.org yet?

[KascadeFlat]

I had not considered hand paddles - that is a brilliant suggestion! My only question is: Are they sufficient if the wind picks up? Can you get yourself out of harm's way in a pinch? The raft I'm building comes with an inflatable seat in two pieces - one on the floor and one as a backrest. I think I'll double those up as backup flotation per your suggestions. And if all three fail in the same trip, I'll give up building packrafts. Packraft.org has a great video on kitting up the packraft! Thank you for suggesting it.

[RichardJ]

I left my Curtis raft paddles at Robin lakes some years ago and replaced them with paddle ball paddles from Fred Meyer. They were too big so I trimmed them a bit and painted them. Works perfectly. The paddles work great on very light rafts but I would not go too far from the lake edge in windy conditions. For PFD, I love the NRS Chinook for fly fishing and it doesn’t get shoved into my chin.

[Chief Joseph]

I don't have an issue with mobility at all using the paddles, but I tend to stay close to shore, especially in windy conditions. Another benefit to a full length mattress pad is as well as a pad for the floor and emergency flotation device, if folded in half you then have a backrest, as well as a bit of a sail if the wind is blowing your way. One of my favorite lakes has a couple of submerged logs about 30 yards offshore, so in windy conditions I just tie up to it and fish from there. Once on a pretty windy day I floated a fly that way for about 40 minutes, then "Fish On"!....and repeat. I also keep my Curtis raft paddles on cordage attached to my raft so no worries about losing them or forgetting them. I was backpacking with another Curtis raft owner once and he uses pieces of cedar bark as paddles to save weight...yea, dude is a bit strange.

[KascadeFlat]

Cedar bark definitely wins the "upcycle" reward.

[RichardJ]

Cedar bark worked for me on one trip I forget my paddles.😊

[bivouacjack]

Here are the UL 4 piece paddles I use. No issues with them being too small yet and I dont worry about breaking them when pushing off from shore - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFPS7OC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 If I'm headed out on big deep water, I bring this snorkel vest for my PFD. On small lakes, I dont worry about a PFD since I have an inflatable seat in my Alpacka Scout - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FISQT6M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[forest gnome]

Take an empty med sized laundry soap plastic jug.. Cut in half lengthways .and then u also have a handle loop to slide your hand through ..and yes tie some line to them so u can just drop em when u catch a fish

[KascadeFlat]

[Chief Joseph]

That's the same type of paddle that Wade63 used with his Alpacka raft when we fished together, not sure if it came with the raft or not? Another friend mentioned that Crocs also work as paddles and of course can be used as camp shoes and for water crossings.

[Chief Joseph]

For those on a tight budget and want to do a bit of rafting, here is one for less than $15 bucks. It's weighs about 4 lbs, has an inflatable floor and is about the same size and shape as a Curtis raft. One could probably drop a half pound if you cut off the oar locks. I found one in the trash and put 3 patches on it and it hold air fine. Just received a new one in the mail, perfect for short hikes when weight is not a big issue. Inflation and deflation being a couple more drawbacks. Reminds me of the old Sevylor rafts. https://www.facebook.com/messenger_media/?thread_id=100069489473496&attachment_id=3251188361798048&message_id=mid.%24cAAAB8Al_a2uJ0frEEWDoLVd1F0PR

[bivouacjack]

KascadeFlat, That picture is not to scale. Mine are about 7' long. I think you'll find them to work just fine for flatwater.