DIY Packraft

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      • Overview
      • Step 0.5 – Practice Heat Sealing
      • Step 1: Joining Tube Pieces to Floor
      • Step 2: Joining Tube Pieces Together
      • Step 3: Join Completed Tubes to Floor
      • Step 4: Double-Layer Floor or Joint Reinforcement
      • Step 5: Installing a Boston Valve
      • Step 6: Center Seams (last step!)
      • Making an Inflatable Floor
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    • 2025
      • Tariffs on DIY Packrafts?
      • New Spray Deck Option
      • Removable Spray Deck
      • Iron Modifications
      • Off-Grid Heat Sealing Irons
    • 2024
      • Postal Strike Ended (updated)
      • Postal Strike – Good News
      • FedEx & Purolator Shipping Available
      • How to Buy a Gift Card
      • Fabric For Sale
      • Back Band Assembly Instructions
      • Backband Attach Point How-To
      • Slotted Attachment Point Video
      • Price Reductions!
      • Thigh Straps Available Now
      • Inflation Bag or Electric Pump?
      • Opie’s 2-Person Packraft Build Report
      • New Inflation Bag Assembly Instructions
      • New Heat Sealing Iron
      • Zach Schiada’s Telkwa Build Report
      • Video: The Fabrics
      • The first orange DIY Packraft
      • Inflation Bag Boston Valve Adapter
    • 2023
      • $200 DIY Packraft Coupon at Charity Auction
      • Beautiful New Packraft Fabric Colors
      • Replacement Spray Deck Stiffener
      • New Heat Sealing Video
      • Packrafting Safety
      • New Type of Airtight Zipper
      • Drybag Kits Now Available
      • Heat Sealing Forms For Sale
      • Bikerafting Gear & Tips
      • Customer Tips & Build Reports
      • New Payment Methods
      • Save $20 on a Skeena Kit
      • New Year, New Packraft Models?
    • 2022
      • All Kits are In Stock
      • Fabric Update (Dec. 13)
      • Hurry! $200 DIY Packraft Coupon Charity Auction
      • Ultralight Packraft Kits In Stock
      • An Online Packrafting Course
      • First Fabric Shipment Arrived!
      • Fabric Status Update
      • Packraft Trip Video
      • Pre-Orders Available
      • Packraft Kit Pre-Orders?
    • 2021
      • Only a Few Kits Left
      • State of Emergency – Possible Shipping Delay
      • $200 DIY Packraft Coupon Charity Auction
      • Customer Build Report
      • Current Order Processing Times (updated)
      • How to Modify Your Order
      • Packraft Kit Availability Update
      • Online Packrafting Clinic
    • 2020
      • My Month-Long Packrafting Trip
      • Get Email Updates
      • I’m Back/Fabric Delay
      • Now Closed Until September
      • Today: Last Day to Shop ’til September
      • July 9: Last Call for Kits
      • Packraft Camping Video
      • DIY Packraft Closed for ~August
      • Video: How to Roll, Carry, and Store a Packraft
      • Packrafting Paddles & PFDs
      • Pandemic Update/FAQ
      • Bulk Fabric Sales Suspended
      • Notice: Colored Seats
      • Postal Service Suspended to 60 Countries
      • Coronavirus & DIY Packraft
      • New Packraft Floor Fabric
      • Ken’s DIY Packraft Fleet & Telkwa Build Report
    • 2019
      • How to Choose a Packraft (not just DIY)
      • $200 Coupon in Online Charity Auction
      • Backcountry Meal Planning
      • Spray Deck & Spray Skirt
      • A DIY Packraft Logo?
      • Book Review: Packrafting, by Molly Absolon
      • Book Review: A Long Trek Home
      • Convert a Kayak Paddle to a Packraft Paddle & Trekking Pole
      • The Perfect Ultralight Packrafting Water Shoe
      • Packraft Weight Capacity
      • First Look: Skeena
      • Website Redesign in Progress
      • New Video: Iron Temperature & Timing
      • Iron Modification Video
      • Success! New packrafts tested.
      • Surprise: Another New DIY Packraft Model
      • The Silicone Roller: my new favorite tool
      • Packraft Fishing Rod Holder
      • More 2-Person DIY Packraft Pictures
      • First Look: Updated 2-Person DIY Packraft
      • Ken’s DIY Packraft Build Report
      • The Online Review Economy
    • 2018
      • New Ultralight DIY Packraft – First Look
      • Two new fabrics in the shop
      • 14 Day Alaska Group Trip
      • Travel Notice: August 10-24
      • Tim’s Pontoon Kayak, Version 2
      • Tie-Down Video Posted
      • Convertible Spray Deck
      • Packrafting Events, 2018
      • Privacy
      • Camouflage Fabric in Stock
      • Website Speed Maintenance
      • Book Review: The Wilderness Paddler’s Handbook
      • Inflation Bag Video
      • New Seat Construction Video
      • FAQ Reorganized, New Content
      • Zippers & Green Fabric Back In Stock
      • Backordered Products Resupply Timing Estimates
      • New V3 Assembly Video (password protected)
      • Heat Sealable Boston Valves in Stock
      • Backordered Products Resupply Timing Estimates
      • Iron Modifications (more Forum gold)
      • Whitewater Fittings, a Packraft “Trailer,” and More
      • Back from Vacation
    • 2017
      • New Paddling Video
      • The DIY Packraft Kit Tester program
      • Holiday Notice
      • A Few New Videos
      • Another Improved Tie-Down
      • Bruce’s Voyageur 2-Person DIY Packraft – First Float!
      • Overseas? Save money by using a “freight forwarder”
      • V3 Kits Now Shipping!
      • How Fast is a Packraft?
      • V3 DIY Packrafts will start shipping early October
      • Lightweight Fishing Float Tube
      • More photos of the new V3 DIY Packraft
      • Paddling the V3 DIY Packraft
      • First Pictures of the new V3 DIY Packraft
      • Inflation bag kit instructions posted
      • New DIY Packraft Design Available Soon (and a small rant)
      • Inflation Bag Now Available as a Kit
      • New Seat Kit Instructions Posted
      • Review: Model Airplane Heat Sealing Irons
      • Quick review: New 40D Ripstop Fabric
      • Two New Fabrics Added to Shop
      • Fabric is Here! Actually and in Reality!
      • Fabric Shipment Update
      • Good News/Bad News
      • A Few Photos
      • 10% off Coupon Code for Group Orders
      • Another Fabric Shipment Update
      • New Shipping Options, Free Shipping Code
      • Now Using “Stripe” and Supporting Multiple Currencies in the Shop
      • Forum Spam – Private Messaging Disabled
      • Another *%#@ Fabric Delay!
      • Airtight zippers are back in stock
      • Time-Lapse Video of DIY Packraft Construction
      • Alternative lightweight inflation valves
      • Fabric Shipment Update 4
      • Fabric Shipment Update 3
      • Spray Deck Plans (V2)
      • New Fabric Update 2
      • Update: New Fabric
      • DIY 5-Piece Carbon Paddle
      • Inflatable Floor Guidelines
      • Improved Top-Up Valves in Stock
      • Tim’s Pontoon Boat
      • A few Multi-Color Kits Left (until resupply)
      • Field Repair Tape added to Shop
      • New Spray Deck (Pictures!)
      • Crowd Sourcing Green
      • Aquaseal and Seam Grip added to Shop
      • New Option: Self-Bailing and/or Inflatable Floor
      • Video – Finding & Fixing Leaks
      • Photos – Vancouver Island Paddling
      • TIZIP Airtight Zippers now in Stock
      • Video – Tomi testing his new DIY Packraft
    • 2016
      • Airtight zipper installation instructions posted
      • New Forum Added to Site!
      • Kit Instructions Finished!
      • New How-To Video
      • Second Instruction Video for Kits
      • Review: $25 Heat-Sealing Iron
      • Making Tie-Downs: Instructions Posted
      • Airtight Zippers Pre-Order Sale!
      • “Whitewater” Packrafting – Just for Fun
      • First Instruction Video for Kits
      • Colour Choosing
      • Video Showing How Plans & Kits Work
      • Fabric Comparison Video
      • New Plans Shipping Now
      • Update on Fabric, Kits, New Valves
      • Punctures, Leaks, & Repairs
      • Fabrics Coming to the Shop (Updated August 23)
      • Google Translate & a DIY carbon fiber paddle
      • Follow DIY Packraft on Instagram
      • Alpine Paddling
      • Inflation Bag
      • DIY Heat Sealing Iron
      • The DIY Packraft World Map
      • New Seat Design
      • New Facebook Page
      • Yellow Packraft Finished!
      • New Larger Packraft Plans!
      • Buoyant and Stable!
      • New How-To Video Posted: Joining Curved Seams
      • New How-To Video: Joining Side Pieces
      • Lake Paddling & 2-Person Test Video
      • New Video Up – Tracing and Cutting Your Fabric
      • Plans Available Now
      • DIY Packraft intro Video
      • 813 grams (1.79 pounds)!
      • DIY Packraft Pictures and Details
      • Plans Available Soon
      • Update
    • 2015
      • Coming in 2016!
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David

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@davidpepperell

Active 8 years, 4 months ago
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  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic First seams – how to tell if it’s good? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 1 month ago

    Yep, that sounds about right (see the “Note” about sealing different fabrics together on the Heat Sealing page). You don’t need to join 450 to 450 in any of my designs, so don’t worry about that. Cheers!

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Doubeling the width of seam strips? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 1 month ago

    I think that would work fine, but I would probably just apply the sealant to the outside of the seams. It looks pretty good (glossy) if you let it cure fully before getting them dirty (if it’s at all tacky it’ll pick up dust).

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 1 month ago

    Awesome! Great bow bag, too! Cheers 😀

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 1 month ago

    What a beautiful spot for a maiden voyage! Excellent work, and thanks for posting, Barbara!

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 1 month ago

    Beautiful work, Christian – they all look flawless!

    Thanks for the feedback about your experience with the Ultralight fabric, too.

    Happy paddling!

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Doubeling the width of seam strips? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 1 month ago

    Hi! I’ve increased the seam width in the kits to 30 mm based on customer feedback, but I haven’t tried any wider than that. I think it should be fine to go wider, but only up to a point (because the tubes meet at an angle and the seam strips have to mold to them).

    Also, I’m not sure if you’ve been adding seam sealer to the inside of the seams,…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 4 years, 2 months ago

    Updated March 19, 2021

    After being out of stock for about half a year, a new shipment of packraft fabric arrived in February and I received a large number of orders as soon as I announced the packraft kits […]

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 2 months ago

      Sorry, not at this time.

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 2 months ago

      I have a limited supply of green fabric right now because I did not receive more in the recent fabric order. After I catch up on the current orders I will likely have enough green left for a few more packraft kits, and I will make them available to order (probably in 2-3 weeks). I will try to remember to email you then. After that fabric is gone, I will not have more green fabric for at least several months.

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 2 months ago

      I am not 100% sure there will be enough green, so only do that if you will be happy with a yellow kit in case there is not enough green left, or if you don’t mind paying the non-refundable credit card fees in case you want a refund (about 3.5%).

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 1 month ago

      Hi Levi – sorry, I don’t currently have any bulk fabric for sale.

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Foot Rest? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 2 months ago

    I’ve fixed the broken link – thanks for bringing it to my attention. Just send me an email if you’ve ordered and want to get your password early 🙂

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Biggest Fails in the Field? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 2 months ago

    Hi Barbara, this is the only failure I’m aware of, and it’s a good lesson for us all: https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/packraft-failure-near-drowning/

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Seam Strip Too Short in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 2 months ago

    The least stress will be near the tip of the stern, so you could try there. Wherever is convenient should be fine though.

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 2 months ago

    Cool! Excellent work, and thanks for posting!

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Seam Strip Too Short in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 2 months ago

    I don’t know what fabric you’re using, but assuming you’ve tested the welds and you’re satisfied they’re strong, then if you’re careful to avoid leaving any gap where the two pieces meet then it should work out fine. You can’t heat seal a fabric patch over Seam Grip though (or to the inside of the tube fabric, for that matter); instead, I would…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic First seams – how to tell if it’s good? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 3 months ago

    Looks good from here (see the “note” on the Heat Sealing page about sealing different fabrics together).

    It’s nylon.

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 4 years, 3 months ago

    I am very grateful for the number of people who placed orders immediately after I announced the new fabric shipment had arrived, and now I am working to fulfill the orders as quickly as possible.

    DIY Packraft […]

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 1 month ago

      I can sell a kit without the fabric being scored, but I do not have any Ultralight fabric in stock at this time.

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 1 month ago

      I will send you an email. In case anyone else wants to do this, here is a link to purchase the zipper separately: https://www.diypackraft.com/shop/merchandise/zipper-merchandise/tizip-superseal-50-cm-airtight-zipper/

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Not Sealing Seams? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 3 months ago

    Excellent work, and thanks for the update!

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 4 years, 3 months ago

    At long last! The Skeena, Telkwa, and 2-Person packraft kits are now available in all colors and sizes, and spray decks and spray skirts are also available. (Bulk fabric sales and Ultralight packraft kits will […]

    • Profile picture of mcpook
      mcpook replied 4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks for the good news regarding hit availability. Bummer though about the UL fabric. Very interested in purchasing a UL should those kits ever become available again.

    • Profile picture of Uncle Fred
      Uncle Fred replied 4 years, 3 months ago

      Hi Matt. It says the Telkwa spray deck and skirt are on backorder in the shop pages. I put an order in anyway.

      • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
        Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, the decks and skirts have been more popular than I expected so I need more of the non-fabric components, but that shouldn’t take too long.

        • Profile picture of DannyP
          DannyP replied 4 years, 1 month ago

          Hey there, I just placed an order due to arrive early May-ish. Do you think spray decks/skirts will be available by then to add onto my order? Thank you Matt!

          • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
            Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 1 month ago

            Great! Yes, the spray deck components just arrived 20 minutes ago 🙂

    • Profile picture of Barbara
      Barbara replied 4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks for the notification. Ordered a Skeena within minutes of receiving it, and a friend ordered a Telkwa afew hours later. Curious how many orders you received on day 1 to maybe have an idea on when they might ship. Ready to build this :-).

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 1 month ago

      I haven’t experimented with skegs, but there’s some general advice in the last section of this page: https://www.diypackraft.com/faq/tracking-or-directional-stability/

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Foot Rest? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 3 months ago

    I haven’t made one, but the easiest way would be to fold a circle or rectangle of fabric in half and seal the edges together. Add a top-up valve for inflation/deflation, and add at least one attachment point by sandwiching some floor material into the edge as in this seat: https://www.diypackraft.com/construction/how-to/seat-bottom-assembly-late-2020/

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Seam Grip Adhesion? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 3 months ago

    Good to know – thanks for the update!

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 4 years, 3 months ago

    The past several months have sure tested my patience, but barring further delays, the new DIY Packraft fabric shipment will arrive in 2-3 weeks (early to mid-February). Then I will start making packraft kits […]

    • Profile picture of kfrosty
      kfrosty replied 4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks for the update Matt! What weight fabrics will be available for purchase? I’m thinking about making an inflatable of my own design, but want to use your fabric.

      • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
        Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 3 months ago

        Unfortunately I probably won’t be offering bulk fabric sales other than the fabric that is already available in the shop – at least for a while – because it makes it really difficult to plan ahead and control the inventory when I get sporadic orders for large quantities of fabric and it takes so long to have new fabric made. (All the people who are waiting for an out of stock packraft kit can thank the person who ordered 100 m of fabric one day…) Helping people with their various projects also takes up a lot of time that I should be spending on packraft stuff.

    • Profile picture of kfrosty
      kfrosty replied 4 years, 3 months ago

      I understand bulk fabric isn’t a priority for you which is unfortunate. To clarify, I was not asking for, and people shouldn’t expect, any non-kit-project help from you other than selling the fabric.

      You can set limits for the bulk quantities that people can buy (say 5m) which would help with your planning. I don’t think the person customers are thanking for waiting on out of stock kits is the 100m order guy.

      • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
        Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 3 months ago

        Touché.

    • Profile picture of Barbara
      Barbara replied 4 years, 3 months ago

      Thank you for the update! I’ve been checking constantly to see if the kits are back in stock as I want to get going on a Skeena in February :-). Will you have it in the red fabric? And I take it the seams and seat will be black?

      I’ve also been searching everywhere for a leather iron. No luck on Alibaba, Amazon, local hobby shops, etc. What is the idea iron width to look for? Would also be happy to buy one second-hand from anyone who has completed their built and would be willing to sell theirs.

      • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
        Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 3 months ago

        Yep, red and black will be available! Ideally, you’d want an iron about 27 mm wide, give or take a few mm. I haven’t looked online lately, but you could post in the buy/sell page here in the forum and maybe someone will respond: https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/forum/diy-packrafts/

    • Profile picture of Uncle Fred
      Uncle Fred replied 4 years, 3 months ago

      I’ve been checking back in too for updates. Thanks for updating.

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 4 years, 3 months ago

      Hi Mike – sure, I’ll send you an email.

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 4 years ago

      The average for a first time builder seems to be about 35 hours. (The answer to this question and many others are posted in the FAQ.)

    • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)
      Matt (Admin) replied 3 years, 4 months ago

      No, the ultralight material is too flimsy to make boats like that.

  • Profile picture of Matt (Admin)

    Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Seam Grip Adhesion? in the forum DIY Packrafts 4 years, 3 months ago

    Yep, that’s the stuff.

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