Alpacka Gnarwhal - Whitewater Packraft

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 paddled up to class IV and reliably rolled by skilled boaters with thigh straps, but the Wolverine is a bit easier to roll for most people. 

The Gnarwhal and Wolverine are sized to fit most average sized adults, but larger and heavier (over 182cm and 100kgs) paddlers will fit better in the Gnarwhal while smaller and lighter paddlers (under 170cm and 75kgs) will fit better in the Wolverine.

MANUFACTURING: Hand made by Alpacka Raft in Colorado, USA

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 double D-Rings, 2 ankle loops, 2 multi-slot strap plates, and two strap plates

SEATING & RIGGING: 3/4 Length WW Seat, WW Foot Brace, Adjustable Foam Backband, Patented 4-point Thigh Straps

BUILD CONFIGURATIONS: Whitewater Deck or Self Bailer

CARGO FLY: Standard (Internal Dry Bags sold separately)

MATERIALS: Proprietary 210-denier high count nylon hull and 840-denier ballistic nylon floor (Made in USA). 420d nylon hull is available for a heavy duty option.

INCLUDES: Inflation Bag, Stuff Sack, and Basic Repair Kit. T Zip lube is included with boats that come with a Cargo Fly | Whitewater Deck Models also include one-piece PEX coaming and ultralight spray skirt

SELF BAILER: The 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 18cm thick seat versus a 13cm thick seat on the Whitewater Deck.

WHITEWATER DECK: The Whitewater Deck is ideal for staying warm in cold conditions and maximizing performance in difficult whitewater. The Whitewater Deck features a large kayak style cockpit, one-piece pex coaming, and an ultralight spray skirt. Because the Whitewater Deck will not fill with water when pushing through a wave or hole, it maintains more speed and can punch through larger waves and stickier holes than the self bailing configuration. The seating systems in the Self Bailer and Whitewater Deck are identical except the Self Bailer features a 18cm thick main seat versus a 13cm thick seat on the Whitewater Deck.

CARGO FLY ZIPPER: Alpackas innovative Cargo Fly internal storage system comes standard on the Gnarwhal and is the ultimate packraft gear storage solution. It features 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 center of gravity.

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 organization and weight balance than placing the contents of your pack loose inside the Cargo Fly. The zippered drybags also act as additional balanced air chambers to make it easier to get to shore in the event of a puncture.

The sizing below shows our recommended size based on your sit length and the Gnarwhals’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. The 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.

MEDIUM
Paddler Sit Length - 99 - 109cm
Exterior Length - 239cm
Exterior Width - 97cm
Interior Length - 109cm
Width at Hips - 38cm
Weight Self Bailer* - 3570grams
Weight Whitewater Deck* - 4170grams
Packed Size Self Bailer** - 51x19cm
Packed Size Whitewater Deck** - 51x24cm
Max Capacity*** 204kgs

LARGE
Paddler Sit Length - 107 - 117cm
Exterior Length - 246cm
Exterior Width - 97cm
Interior Length - 117cm
Width at Hips - 38cm
Weight Self Bailer* - 3690grams
Weight Whitewater Deck* - 4260grams
Packed Size Self Bailer** - 51x20cm
Packed Size Whitewater Deck** - 51x25cm
Max Capacity*** 204kgs

X LARGE
Paddler Sit Length - 114 - 127cm
Exterior Length - 254cm
Exterior Width - 97cm
Interior Length - 124cm
Width at Hips - 38cm
Weight Self Bailer* - 3820grams
Weight Whitewater Deck* - 4350grams
Packed Size Self Bailer** - 51x22cm
Packed Size Whitewater Deck** - 51x27cm
Max Capacity*** 204kgs

*Weight includes all components except inflation bag and repair kit.

**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.

***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.