I am really loving my first ultralight packraft (“first” because I am hoping to build a second with a couple more fishing rod holders added along with some other improvements). It is nearing a year old now as I finished the build in early September of 2023. These pictures are from a 3-day backpacking/fishing trip I just did with a couple of my hiking partners. The lake is Spectacle Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington State.
The only major issue I have had is with the seat and backrest losing air. And that is only because they were the first components I assembled and I made some mistakes in the build / learning process. The seat I was able to repair but I damaged the valve stem on the back rest with my heating iron. I ordered a new seat and backrest kit today to replace the originals. Hopefully I will do better assembling them the second time around!
The packraft is typically strapped to the back of my backpack at the bottom with a foam sitting pad wrapped around it for protection. The raft, seat, backrest, inflatable PFD, and lanyards for my paddle and fishing pole all go into the inflation sack.
I just liked seeing the shadow of the packraft on the lake bottom.
My hiking partners both brought inflatable dinghies to fish from.
