With its next generation Rally Hull design, ergonomic seating, and 4-point thigh straps, the Gnarwhal is our most stable and forgiving whitewater packraft. Ideal for building skills and confidence, carrying heavy loads, and charging hard on high volume runs.
Gnarwhal
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Estimated Ship Date: 1/24/2025
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Product Description
Powerful or playful, addictive or intimidating, enlightening or terrifying, clean or chaotic. Whitewater can be the ultimate in contradictions, but the Gnarwhal will be there when you need it most so you can get to the bottom of the run with more laughing and less swimming. Advanced paddlers get the most from the Gnarwhal by setting up early and paddling hard, making it ideal for high volume rivers and messy features that require speed, power, and stability to clean. Novice and intermediate paddlers will get the most from the Gnarwhal’s unmatched stability and forgiveness, which makes rapids fun so that you can focus on honing your technique and building confidence without worrying about getting flipped every time you make a mistake.
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 reliably rolled by skilled boaters with thigh straps, but the Wolverine roll is a bit easier for most people. The Gnarwhal and Wolverine are sized to fit most average sized adults, but larger and heavier (over 6’0” and 200lbs) paddlers will fit better in the Gnarwhal while smaller and lighter paddlers (under 5’7” and 150lbs) will fit better in the Wolverine.
Features
Manufacturing
Made to Order in Mancos, Colorado
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
3/4 Length WW Seat, WW Foot Brace or Self Bailing Footrest, 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
Recommended Gear
Werner Sherpa, Powerhouse, or Aqua-Bound Shred 200cm paddle, Astral Green Jacket PFD, Kokatat Swift Entry Drysuit
California Proposition 65 Warning
Using the Aquaseal in the repair kit will expose you to toluene, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Build Configurations
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 7-inch thick main seat versus a 5-inch thick seat on the Whitewater Deck.
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 7-inch thick seat versus a 5-inch thick seat on the Whitewater Deck.
Cargo Fly Zipper
Our innovative Cargo Fly internal storage system comes standard on the Gnarwhal. The Cargo Fly features an airtight zipper installed in the stern of the boat to allow you to store 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. They also act as additional balanced air chambers to make it easier to get to shore in the event of a puncture.
Sizing & Specifications
The chart below shows our recommended size based on your sit length and the Gnarwhal'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. 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.
Sizing
MediumLargeX-Large
Paddler Sit Length39-43in | 99-109cm42-46in | 107-117cm45-50in | 114-127cm
Exterior Length94in | 239cm97in | 246cm100in | 254cm
Exterior Width38in | 97cm38in | 97cm38in | 97cm
Interior Length43in | 109cm46in | 117cm49in | 124cm
Width at Hips15in | 38c15in | 38cm15in | 38cm
Max Capacity*450lb | 204kg450lb | 204kg450lb | 204kg
*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.
Specifications
Self Bailer (SB) Weight*SB Packed SizeWhitewater Deck (WW) WeightWW Packed Size
Medium7.9lb | 3.57kg20x7.5in | 51x19cm9.2lb | 4.17kg20x9.5in | 51x24cm
Large8.1lb | 3.69kg20x8in | 51x20cm9.4lb | 4.26kg20x10in | 51x25cm
X-Large8.4lb | 3.82kg20x8.5in | 51x22cm9.6lb | 4.35kg20x10.5in | 51x27cm
*Weight includes all components except inflation bag, repair kit, and internal dry bags for Cargo Fly.
**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.
420d models will be ~6-8oz heavier and slightly bulkier, but with improved rigidity and durability.
HD Skirt Sizing Chart
Standard Lightweight skirt fits up to 48" chest, request an XL for chest sizes between 46-52".
(2XL available upon request for chests larger than 52")
SizeWaist Size
Small28-30in
Medium30-33in
Large33-36in
X-Large36-40in
