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 on an extension.
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 more room, but on alpine lakes I doubt that would be necessary, and the extra bulk and weight might not be worthwhile.
As far as I can see, neither of those looks bad enough to risk removal and rewelding. I would just coat them with Aquaseal and not worry about it, because everything else looks great. For the sealant on the inside, I would proceed as normal, just making sure to plug any obvious routes where air could escape. Cheers!
Hi Anders – don’t worry! It’s not necessary to go back and change anything – just carry on. Those inside reinforcements are only for extra strength (the Skeena and other packraft models don’t have them, and that has never caused a problem). If you are really concerned, you could add a wider reinforcing strip that bridges across the sealant, but again, it is not necessary.
Hmm, the picture doesn’t really show the whole piece, but from what I can see, it looks like it could work. If you want a new black rectangle then I can make one for free – you’ll just need to pay the shipping cost. Send me an email with your current address if that’s what you’d like to do, or carry on with the red. Cheers
When I was designing my first packrafts I used a roll of clear plastic vapor barrier from the hardware store (used for house construction) and the tape they sell for sealing it. My prototypes weren’t completely airtight, but close enough to judge whether or not they were the right shapes when inflated.
The speed difference between the Atlin and Telkwa is not much. I have only tested it a little bit with GPS on a lake, but it seems like the Atlin is about 10% slower (less than 1/2 km/h difference). On rivers, speed is less important because the river does most of the work for you.
If the packraft’s length is critical, you can make the stern (tail) a bit shorter and less pointy by simply rounding the tube pieces more before adding the final seam strip that joins them together. On the Telkwa you could do the same on the bow (front).
I have sent only a few packraft kits to Spain, and I don’t recall where exactly. I hope you can connect with someone though!
The Klymit LiteWater Dinghy appears to be made with the woven fabric on the outside, and pretty much all packraft seats are made that way, too, so you’ll probably be okay, depending on what you’re designing.
I’m glad that the damage wasn’t too bad. If you email me with the dimensions you want, I’ll see if I have a large enough scrap I can set aside for you.