The Issue
The spread of invasive species is an issue of significant concern around the world. Packrafting is great for travel, but creates risks for spreading invasive species. Some jurisdictions have rules for inspection, licensing, and cleaning boats. Pay close attention to these rules and even if your packraft is exempt from licensing or inspection, please do your part to follow the rules of clean, drain, and dry whenever you are moving between waterways.
Prevention
For general cleaning purposes, we recommend a gentle dish soap (such as Dawn or Palmolive) and fresh, clean water to completely rinse your packraft. Allowing your raft to completely dry before transportation also aids in preventing aquatic species from hitching a ride. When looking for other boat cleaning products, remember to ensure they are safe to use on polyurethane coated boats. We do not recommend any bleach-based products as they can negatively affect the fabric’s coating in the sun over time.