Alpacka's Whitewater Fleet: Which Boat To Get & Why. Features the Mage on Rio Negro, IV, Chiapas MX

https://fourcornersguides.com/2025/02... This is an excerpt from Episode #11 of, “A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting,” podcast set to footage Steve Fassbinder took January 2025 of he and Andy Burr in their Mages on the Rio Negro, a Class IV river in Chiapas, Mexico. The narration features an excerpt from the above Episode #11. In it, Dustin talks about the design features of Alpacka Raft’s different whitewater boats, focusing on the Mage and Valkyrie, but also discussing the Gnarlwhal, Wolverine and other “flat bottomed” boats. Dustin and Lizzy discuss who should be in what boat and why. Some highlights from the YouTube video are outlined below: This is an excerpt from Episode #11 of, “A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting,” set to footage Steve Fassbinder took January 2025 of he and Andy Burr in their Mages on the Rio Negro, a Class IV river in Chiapas, Mexico. The narration features an excerpt from the above Episode #11. In it, Dustin talks about the design features of Alpacka Raft’s different whitewater boats, focusing on the Mage and Valkyrie, but also discussing the Gnarlwhal, Wolverine and other “flat bottomed” boats. Dustin and Lizzy discuss who should be in what boat and why. Some highlights from the YouTube video are outlined below: 2:37: How much should you have your seat inflated with your Mage? The seat is there for comfort, but also so you can have your tailored sit height for how you handle the boats (depending on how much you inflate it). In regards to inflation,the seat is set up so that it will cover 75-95% of the people using the Mage.  4:30: The two differences between the Valkyrie and the Mage Tube diameter and stern shape. The Valkyrie has a more advanced, “shaped” floor. Whereas the Mage has a flat floor, but the pad sits in the boat and pushes the floor down to give it its secondary stability. This design provides some of the capabilities of the Valkyrie, but it's easier to manufacture. 5:28: Is the Mage more stable than the Wolverine? That depends. The Mage has both a primary and a secondary stability. Gnarwhals, Wolverines and Expeditions are flat floor boats. So when you sit in the boat it is more stable in a primary position. On flat water it does not want to rock side to side at all. Secondary stability is when you start to lean to one side and get on the secondary edge of the boat. On flat-bottomed boats, you’re on a round object. So the boat does not have a position that feels stable. It takes a lot of practice to be able to hold that edge without flipping over. The Mage IS intentionally more stable in a secondary position. It is more stable also than a Valkyrie because it has bigger tubes and is a wider boat. It’s hard to get over the tube when you’re leaning over.  7:10: The Valkyrie is smaller and less stable, but more playful and engaging The design of the Valkyrie's floor increases your ability to get on edge and stay on edge and carve in and out of features on the river. It makes the boat more playful and engaging. You can do things that the Mage can’t do. But the Mage is better for big water like the Grand Canyon, as it has more capacity. And it is still a highly capable and fun whitewater boat. 7:51: Recommendations for beginners….   10:35: What the Valkyrie is not great for