Activity - DIY Packraft

ejensen replied to the topic First seams – how to tell if it’s good? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Just got my kit and now have scraps to try out. Using the Aliexpress leather iron at max setting. I found that a test strip of 250GSM (tube fabric) on 450GSM (floor fabric) would separate by the TPU peeling off the floor fabric (see photo)

Joining 250-250 resulted in a very strong bond that eventually tore with some TPU on each side. Joining…[Read more]
Clemens replied to the topic Doubeling the width of seam strips? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Hey Matt!

Thanks for your quick reply. Unfortunately this was back in the day, when applying Aquasure on seams wasn’t ‘en vogue’ so I’ve only used it at the bottom bits where the seams join the floor. On my next one I’ll be sure to do it on the seams as well.

I’m now thinking about fixing all leaks in my existing rafts as good as possible and…[Read more]
ShaneSykes started the topic Alpacka Gnu seat for DIY Tandem? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

I’m in the finishing touches of building two tandems. I’m intrigued by the Alpacka Gnu for adventure racing, and I like the idea of their center tube seat. Has anyone tried something similar on a DIY raft? Theirs is self bailing and zips into the floor, but it seems like welding a simple tube down the centerline of the tandem floor could make a…[Read more]
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AK TnG started the topic Hot air heat sealing in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Has anyone pursued this any further? I tried my regular heat gun on some scrap and I was super impressed in the speed and ease of sticking it together. There are several options for heat guns to. Digitally controlled, gun type, hot air rework station for circuit cards, tarp welding hot air devices etc…

I’m thinking you might need two of…[Read more]
AK TnG replied to the topic New users say "Hi" here to prove you are not a Spam Bot in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Not a bot…jussayin
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Przemek Marek replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Coming across Matt’s website was one of the best things that happened in 2020. Even though I was in the middle of another lockdown DIY project, after about 5 minutes I knew I just need to make one of these too…

As so many others here noted before, the instructions and a great forum make the construction a pretty straightforward perocess – big…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Awesome! Great bow bag, too! Cheers 😀
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

What a beautiful spot for a maiden voyage! Excellent work, and thanks for posting, Barbara!
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Uncle Fred replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

It looks like 2021 rafts are starting to come together. Can’t wait to see what people come up with.
gbrunwo replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago
adelorenzo replied to the topic Using a off-the-shelf inflation bag in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Nice! I did the same thing with my Thermarest inflation bag. I used different style valves for my boat.

Inflating packraft with Thermarest inflation bag
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Beautiful work, Christian – they all look flawless!

Thanks for the feedback about your experience with the Ultralight fabric, too.

Happy paddling!
Christian001 replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

I finished my third packraft a couple of weeks ago. This time it was an Ultralight.

Matt, you wrote this is the easiest, but for me it was more difficult than the others. The fabric is so thin, that I was afraid I will damage it just from looking at it. I was very carefully and quite slow. In the last hour, when I finished the last bit of the…[Read more]
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Doubeling the width of seam strips? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Hi! I’ve increased the seam width in the kits to 30 mm based on customer feedback, but I haven’t tried any wider than that. I think it should be fine to go wider, but only up to a point (because the tubes meet at an angle and the seam strips have to mold to them).

Also, I’m not sure if you’ve been adding seam sealer to the inside of the seams,…[Read more]
mort1414 replied to the topic Multi Piece Paddle in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Has anyone took a punt on the Aliexpress 4-Piece Carbon Paddles?

I’m approaching the end of my build so starting to look at paddles and PFD’s.

Thanks.
Clemens started the topic Doubeling the width of seam strips? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 8 months ago

Hello,

I’ve built three packrafts already (1x Ironraft, 2x DIY-packrafts) and I’m about to start with my fourth one.

I’ve been using the three boats on lakes, rivers and white water and all in all I’m very happy with them. Although my heat sealing techniques got better from boat to boat, I’m still far away from fully airtight builds and every…[Read more]
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