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Mark replied to the topic Necessity of the Top-Up-Valve? in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
I can’t speak from much experience since I just finished my raft, but I’d say that it’s not necessary. If I was building a second raft, I’d probably leave it off for now and decide later.
That said, I did mount mine already and I extended it with some silicone hose so it can be used from the normal seating position. But if you aren’t going to…[Read more]
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Mark replied to the topic Finished my V3! in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
I couldn’t find the right type of attachment loops for hooking the backband shock cord to the plate anchors… so I made some. Used some scrap 8AWG copper wire and a $13 wire bending tool from Lee Valley Tools. The nice thing about copper is it doesn’t rust, its malleable, and it’s easily solderable. I wouldn’t use it for some heavier duty…[Read more]
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Mark replied to the topic Finished my V3! in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
More pictures of the refinements I’ve added over the past couple days…
Finished grab lines on the stern, added thigh straps and a backband:

The thigh straps and back band are simply some shoulder straps that came with my MEC duffel bags over the years:

Had to name it of course…
I’d like to introduc you to the Wavefaring…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Help & Questions re: DIY Packraft Construction in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
Excellent! Thanks for the update π
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Clemens replied to the topic Inaugural V3 trip in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
Hey,
glad it all worked out in the end and congratulations: nice raft you built there! π
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Clemens started the topic Necessity of the Top-Up-Valve? in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
Hey guys!
A question for those of you who packraft frequently:
I was wondering: is the Top-Up-Valve really necessary? I see a lot of comercially available packrafts not having one – others do though.
Is it something you use regurlarly and would you recommend to install them?
Are there any known problems with them “sticking out” so heavily?
Do…[Read more] -
CASCADE replied to the topic New users say "Hi" here to prove you are not a Spam Bot in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
Hi fromΒ Spain.
Are there people from here?
Best Regards
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CASCADE became a registered member 7 years, 12 months ago
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Logan started the topic Inaugural V3 trip in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
At least she is sea worthy! I still need to create a spray deck, inflatable floor, and some tie down points, but I couldn’t pass up the nice weather and the opportunity to take out the raft.
What an awesome raft, and fun project. Thanks a ton Matt! Also feel free to use these pictures elsewhere.





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Logan replied to the topic Help & Questions re: DIY Packraft Construction in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
Ok, packraft is complete! I’ll post up pictures in a bit. Short Answer, this error I made in construction caused no noticeable difference. I can’t even see any wrinkles on that seam. Turns out I had my iron a tad bit too hot which caused some wrinkling leading to the shorter piece. All I did to fix this was cut the floor to match where the tube…[Read more]
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Mark replied to the topic Finished my V3! in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 12 months ago
Added a few tie down points:
one inside on the floor with a paracord loop to clip a nalgene onto: It’s simply 2 – 2″ circles of 210D with a 1000D semicircle in between.

Then 4 on the bow for a grab line (using the improved tie-down method posted here on the board):



And then took it for a test drive in grandmas pool:

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monkmartinez became a registered member 8 years ago
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Mark replied to the topic Finished my V3! in the forum DIY Packrafts 8 years ago
Feel free to use anything I post here π I’ll take some good measurements of things tonight and post up more information and details. The measurements you provided for the TIzip location worked out beautifully.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Finished my V3! in the forum DIY Packrafts 8 years ago
Beauty!! Thanks for the pictures and the tips! Do you mind if I use them elsewhere on the site?
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Mark started the topic Finished my V3! in the forum DIY Packrafts 8 years ago
I say it’s finished… but I feel like a project like this is never done… it’ll continually change to meet my needs. But for now it holds air so I’m considering it finished enough until I actually get around to using it this summer and figuring out my first round of modifications.

Things I learned:
Don’t use the Coverite 21st Century Iron.…[Read more]
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Mark became a registered member 8 years ago
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Maynard and
Lyn St George are now friends 8 years ago -
Maynard posted an update 8 years ago
@lynsg
Lyn, I am curious as to how you pre weld your seams before you use a heat gun on the seams! Do you first. Weld them with a mini Iron over a curved surface then go over the whole tube seam again with the gun and roller?
Thanks.
-Maynard--
I weld them with a Jingda iron, but just by laying the tube pieces flat and facing together. Imagine that you’re sewing the pieces together, so you add a seam allowance of 7 mm or so to each end of each tube piece and then, instead of sewing, you weld them on that seam allowance. This is where Alpacka sew theirs. You end up with a hull that’s…[Read more]
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Stevoggo replied to the topic Seamgrip vs Aquaseal in the forum DIY Packrafts 8 years ago
Hi Matt,
Thanks for your reply, I didn’t think to check the MSDS.
The main glue listed in that forum is no longer available. I did check the local hardware store and found the product Sika Bond, Tech grip. This is a high strength Polyurethane adhesive and it contains …….4,4′-Mthylenediphenyl disocynate…Ta Da…
I’m still squirrelling my…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 8 years ago
I’ve uploaded a new video showing the V3 DIY Packraft construction process for those who have purchased a kit. The video password is the same as the password for the rest of the instructions. Have a look!
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