The need for a light, sturdy raft hit Sheri Tingey after her son went backpacking into the Alaska wilderness twice with inadequate boats. The second time, he shipped his boat back with 11.5 pounds of patches.
That’s when Tingey took action to start her company, Alpacka Raft, which manufactures boats light enough to stuff into a backpack.
Tingey had designed and made outdoor winter clothing professionally, so she applied her knowledge to designing a boat. As an avid kayaker, she also was able to test her crafts.
She knew there was a little market for the boats in Alaska, where she lived in 2000, but she had no idea if the market was big enough to build a business around.
“I didn’t know whether I would sell five or 200,” she said.
As the years passed, she perfected her designs and launched a web-based business, which allowed her to manufacture from anywhere.
“It’s grown nicely every year,” she said.
Family brought her down from Alaska to Mancos, where she now is in her eighth season. Compared with Alaska, shipping is a breeze.
“I got to Mancos, and I loved it, and it was perfect,” she said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
