DIY Packraft is located in Smithers, British Columbia, Canada. There are no employees – it’s just me, Matt Pope, making packraft kits in my garage.
The DIY Packraft Story
I’m a geoscientist by training, but I’m most passionate about the outdoors. In 2015 I was planning a multi-week off-trail hike when I realized that the route would be much better if I could travel on the blue parts of the maps, not just the green and white. That led me to discover packrafts, but I couldn’t justify the significant expense of buying a manufactured one, and besides, the type of boat I wanted didn’t seem to be available at any price. So, intrepid Do-It-Yourselfer that I am, I decided to make my own.
Designing and making a packraft from scratch turned out to be a much bigger project than I imagined. I couldn’t find much information about homemade packrafts online – certainly nothing about how to make one the same quality as a top-of-the-line boat – but I had studied mechanical engineering for a couple of years before switching to geoscience, and I tend to be a bit obsessive about things, so after spending hundreds of hours researching and testing materials and then designing and building prototypes, I hit on a packraft design that I was happy with.
At that point, I realized there must be other people like me who wanted to make their own packrafts, so that’s when I launched this website.
Years later, DIY Packraft is now a real business with happy customers all over the world. This isn’t a get-rich scheme, and I don’t have plans to grow the business much beyond where it is now – I just enjoy designing new products that help people achieve their dreams, and what could be better than going on packrafting trips and calling it work?
22 Comments
Craig Monroe · June 24, 2020 at 8:18 pm
I won a contest at Rock West Composites. I designed a lightweight portable hybrid kayak. I can do everything except the inflatable components. I’d like to send you a PDF of the project and see if you can help.
Thanks
Matt (Admin) · June 25, 2020 at 10:14 am
That sounds really cool, but consultation is not a service I offer… I simply don’t have time. Good luck with the project though!
Chad Townsend · June 7, 2020 at 1:07 pm
Hi Matt, we met friends of yours while packraft paddling on Galiano Island this weekend – they saw our gear and suggested that we connect; I make fully collapsible paddles!
Cheers,
Chad
Ruedi · March 29, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Matt
you’re doing a great job, and you create a lot of value for a lot of people willing to build something for sure. i found all I need and some really useful things that are very difficult to find elsewhere to create a superlight inflatable kajak.
Your work is highly appreciated by me and all my customers as well. Please continue …
Ruedi from Biber-Boote Schweiz
Richard · January 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Just came across your website looking for materials to build bouyancy for my home built canoe. Wondering where am I going to find valves, the right fabric etc etc. I presumme you ship to the UK. Now I am thinking I want to build a packraft as well!!
Matt (Admin) · January 21, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Hi Richard – that’s great! I do indeed ship to the UK; just add items to your cart and enter your address on the Cart page to check the shipping costs. Cheers!
Sau Loh · August 28, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Thank you for this amazing resource. I would like to make a fishing or simple waterproof wader for my 11-yr-old son to save some money. I do not plan to use it aggressively just as a waterproof attire to keep his legs dry. I wonder if your fabric (210 series) is suitable. Regards, Sau
Matt (Admin) · August 28, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Thanks, I’m glad you find the site useful! Unfortunately for liability reasons I can’t comment on the suitability of the fabrics for waders.
gary doolittle · April 22, 2018 at 9:04 am
i am wanting to construct 2- 12″ pontoons approx 8′ long to strap to sides of my jon boat. im hopeing it will add the stability i need. im not sure which materials i would need and how much of them. i want to deflate when transporting. any help would be great. thank you
Matt (Admin) · April 23, 2018 at 9:27 am
Hi Gary – you may want to purchase a fabric sample pack to test the various fabrics and check out the heat sealing technique article under the How-To menu. Also check out Tim’s pontoon boat at http://www.cubenmaker.com for ideas about how to make pontoons using the fabrics available here. Cheers
Jim · April 6, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Payment options? Would payment through a bank check be feasible? In an effort to reduce debt on my part, I do not carry credit cards. Yeah, it a hassle some times, however will that hamper a purchase? Please let me know. Thank you for your time and effort.
Sincerely
Jim
Matt (Admin) · April 6, 2018 at 10:07 pm
Sure, Jim – please send me a message through the Contact page for details. Thanks
Dave · August 9, 2017 at 10:56 am
Thank you for this amazing resource. I own and love my yak, but have been intrigued with building more of a whitewater play boat and integrating some design ideas I have been mulling over. I’ve done some searching for sources of materials and information, but nothing compares to diypackraft.com.
Matt (Admin) · August 9, 2017 at 9:35 pm
Thanks, Dave – I’m glad you’re finding the site useful!
Jean-Francois Jobin · August 5, 2017 at 12:22 pm
Hi,
is it possible for you to order a longer super seal tizip zipper?
it’s for change my dry suit zipper .
thanks
Matt (Admin) · August 6, 2017 at 10:12 pm
Unfortunately the factory has minimum order quantities, so it could be very expensive to order a single custom length zipper.
IVAN DOMINGUEZ TEJERA · July 14, 2017 at 11:04 am
Hi Matt, we have written an article about your company in Planetapackraft, good luck with your project.
http://www.planetapackraft.com/2017/07/nuevos-fabricantes-y-hazlo-tu-mismo.html
Matt (Admin) · July 15, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Cool! For some reason I am unable to translate it because the translator thinks it is already in English… I do not know why :/
Gerry McDade · June 24, 2017 at 7:03 pm
Glad to see you turning your ‘do-it-yourself’ ethic into a little business. I’m a beginning packrafter using a cheap ‘China’ craft at the moment (it weighed 16 lbs. out of the box ($150.00)….but have already done some backcountry stuff with it on class 2 and 3 water. Just now want something lighter. Did the lower Linville River in North Carolina most recently. A hike in/float out experience…
Matt (Admin) · June 26, 2017 at 8:38 am
Right on! Carrying a 16 lb boat takes commitment! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Chris Lannon · April 27, 2017 at 4:58 pm
Matt,
This is awesome. I bought a namebrand inflateabke years ago on sale and got lots of use out of it before one of the cheap valves failed. I was able to find replacement material and appropriate adhesive, but not a replacement valve that included flange until diypackraft. My namebrand has been around the US via car but is way too heavy to take where I’d really like to. diypackraft is the solution to my limitations and I can’t wait to get a kit to build with my daughter when she’s a bit older. I’m a mechanical engineer by education and occupation and can’t wait to add to my future aspirations by experimenting with the help of diypackraft. So cool.
Matt (Admin) · April 29, 2017 at 5:01 pm
Awesome! I’m glad you’re finding the site useful 😀