DIY Packraft

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  • How-To
    • Heat-Sealing
    • Useful Tools
    • 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 “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 PasiY

    PasiY became a registered member 4 years, 4 months ago

    PasiY

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  • Profile picture of CharChar

    CharChar became a registered member 4 years, 4 months ago

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  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Trouble Joining Bow Seam in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 4 months ago

    Hi Kyle, I usually have a bit of misalignment there too and it’s not a problem (and being on the bottom of the packraft, it’s not noticeable). As long as the combined length of each edge (floor + tube) is the same, you can iron the strip on without any wrinkles in one tube or the other.

  • Profile picture of Kyle in AK

    Kyle in AK replied to the topic Trouble Joining Bow Seam in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 4 months ago

    I am having an issue with the bow seam, I have about 4 inches left before sealing to the floor of the Packraft, but the length of each piece, before sealing to the floor do not match up as shown by the picture. Recommendations for what to do here?

    Image of the misalignment of pieces

  • Profile picture of Jonah

    Jonah became a registered member 4 years, 5 months ago

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  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Heat-sealing tools in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 5 months ago

    Interesting – yeah, the ones I have are different brands than yours, but they do take a long time to heat up using 120V (at least ten minutes), and one of them has a bogus ground like yours. I haven’t noticed the temperature varying too much in either of them though.

  • Profile picture of Leif Aronsson

    Leif Aronsson became a registered member 4 years, 5 months ago

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    jdubleu became a registered member 4 years, 5 months ago

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  • Profile picture of Aaron

    Aaron replied to the topic Single Sided TPU Issues, Fabric to TPU Failures in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 5 months ago

    I’m having the same issue with blue fabric from a packraft that I ordered on June of last year. The fabric is delaminating from the TPU at the seam strips, and the exposed fabric is fraying badly. I’ve gone over the outsides of the seam strips with Seam Grip, and it appears to have halted the fraying. It looks pretty messy but is still holding air.

  • Profile picture of Donald Becker

    Donald Becker replied to the topic Heat-sealing tools in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 5 months ago

    I say 240V only solely because it has so little heating power at 120V.  It will take a long time to heat up, and the iron won’t be able to maintain a stable temperature in use.  The temptation will be to run it hot (or at least as hot as it gets) and rely on thermal mass, rather than feedback temperature regulation.

    Even at 240V the iron has a p…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of pnwdavis

    pnwdavis replied to the topic Single Sided TPU Issues, Fabric to TPU Failures in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 5 months ago

    Hey everyone!

    Sorry about the long delay on an update on this.  I emailed back an forth with Matt, sent him some fabric samples from the affected areas, and it seemed to be a one off fabric issue.  The supplier isn’t used anymore so it should 100% be a non-issue anymore.

     

    I still wholeheartedly recommend the DIY’s to anyone that has decent s…[Read more]

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    sergey became a registered member 4 years, 5 months ago

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  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Heat-sealing tools in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 5 months ago

    Interesting! Thanks for posting this… it is a bit worrying that the safety features aren’t as advertised, but we should never leave these irons plugged in unattended anyway, so maybe it’s not such a concern.

    I didn’t quite follow the steps to the conclusion that it’s only suitable for 240V – can you explain your reasoning?

  • Profile picture of Donald Becker

    Donald Becker replied to the topic Heat-sealing tools in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 5 months ago

    I bought one of the Jingda ‘XL-150A’ leather irons from Aliexpress and did an examination.

    Before even powering it on, I took it apart.

    The first thing I noticed was the power cable was bogus.  It had a 3 prong ‘Y’ grounded Chinese Type I plug molded to the cable.  The plug was marked “JS-03 10A 250V”.  The cable was embossed with “3×0.75mm2” al…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Cathryn

    Cathryn replied to the topic Suggestions: TIZip placement canoe seats in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 5 months ago

    Thanks Matt =)

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Suggestions: TIZip placement canoe seats in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 5 months ago

    I would suggest placing it across the top of the seat so it can wrap around the corners and not cross any seams. Locate it closer to one edge or the other so you can sit on the seat without it being right in the middle.

  • Profile picture of Cathryn

    Cathryn started the topic Suggestions: TIZip placement canoe seats in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 5 months ago

    Hey =)

    We are making a 2 person pack and want to turn the canoe seats into dry bags using the tizip. We were originally going to place the zip horizontally across on one of the side pieces that face the front or back of the raft, however have found that the zip is just tgat little bit longer than the side panels.

    Looking for suggestions for…[Read more]

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  • MasterSeal Zippers in Stock
  • Tariff Info for US Customers
  • Postal Strike (Updated Oct. 14)
  • Introducing the Skeena XL
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