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#2540
Matt (Admin)
Keymaster

Hi @hiroshi – well done! It looks good, but still a bit soft.

Another method of finding leaks is to put some air into the packraft and submerge it in a bathtub or lake and then squeeze it – air bubbles will escape anywhere there is a leak.

If you are experiencing lots of leaks from incompletely sealed seams (not punctures), it might be a good idea to go over the seams again with your iron to make sure they are fully sealed. You can insert some folded paper or cardboard through the Boston valve and position it under the seam you are working on so the heat doesn’t transfer through to the fabric on the other side of the tube.

Sometimes pressing with the sharp edge of your iron along the seam (instead of the flat part) works well because it only heats a narrow strip of TPU, so you can reseal the area without risk of the seam completely separating (as it might if the entire width of the seam is reheated).

If after going over the seams you still have a few leaks, then try listening for air or try using soap and water.

You may need to apply Seam Grip or Aquaseal in some areas if it’s too late to access them with the iron. Adhesives are best applied to the inside of the packraft, but if you can’t access the area through the valve (or an airtight zipper), then you can apply them to the outside.