Use and characteristics
The Viking Self Bailer (more of it below*) is ideally suited to white water and surf. The self bailing construction provides an exceptionally stable and forgiving ride, especially in big water. Due to the special flow flaps and hull shape, this boat is one of the fast and agile self-bailers. In-hull luggage storage space (ISS) add use for extended whitewater tours.
River guides will also like the Viking self bailer because it is so safe, robust and versatile. Paddlers with responsibility can react and help much faster due to the free entry and exit. Even the temporary transport of a 2nd person (or a bike) has already been realized!
*Excursus self-bailer
In a selfbailer drain holes allow water to pass through the floor, so eliminating the need for a spraydeck. This means you enjoy the full open-air freedom of packrafting while being able to take on whatever the river throws at you. The ease of hopping in and out makes portaging and scouting much easier too, while re-entry after a capsize is extremely easy. The self-bailer’s inherent water around the floor has a stabilizing effect (low center of gravity), while the paddler sits slightly above the waterline (so that the water drains through the floor) with the elevated position (high center of gravity) providing good visibility. However, this is packrafting so you will get wet. Water sports clothing, at least dry pants, ideally a dry suit, is advisable. A self-bailer is a little less responsive than a displacement hull packraft, but is balanced out by the convenience of the open deck.
Shape and construction
The geometry of the Viking self bailer is based on the Alligator 2S Pro XXL. This adds up to a higher volume for the necessary buoyancy and stability and the relatively long waterline ensures good acceleration when you need it most.
The self-draining construction uses a three-quarter length floor mat with a separate footrest and an integrated seat for buoyancy and water displacement at 11 drain holes in the floor.
Fit
With its fully adjustable footrest, ergonomic backband and five-point thigh straps the Viking self bailer is highly adaptable for different paddlers. An open deck, the combination of floor mat and seat and especially the adjustable footrest allow positioning independent of body size for persons from 150 cm up to 205 cm.
The backband provides lumbar support for the lower back. Due to theViking high seating position the use of thigh straps are recommended. You sit high and centered, but remain stable and in control, allowing deep and powerful strokes.
Special features and equipment
- The drain holes use one way flow flaps on the outside. This ensures that no additional water passing into the boat from below when eddying in/out, drop or accelerating is minimized. This makes the Viking a little faster than other self-bailers. In addition, the flaps protect the drain holes from damage at rocks or branches - a common problem with self-bailers.
- The Viking has a preinstalled mount for a white water fin/skeg for better tracking and increased speed. The fin is designed and positioned in such a way that riverbed contact is limited or tolerated, even in white water.
*Excursus fin/skeg in white water
A tracking fin provides increased directional stability which adds up to more speed or greatly efficience. Double bladed paddling creates a side-to-side yawing action at the bow, slowing forward propulsion. This effect can be minimised by paddling gently or using a steep paddle angle, but in whitewater bracing bow strokes and hard acceleration are often necessary, which can cause unwanted pivoting. A fin reduces this yawing motion, no matter at which stroke is used, delivering more drive or higher speeds in whitewater. It opens up completely new routes and manoeuvres for packrafts.
- The Viking comes standard ergonomically cut 2x 5-point thigh straps and its distinctive, adjustable footrest. Please note the information and care instruction to the optional Internal Storage System (ISS).
Material and repairability
The excellent adhesive qualities of the TPU coating makes the boat extremely durable, enhanced by a special treatment for a smooth, scratch-resistant finish. Being light, UV-tolerant, non-ageing and flexible at low temperatures, this packraft is a lot tougher than its weight and packed size would suggest.
In the unlikely event of sustaining damage, repairs can be done in the field with LifePatch, which bonds to the urethane surface extremely well. Small pinholes can be quickly sealed with Aquasure, a liquid urethane sealant. Should any major damage occur, it can be repaired with spare fabric and contact glue either at home or in our Workshop.
Information according General Product Safety Regulation
Manufacturer: Chengdu Micro Rafting System Trade Co.,Ltd, Building No.11 C-2, Longteng Industrial City, No. 515, Longquan Century Avenue, Longquanyi District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, Postcode: 610199,
info@mrsraftings.comPerson responsible in the EU: Anfibio Packrafting, Schellin & Kreinacker GbR, Körnerplatz 6, 04107 Leipzig, Germany,
info@packrafting-store.de
Ships with:
- EVA backrest
- Inflatable floor with integrated seat
- 5P thigh straps
- Footrest
- Manual
- Pack strap
- Inflation bag
- White water skeg
-
Repair material: tube and floor (PU-glue must be ordered separately)
-
Optional with ISS: incl. 2 internal stuff bags
Material
- Tubes: 420-denier high-strengt Nylon with single resp. double side Urethane coating (3,5mil 67T*55T 90 A Ether TPU) and smooth surface finish (gloss), weathering resistant and anti-hydrolysis
- Floor: 840-denier, high tear resistant Aramid fibre with multiple urethane coating (6mil 67T*55T 90 A Ether TPU) and surface finish, weathering resistant, anti-hydrolysis
- Inflatable floor with integrated seat and back rest, adjustable footrest: 210-denier weaved Nylon with 2,8mil single-sided urethane coating, weathering resistant, anti-hydrolysis
Construction
Asymmetrical, high-volume hull with well-balanced rocker (slightly upturned, pointy bow and elongated/extended stern), 12 grab loops (6 stern grap loops, 4 bow grap loops, 2 inside grap loops), 5-point thigh straps, variably positionable on 4 ladders, main one-way valve (Boston), mount for fin/skeg, 11 drain holes with flow flaps.
Workmanship
Triple construction: sewn with high-tensile thread; heat-welded tubes; contact glued floor with taped edges. Heat-welded and sewed tube material, glued floor with v-tape construction for added durability and special red seam tapes.
Weights
Boat: 3620 g
Inflatable floor (with integrated seat): 444 g
Backrest: 263 g
Boat complete: 5230 g
Footrest: 240 g
Thigh straps: 350 g
Pack strap: 25 g
Inflation bag: 135 g
Repair Kit: 20 g
Skeg: 88 g
Dimensions
inner
Length: 136 cm
Width: 35 cm
outer:
Length: 269 cm
Width: 92 cm
Waterline: 238 cm
Tube diameter: 28,5 cm
Packing size: about 40 x 30 cm
Buoyancy: 160 kg
Speed: 5-6 km/h
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