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I used a heat gun to do some tricky spots on my packrafts. I used the “858D Heat Gun” (search for it on AliExpress). I flattened the smallest nozzle slightly with pliers. This allowed me to direct the airflow much more precisely onto the seams. I don’t recall the exact settings (temperature and airflow) right now, but if you need me to look them…[Read more]

Welcome!

Just scroll down to the bottom of the topics list when you’re logged in and you should see a form to create a new topic there.

Hello,

I really appreciate all the resources posted here and on YT for diy rafts.

I’d like to make a post about a making a diy ‘cataraft’ however I can’t find an option to create a new thread, only reply to existing ones…?

Thanks, then I will stick with the iron and I will test the iron on the banner since I will be reusing it I can make tests there.

Hi, some people have used hot air welders successfully, but I tried it and couldn’t get it to work well myself. I found that I needed three hands, and it was difficult to direct the heat only on the areas I wanted to weld.

I’m not sure if an iron will work on the banner vinyl material you have.

Hi!

I would like to make a packraft and I also have some old vinyl banners for other projects, so my question is if you could use this too for the packraft.

I already checked the forums and the mini iron as far I understand wont work really well with 110v, but if it is the best tool for the job then I will buy that one, I can always make it work…[Read more]

Hey, human here

I don’t normally include the back band parts with the ultralight seat kits, but I can if you want. I think it would work fine, but I haven’t tried it, so I’m not 100% sure. Just send me an email if you’re thinking about ordering one and you want those parts.

Most of the weight savings in the ultralight seat kit comes from the seat bottom, which…[Read more]

It’s a good idea, but I made boats for friends for special military operations. Speed, simplicity, and weight are essential there. They take several boats. Usually, when a mine hit, they threw the boat away. If it survived, they unscrewed the plug, threw it away, quickly deflated it, and left. There are several spare plugs in the pocket. If the…[Read more]

Hi Andriy,

you don’t need two valves. One is enough. I use a clothespin, one end of which I’ve shortened slightly. This allows me to insert it into the bottle valve. This holds the lower flap open, allowing the air to be released.

The translator did not translate correctly. These two valves are lighter than one Boston valve.

I want to show you how I make the valve. The only drawback is that you need to make two of them. One to inflate, the other to deflate. But it’s still easier than a Boston valve. I can’t post a photo of the boat without permission, since I designed it myself, so I’m posting a photo of the valve so you can understand the principle on a boat with a…[Read more]