DIY Packraft

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    • Top-Up Valve Installation
    • Thigh Straps Installation
    • Back Band Assembly & Installation
    • Boston Valve Installation
    • Inflation Bag Kit Assembly Instructions
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    • Find & Repair Leaks
    • Spray Skirt Assembly
    • Spray Deck Assembly
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    • Instructions – V3 Kits
    • Instructions – V2 Kits
      • Overview
      • Step 0.5 – Practice Heat Sealing
      • Step 1: Joining Tube Pieces to Floor
      • Step 2: Joining Tube Pieces Together
      • Step 3: Join Completed Tubes to Floor
      • Step 4: Double-Layer Floor or Joint Reinforcement
      • Step 5: Installing a Boston Valve
      • Step 6: Center Seams (last step!)
      • Making an Inflatable Floor
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    • 2025
      • MasterSeal Zippers in Stock
      • Introducing the Skeena XL
      • Tariffs on DIY Packrafts?
      • New Spray Deck Option
      • Removable Spray Deck
      • Iron Modifications
      • Off-Grid Heat Sealing Irons
    • 2024
      • Postal Strike Ended (updated)
      • Postal Strike – Good News
      • FedEx & Purolator Shipping Available
      • How to Buy a Gift Card
      • Fabric For Sale
      • Back Band Assembly Instructions
      • Backband Attach Point How-To
      • Slotted Attachment Point Video
      • Price Reductions!
      • Thigh Straps Available Now
      • Inflation Bag or Electric Pump?
      • Opie’s 2-Person Packraft Build Report
      • New Inflation Bag Assembly Instructions
      • New Heat Sealing Iron
      • Zach Schiada’s Telkwa Build Report
      • Video: The Fabrics
      • The first orange DIY Packraft
      • Inflation Bag Boston Valve Adapter
    • 2023
      • $200 DIY Packraft Coupon at Charity Auction
      • Beautiful New Packraft Fabric Colors
      • Replacement Spray Deck Stiffener
      • New Heat Sealing Video
      • Packrafting Safety
      • New Type of Airtight Zipper
      • Drybag Kits Now Available
      • Heat Sealing Forms For Sale
      • Bikerafting Gear & Tips
      • Customer Tips & Build Reports
      • New Payment Methods
      • Save $20 on a Skeena Kit
      • New Year, New Packraft Models?
    • 2022
      • All Kits are In Stock
      • Fabric Update (Dec. 13)
      • Hurry! $200 DIY Packraft Coupon Charity Auction
      • Ultralight Packraft Kits In Stock
      • An Online Packrafting Course
      • First Fabric Shipment Arrived!
      • Fabric Status Update
      • Packraft Trip Video
      • Pre-Orders Available
      • Packraft Kit Pre-Orders?
    • 2021
      • Only a Few Kits Left
      • State of Emergency – Possible Shipping Delay
      • $200 DIY Packraft Coupon Charity Auction
      • Customer Build Report
      • Current Order Processing Times (updated)
      • How to Modify Your Order
      • Packraft Kit Availability Update
      • Online Packrafting Clinic
    • 2020
      • My Month-Long Packrafting Trip
      • Get Email Updates
      • I’m Back/Fabric Delay
      • Now Closed Until September
      • Today: Last Day to Shop ’til September
      • July 9: Last Call for Kits
      • Packraft Camping Video
      • DIY Packraft Closed for ~August
      • Video: How to Roll, Carry, and Store a Packraft
      • Packrafting Paddles & PFDs
      • Pandemic Update/FAQ
      • Bulk Fabric Sales Suspended
      • Notice: Colored Seats
      • Postal Service Suspended to 60 Countries
      • Coronavirus & DIY Packraft
      • New Packraft Floor Fabric
      • Ken’s DIY Packraft Fleet & Telkwa Build Report
    • 2019
      • How to Choose a Packraft (not just DIY)
      • $200 Coupon in Online Charity Auction
      • Backcountry Meal Planning
      • Spray Deck & Spray Skirt
      • A DIY Packraft Logo?
      • Book Review: Packrafting, by Molly Absolon
      • Book Review: A Long Trek Home
      • Convert a Kayak Paddle to a Packraft Paddle & Trekking Pole
      • The Perfect Ultralight Packrafting Water Shoe
      • Packraft Weight Capacity
      • First Look: Skeena
      • Website Redesign in Progress
      • New Video: Iron Temperature & Timing
      • Iron Modification Video
      • Success! New packrafts tested.
      • Surprise: Another New DIY Packraft Model
      • The Silicone Roller: my new favorite tool
      • Packraft Fishing Rod Holder
      • More 2-Person DIY Packraft Pictures
      • First Look: Updated 2-Person DIY Packraft
      • Ken’s DIY Packraft Build Report
      • The Online Review Economy
    • 2018
      • New Ultralight DIY Packraft – First Look
      • Two new fabrics in the shop
      • 14 Day Alaska Group Trip
      • Travel Notice: August 10-24
      • Tim’s Pontoon Kayak, Version 2
      • Tie-Down Video Posted
      • Convertible Spray Deck
      • Packrafting Events, 2018
      • Privacy
      • Camouflage Fabric in Stock
      • Website Speed Maintenance
      • Book Review: The Wilderness Paddler’s Handbook
      • Inflation Bag Video
      • New Seat Construction Video
      • FAQ Reorganized, New Content
      • Zippers & Green Fabric Back In Stock
      • Backordered Products Resupply Timing Estimates
      • New V3 Assembly Video (password protected)
      • Heat Sealable Boston Valves in Stock
      • Backordered Products Resupply Timing Estimates
      • Iron Modifications (more Forum gold)
      • Whitewater Fittings, a Packraft “Trailer,” and More
      • Back from Vacation
    • 2017
      • New Paddling Video
      • The DIY Packraft Kit Tester program
      • Holiday Notice
      • A Few New Videos
      • Another Improved Tie-Down
      • Bruce’s Voyageur 2-Person DIY Packraft – First Float!
      • Overseas? Save money by using a “freight forwarder”
      • V3 Kits Now Shipping!
      • How Fast is a Packraft?
      • V3 DIY Packrafts will start shipping early October
      • Lightweight Fishing Float Tube
      • More photos of the new V3 DIY Packraft
      • Paddling the V3 DIY Packraft
      • First Pictures of the new V3 DIY Packraft
      • Inflation bag kit instructions posted
      • New DIY Packraft Design Available Soon (and a small rant)
      • Inflation Bag Now Available as a Kit
      • New Seat Kit Instructions Posted
      • Review: Model Airplane Heat Sealing Irons
      • Quick review: New 40D Ripstop Fabric
      • Two New Fabrics Added to Shop
      • Fabric is Here! Actually and in Reality!
      • Fabric Shipment Update
      • Good News/Bad News
      • A Few Photos
      • 10% off Coupon Code for Group Orders
      • Another Fabric Shipment Update
      • New Shipping Options, Free Shipping Code
      • Now Using “Stripe” and Supporting Multiple Currencies in the Shop
      • Forum Spam – Private Messaging Disabled
      • Another *%#@ Fabric Delay!
      • Airtight zippers are back in stock
      • Time-Lapse Video of DIY Packraft Construction
      • Alternative lightweight inflation valves
      • Fabric Shipment Update 4
      • Fabric Shipment Update 3
      • Spray Deck Plans (V2)
      • New Fabric Update 2
      • Update: New Fabric
      • DIY 5-Piece Carbon Paddle
      • Inflatable Floor Guidelines
      • Improved Top-Up Valves in Stock
      • Tim’s Pontoon Boat
      • A few Multi-Color Kits Left (until resupply)
      • Field Repair Tape added to Shop
      • New Spray Deck (Pictures!)
      • Crowd Sourcing Green
      • Aquaseal and Seam Grip added to Shop
      • New Option: Self-Bailing and/or Inflatable Floor
      • Video – Finding & Fixing Leaks
      • Photos – Vancouver Island Paddling
      • TIZIP Airtight Zippers now in Stock
      • Video – Tomi testing his new DIY Packraft
    • 2016
      • Airtight zipper installation instructions posted
      • New Forum Added to Site!
      • Kit Instructions Finished!
      • New How-To Video
      • Second Instruction Video for Kits
      • Review: $25 Heat-Sealing Iron
      • Making Tie-Downs: Instructions Posted
      • Airtight Zippers Pre-Order Sale!
      • “Whitewater” Packrafting – Just for Fun
      • First Instruction Video for Kits
      • Colour Choosing
      • Video Showing How Plans & Kits Work
      • Fabric Comparison Video
      • New Plans Shipping Now
      • Update on Fabric, Kits, New Valves
      • Punctures, Leaks, & Repairs
      • Fabrics Coming to the Shop (Updated August 23)
      • Google Translate & a DIY carbon fiber paddle
      • Follow DIY Packraft on Instagram
      • Alpine Paddling
      • Inflation Bag
      • DIY Heat Sealing Iron
      • The DIY Packraft World Map
      • New Seat Design
      • New Facebook Page
      • Yellow Packraft Finished!
      • New Larger Packraft Plans!
      • Buoyant and Stable!
      • New How-To Video Posted: Joining Curved Seams
      • New How-To Video: Joining Side Pieces
      • Lake Paddling & 2-Person Test Video
      • New Video Up – Tracing and Cutting Your Fabric
      • Plans Available Now
      • DIY Packraft intro Video
      • 813 grams (1.79 pounds)!
      • DIY Packraft Pictures and Details
      • Plans Available Soon
      • Update
    • 2015
      • Coming in 2016!
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Activity

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  • Profile picture of gregkn

    gregkn started the topic DIY inflatable mattress in the forum DIY Packrafts 2 years, 11 months ago

    Hi,

     

     

    I would like to make an inflatable mattress with baffles. Desired dimensions when inflated, 150*40*15cm

    Are the  dimensions of the photo correct, to achieve the desired dimensions when inflated ?

     

    Thanks for any help in advance

  • Profile picture of Uncle Fred

    Uncle Fred replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 2 years, 11 months ago

    Below are a couple photos that didn’t make it into the build posting below. For some reason, if I add too many pictures, it either deletes the post or does strange things to the images.

    Referenced pump and glued-on included accessory configuration that fits both the Boston Valves and the Top-up valves. Note that for both, the pump friction fits…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Uncle Fred

    Uncle Fred replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 2 years, 11 months ago

    Packrafts seem to be almost unknown in Ontario. Everyone I encounter asks what these boats are. Canoeists gawk at them. People approach asking if I could build them a raft.

    Portages are amazing with packrafts. For anything over 400m we roll them up and strap them to our packs. Hiking a portage with a boat is no longer a chore.

    Building the…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Uncle Fred

    Uncle Fred replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 2 years, 11 months ago

    Packrafts seem to be almost unknown in Ontario. Everyone I encounter asks what these boats are. Canoeists gawk at them. People approach asking if I could build them a raft.

    Portages are amazing with packrafts. For anything over 400m we roll them up and strap them to our packs. Hiking a portage with a boat is no longer a chore.

    Build…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Uncle Fred

    Uncle Fred replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 2 years, 11 months ago

    Packrafts seem to be almost unknown in Ontario. Everyone I encounter asks what these boats are. Canoeists gawk at them. People approach asking if I could build them a raft.

    Portages are amazing with packrafts. For anything over 400m we roll them up and strap them to our packs. Hiking a portage with a boat is no longer a chore.

    Build…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Uncle Fred

    Uncle Fred replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 2 years, 11 months ago

    Test

  • Profile picture of Uncle Fred

    Uncle Fred replied to the topic DIY Packraft/Life raft self-inflatable in the forum DIY Packrafts 2 years, 11 months ago

    Designing and making a boat is a time-intensive process. You’d probably have to go through several build iterations to get something good enough to trust in a rescue situation. There may also be expensive certifications required by law where you live. Also, if there was an accident and someone died while using your inflatable, you’d potentially be…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Dani_Villa

    Dani_Villa became a registered member 2 years, 11 months ago

    Dani_Villa

    @daniela-villarreal

    View Profile
  • Profile picture of koda

    koda became a registered member 2 years, 12 months ago

    koda

    @vandajay

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  • Profile picture of pezk

    pezk became a registered member 2 years, 12 months ago

    pezk

    @pezk

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  • Profile picture of mark

    mark became a registered member 2 years, 12 months ago

    mark

    @markl

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  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 3 years ago

    If you’d like to save some money on a DIY Packraft and give to a worthy charity at the same time, you can bid on a $200 (CAD) DIY Packraft coupon at the annual Rotary Club online auction. At the time I write t […]

  • Profile picture of Damo

    Damo replied to the topic Fabric suppliers in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years ago

    GP Packraft Seat/FloorI’m not really looking at self bailing at the moment. Here in Tasmania the water is always cold, especially in the creeks and rivers that start from the mountains. I’ve just ordered a two piece suit to ensure I stay dry (and therefore warmer).

    I have attached an image of a floor I am wanting to build. These are about 150€ each and postage. So fo…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Fabric suppliers in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years ago

    Hi Damo, the only suppliers I’m aware of are ExtrimTextil in Germany, Seattle Fabrics in the US, and Aliexpress in China. I didn’t like the fabrics from Seattle Fabrics (melting point of fabric too similar to melting point of coating), and the reviews of the fabrics on Aliexpress are pretty bad (the coatings easily delaminate). In your case the…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Damo

    Damo started the topic Fabric suppliers in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years ago

    Hi just wondering if anyone knows of a decent supplier for extra fabric.  I’ve looked around various suppliers, but no real luck with anything decently priced or fitting the requirements.  I’m wanting to make a few inflatable floors/seats.

    I’m located in Australia if that helps, but I assume a local supplier here will be impossible to f…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Milen Mladenov

    Milen Mladenov became a registered member 3 years ago

    Milen Mladenov

    @milenmladenov

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  • Profile picture of ey63210

    ey63210 started the topic DIY Packraft/Life raft self-inflatable in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years ago

    Hello Packrafts Builders.

    I have started a DIY project related to Packrafts. I’m building a life raft/rescue raft. Similar to the ones used in aviation. But I want it more packable and maybe more focused on sustaining 1-2 person. So a hybrid Packraft/life raft.

    (I’m right now figuring out the best self-inflating mechanism. There is the popular…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of ey63210

    ey63210 became a registered member 3 years ago

    ey63210

    @ey63210

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  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years ago

    Excellent work, Damo! I look forward to your feedback. Thanks for posting!

  • Profile picture of Damo

    Damo replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years ago

    So it took about a week to build my Telkwa.  Sure I made a few errors – overheating certain areas – accidentally touching areas of TPU that I shouldn’t have touched.  But I am super happy with how it turned out – only 2 small leaks at completion that were fixed promptly with a touch up using the heating iron.

    I would definitely make some c…[Read more]

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