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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 6 days, 16 hours ago
Meet the Chilko Self-Bailer
After binning more prototypes than I care to admit, the Chilko whitewater packraft is finally here! As you can see in the pictures below, its […] -
Matt (Admin) commented on the post, Tariff Info for US Customers 3 weeks, 2 days ago
You don’t have to do anything yet. UPS will pay the fees to US Customs on your behalf, then UPS will try to contact you by phone and/or email to get you to reimburse them. If you don’t hear from them in the next few days, let me know and I’ll ask Purolator for the UPS tracking number (they don’t automatically send that to me). Once UPS contacts…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic New users say "Hi" here to prove you are not a Spam Bot in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Welcome!
Just scroll down to the bottom of the topics list when you’re logged in and you should see a form to create a new topic there.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Heat-sealing tools in the forum DIY Packrafts 1 month ago
Hi, some people have used hot air welders successfully, but I tried it and couldn’t get it to work well myself. I found that I needed three hands, and it was difficult to direct the heat only on the areas I wanted to weld.
I’m not sure if an iron will work on the banner vinyl material you have.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Ultralight backrest and backband in the forum DIY Packrafts 1 month, 1 week ago
I don’t normally include the back band parts with the ultralight seat kits, but I can if you want. I think it would work fine, but I haven’t tried it, so I’m not 100% sure. Just send me an email if you’re thinking about ordering one and you want those parts.
Most of the weight savings in the ultralight seat kit comes from the seat bottom, which…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) commented on the post, Tariff Info for US Customers 1 month, 2 weeks ago
There are still no tariffs on DIY Packraft kits because the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is still in effect, and I provide a certificate of origin with your order showing that it’s made in North America.
After the US Supreme Court’s decision that the “emergency” tariffs are illegal, Trump replaced those tariffs with a different type of…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Layering fabrics? in the forum DIY Packrafts 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Yes and no… You can layer fabrics together to make something stronger, but you can’t iron directly onto TPU without making a mess, so at least one of the fabrics has to be coated on only one side. The woven fabric is less resistant to abrasion than the TPU (and soaks up water and dirt, etc.), so depending on the application, that may or may not…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Dry Bag Score Line Mistake in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 months, 1 week ago
Hi troc, thanks for the feedback – I will try to make that more obvious.
I think it will be easier if you simply trim off the red fabric and make a sandwich like you described. Remember you will need to extend the strip past the edges of the bag so you can attach the buckle. If you’ve trimmed the end flush with the edge of the bag, you can splice…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Paddling flatwater with a dog in the forum DIY Packrafts 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Hi Sam,
Other than the Ultralight, any model will handle a 50 lb dog without popping. For alpine lakes, I would probably choose an Atlin (the largest size), because it’s wider in the foot area so there’s more room to share between the two of you. If you were going to be paddling with the pup for hours at a time, I’d consider a Skeena XL for even…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) commented on the post, New Type of Airtight Zipper 4 months ago
Hi Sam, I’m not opposed to the idea, but I’ve never used canoe float bags and couldn’t tell a good one from a bad one, so someone would have to send me a pattern. Cheers!
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Matt (Admin) commented on the post, New Type of Airtight Zipper 4 months, 1 week ago
Hi Stephen, thanks for reminding me about this. I initially thought I would do a bow bag kit, but then I realized I couldn’t offer one at a reasonable price compared to what was already available elsewhere, but your comment made me go and take another look around and it looks like things have changed (in other words, everything is expensive now!).…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 5 months ago
Discount at Charity Auction
It’s that time of year again! If you’d like to save some money on a DIY Packraft order and give to charity at the same time, you can bid on a $25 […] -
Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 5 months, 1 week ago
MasterSeal Zippers in Stock
The MasterSeal airtight zippers are back in stock! The MasterSeal and SuperSeal zippers are made by TIZIP, the world leader in airtight zippers, […] -
Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 6 months, 1 week ago
Tariff Info for US Customers
Updated March 16, 2026 As a Canadian eCommerce retailer, I want you to know that depending on what you order, the Trump administration’s tariff p […]-
There are still no tariffs on DIY Packraft kits because the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is still in effect, and I provide a certificate of origin with your order showing that it’s made in North America.
After the US Supreme Court’s decision that the “emergency” tariffs are illegal, Trump replaced those tariffs with a different type of tariff set at 15% across the board. So, if you buy something that doesn’t come with a certificate of origin (something that isn’t a kit), you’ll probably have to pay an extra 15% to the US government.
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I am unsure how to make the payment. Purolator shipping shows “awaiting payment for release”. Their quick pay feature requires an account #, not just a shipping number. I only appear to have the shipping #.
How do i make the payment without an account #?
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You don’t have to do anything yet. UPS will pay the fees to US Customs on your behalf, then UPS will try to contact you by phone and/or email to get you to reimburse them. If you don’t hear from them in the next few days, let me know and I’ll ask Purolator for the UPS tracking number (they don’t automatically send that to me). Once UPS contacts you or you have the tracking number, you can pay through a link on the UPS tracking page. If you wait to pay until they come to your door, they’ll charge you an extra fee (like $12 or something ridiculous), so it’s better to pay online.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Accessories in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Very cool! Thanks for posting.
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Postal Strike (Updated Oct. 14)
The Canada Post workers strike has changed from a total nationwide strike to a partial rolling strike, so the postal system is now functioning again, […] -
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 months ago
Great work, Joe – and gorgeous shot! Thanks for the feedback about the Ultralight – it sounds like you’ve had some great adventures.
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 7 months, 1 week ago
Introducing the Skeena XL
Skeena XL (orange), Atlin 145 (red), Skeena 120 (green), Ultralight (yellow), all made by Kenneth Dagfinrud of Norway. Until now, big and tall […] -
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 8 months ago
Awesome! What a great location – and thanks for the feedback about the kits!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 months ago
Great photos, Lee, and excellent work! Thanks for sharing!
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Heck yeah finally! 😀