Gear and accessories · Guide

Self-bailer, spray deck or open?

Also: spray deck or self-bailer

Open boat, spray deck or self-bailer: pros and cons of the three concepts and which suits which trip.

The question comes up with almost every packraft purchase. Here's the short version based on the Packrafting Store's explanations, plus our own experience.

Open boat

Light, small packed size, quick in and out, room for a bike or dog. Ideal in warm weather and on calm water. With dry pants or a dry suit also usable in spring and autumn.

Spray deck with zipper

Easy to open and close, keeps out most waves and rain, but a little water can get in. Good for trips with changeable weather and moderate use.

Spray deck with coaming and skirt

The tightest and the reference in whitewater. The rods increase the packed size a little. You have to practise the exit after a capsize.

Self-bailer

Water drains by itself, getting in and out is child's play, ideal for whitewater with lots of scouting and portages. But there's always some water in the boat, and your feet sit in the wet. In cold water only with a dry suit.

And if I can't decide?

Then there are boats that can do several things: the Anfibio Delta MX or Sigma TX as DeckReady versions with removable UniDeck, the Revo with closable drain tube, or the Mekong Pablo Pro, which according to the manufacturer switches between all three configurations in under a minute. Self-bailing systems differ a lot in everyday use; we found the plug system very tedious so far. You'll find the comparison in the entry Self-bailing systems.

Sources and further reading

• Packrafting Store: open and decked boats compared
• Luc Mehl: Packrafting Equipment Guide
• Mekong Packraft (manufacturer)

Research as of 13 Nov 2026. We have marked manufacturer information as such.