DIY Packraft

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    • Heat-Sealing
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    • Instructions – 2-Person Kits
    • Instructions – Atlin Kits
    • Instructions – Skeena & Telkwa Kits
    • Instructions – Ultralight Kits
    • Roll-Top Drybag Kit
    • TIZIP Zipper Installation
    • Attachment Points & Tie-Downs
    • Top-Up Valve Installation
    • Thigh Straps Installation
    • Back Band Assembly & Installation
    • Boston Valve Installation
    • Inflation Bag Kit Assembly Instructions
    • Packraft Fishing Rod Holder
    • Find & Repair Leaks
    • Spray Skirt Assembly
    • Spray Deck Assembly
    • Heat Sealing Iron Modifications
    • Pack, Carry, and Store a Packraft
    • 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
  • Blog
    • All
    • 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 β€œTrailer,” 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 β€œfreight 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 β€œStripe” 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!
      • β€œWhitewater” 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 Lehmann99

    Lehmann99 replied to the topic Top-up valve adapter for boston valve in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 3 months ago

    Can you post one adapter to Sweden? Of course I Will pay for the shipment and for the item itself

     

    Regards Anders

  • Profile picture of Lehmann99

    Lehmann99 became a registered member 3 years, 3 months ago

    Lehmann99

    @lehmann99

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  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Heat Iron Exploded! (Anyone has one in Germany?) in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 3 months ago

    Yikes, that could have ended badly!

    I’m not aware of any time limitations for the irons – I have left my irons plugged in for much longer than two hours without any sign of problems, and I haven’t heard of anyone else having this problem either, so I think maybe you were unlucky and received a bad iron. It’s unfortunate that it takes so long to…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

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

    Haha, that’s great! This project really does appeal to a certain type of person – there’s surely another type that ends up shelving it unfinished, but those people don’t tell me about it so it’s hard to know how many there are. It is pretty gratifying to see the “repeat offenders” though!

    I think you’re right that the Anfibio self-bailing tube…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Pieces not aligning with dot/slit (3RL, 2RL) in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 3 months ago

    Excellent! πŸ˜€

  • Profile picture of Tuk

    Tuk started the topic Heat Iron Exploded! (Anyone has one in Germany?) in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 3 months ago

    So I was making good progress ironing the first tube yesterday, when I noticed something warm on on my elbow. I looked and it was thick, gray smoke coming from the back end of the leather iron. I quickly threw it onto a plate I have on the floor for putting the hot iron on and immediately after a loud pop sounded with a spark coming from the iron.…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Tuk

    Tuk replied to the topic Pieces not aligning with dot/slit (3RL, 2RL) in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 3 months ago

    Thanks Matt, I trimmed 3R and like you suggested and it seems like everything will be ok πŸ™‚ .

  • Profile picture of BigFatRick

    BigFatRick became a registered member 3 years, 3 months ago

    BigFatRick

    @bigfatrick

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  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 3 years, 3 months ago

    Updated August 18, 2022

    Finally, the first fabric shipment is here! That’s the good news.

    The bad news is that there isn’t enough fabric here to fulfill all of the pre-orders (or any new orders), and due t […]

    • Profile picture of mttgilbert
      mttgilbert replied 3 years ago

      No rush, but any update on the second round of new material?

      • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
        Matt (Admin) replied 3 years ago

        Hi Matt, I’ll post an update later today. Thanks for the push πŸ™‚

  • Profile picture of tourmikes

    tourmikes became a registered member 3 years, 3 months ago

    tourmikes

    @tourmikes

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  • Profile picture of chanchito17

    chanchito17 replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 3 months ago

    This DIY project really attracts a certain type of person… so many pics say “Finished my first boat” indicating that they loved the project and plan to do more!! I’m the same, and all my friends are asking about how to make their own. Luc Mehl, the alaskan packraft Guru, even gave approval of my boat “bubbles” when I took his swift water rescue…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

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

    Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!

  • Profile picture of benbue

    benbue replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 3 months ago

    Back view of SkeenaΒ side view of skeena

    Finished my first Skeena this spring and just got back from a 4 day float down the North Fork of the Flathead river in Montana (USA). Big water because of a wet spring, lots of class 2+ waves but the Skeena performed just as well as the Alpacas in the group. I believe this raft outperformed the Kokopelli Hornet-Lite rafts floating with us by…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of VerMonsterRV

    VerMonsterRV became a registered member 3 years, 3 months ago

    VerMonsterRV

    @vermonsterrv

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  • Profile picture of COrafterCMS

    COrafterCMS posted an update 3 years, 4 months ago

    I have an alpaca raft with removable deck (zipper and velcro) and is just too leaky for even basic use. Wondering if its possible and worth trying to put on DIY spray deck?

  • Profile picture of cellison

    cellison became a registered member 3 years, 4 months ago

    cellison

    @cellison

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  • Profile picture of tnflint

    tnflint became a registered member 3 years, 4 months ago

    tnflint

    @tnflint

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  • Profile picture of COrafterCMS

    COrafterCMS became a registered member 3 years, 4 months ago

    COrafterCMS

    @cstrijek

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    • Profile picture of COrafterCMS
      COrafterCMS replied 3 years, 3 months ago

      I have an older alpaca raft with zippered/velcro deck. Is it possible to replace this with a DIY deck?

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Pieces not aligning with dot/slit (3RL, 2RL) in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 4 months ago

    If tube 1 fits nicely between tube 2 and the center slit then I would locate the tubes as you have them in the pictures without modifying anything, but if tube 1 doesn’t fit, then I would trim the corner in this picture to make tube 1 fit.

    It looks like it extends about 5 mm past the slit, so I would trim off 5 mm at the corner and gradually…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Tuk

    Tuk replied to the topic Pieces not aligning with dot/slit (3RL, 2RL) in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 years, 4 months ago

    Oh, seems like I replied to myself instead of to you. Hope you see my picture above πŸ™‚ .

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  • MasterSeal Zippers in Stock
  • Tariff Info for US Customers
  • Postal Strike (Updated Oct. 14)
  • Introducing the Skeena XL
Recent Comments
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  • Matt (Admin) on Punctures, Leaks, & Repairs