DIY Packraft | Derek | Activity https://www.diypackraft.com/members/derek/activity/ Activity feed for Derek. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:50:51 -0700 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-US 30 hourly 2 ad8df997128dc9ecf9d077ef5700e0d9 Derek replied to the topic Packraft failure - near drowning in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/packraft-failure-near-drowning/#post-11290 Fri, 29 Nov 2019 00:59:15 -0800 It failed on the yellow/blue seam shown in the pic in this post.  Right below the guys butt.  It failed on the inboard aspect of the boat.

I spoke with him today and apparently he was fidgeting around quite a bit with legs/hips, and he feels he put too much outward pressure on that seam.  The guy paddling in this photo is light, it didn’t fail in…[Read more]

]]> 0 460f5317a92b59c02f4306c96cf77efd Derek replied to the topic Packraft failure - near drowning in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/packraft-failure-near-drowning/#post-11278 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 03:09:25 -0800 voyageur

]]> 0 d6a2833b1d92a378bf148713eac4298e Derek started the topic Packraft failure - near drowning in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/packraft-failure-near-drowning/ Thu, 28 Nov 2019 03:07:26 -0800 Wanted to post this not to bash DIYpackraft, but to raise awareness.

I have been paddling my huge tandem Voyageur packraft for almost two years down all sorts of rivers, back and forth to my boat when anchored in Alaska, hauling deer back to my boat, catching king and coho salmon from it, hauling hundreds of pounds of sockeye, adult men, and many…[Read more]

]]> 0 c417e7b5bd500bcfcbeb9cefe5ea295b Derek replied to the topic How airtight are your boats? in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/how-airtight-are-your-boats/#post-10123 Tue, 18 Jun 2019 14:23:29 -0700 Like Matt said, I’ve had good luck cleaning and relubricating the zipper to obtain an airtight seal again.

]]> 0 5a5532dda5a1fa3dc54b78bd6de7f162 Derek replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/diy-packraft-photos/#post-10122 Tue, 18 Jun 2019 03:51:59 -0700 Man, I LOVE my big boss oversized DIYpackraft.  My son and I landed our first king salmon from the packraft today.  I know you discontinued the Voyageur, but I’d love to have the option to buy plans for one in the future, when this one wears out.  Such a great utility packraft.

]]> 0 1ed52cd24a6e0004f23c3f7fe5f67ccc Derek replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/diy-packraft-photos/#post-9958 Sat, 18 May 2019 04:33:50 -0700 First Dolly Varden of the year……..

]]> 0 b7412d2837d82f3285cfd2711caa435c Derek replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/diy-packraft-photos/#post-9795 Wed, 15 May 2019 03:50:17 -0700 Year two on my ghetto Voyageur build.  Paddled 11 miles today on a bear hunt, didn’t find a bear.  Pictured with a full pack, rifle, and two crab pots.  This thing is ugly, but it serves a purpose.

 

]]> 0 51a257edf736cfa4e1204713e510664a Derek replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/diy-packraft-photos/#post-9326 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 13:34:43 -0700 Sure, I don’t log in here often.  Contact me on Facebook. Derek Weiss

]]> 0 ab3e27f5bf413401ffd60a6158cdc5e3 Derek replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/diy-packraft-photos/#post-8694 Sun, 27 Jan 2019 03:31:29 -0800 Crabbing near Juneau with a DIYpackraft, and hauling a deer off of Admiralty Island with a custom HUGE Voyageur DIYpackraft and my smaller one.

 

]]> 0 c3bf44c9ae5be2907a51d1dc0fa9bd03 Derek replied to the topic Voyageur Seat and Inflatable Floor in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/voyageur-seat-and-inflatable-floor/#post-6744 Sun, 15 Jul 2018 15:50:31 -0700 When I made the Voyageur longer it was my first packraft build and I screwed some stuff up.  If I had to do it over again, I’d say no, it is not harder, just more time consuming by adding a couple seams.

I can’t answer your question about self-bailer.  If you buy a Big Agnes, be sure it fits your floor length.  My Voyageur is gigantic, and it fi…[Read more]

]]> 0 fff962174454d9900509b771ef3f17cc Derek replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/diy-packraft-photos/#post-6715 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 17:49:19 -0700 Second packraft just finished.  The first one was an 80″ floor on the Voyageur.  Learned a lot in that build and applied it to this build.  This one was much easier and more fun to build.  Good times ahead.  Still needs a spray deck.  And I’m using my ExPed large camping pillow for a seat because it’s only $30 and I don’t need to spend hours making it;)

]]> 0 c081ca7fc08da0a5e2de74f87975f01a Derek replied to the topic "Voyageur" extra huge. in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/voyageur-extra-huge/#post-6521 Sat, 02 Jun 2018 17:26:06 -0700 The long seams were tricky trying to reach inside those tubes.  If I remember right, my floor is 84″ long.  I’d say think it through before you proceed so you are sure you’ll be able to effectively seal those long seams from the extended tubes.  I had some persistent leaks there that I finally sorted out.

Don’t mess with the 3m stuff, I just us…[Read more]

]]> 0 5853a9a8624824c95c9298e6f52011f5 Derek replied to the topic "Voyageur" extra huge. in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/voyageur-extra-huge/#post-6412 Wed, 16 May 2018 19:27:45 -0700 Paddles fine, and outside of my craftsmanship, I’m totally happy with it.  I didn’t foresee how difficult the inside tube seam would be when I made the floor length 16″ longer and had difficulty with those seams being airtight.  So….3M 5200 to the rescue.  Works fine now.

I sit with my knees slightly bent and feel I can navigate easy rivers fi…[Read more]

]]> 0 9f8917ffa1f68ec007c0d64fbb6bedb9 Derek replied to the topic "Voyageur" extra huge. in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/voyageur-extra-huge/#post-6394 Mon, 14 May 2018 00:53:48 -0700  

Got the “packship” down the Mendenhall and Herbert Rivers with me, wife, and 7 year old.  Working well.  I put 3M 5200 on all the seams instead of Aquaseal because I had some minor leaks and for whatever reason, nobody will ship the big 8oz bottle of Aquaseal to AK (hazmat?). It’s ugly, but I could care less, it works great.

]]> 0 6f07f0dae786ccb07c27e6e12077f639 Derek started the topic Voyageur Seat and Inflatable Floor in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/voyageur-seat-and-inflatable-floor/ Sat, 12 May 2018 18:09:28 -0700 If you don’t feel like spending a bunch of time working on seats and an inflatable floor, the Exped Air Pillow ($45) (XL) and Big Agnes Air Core Ultra ($79) fit perfectly into the Voyageur build if you make the Voyageur a little bigger.  Either way, sleeping pads are dual purpose, don’t take any time to build, and are pretty affordable.

The Big…[Read more]

]]> 0 dd0de2885fee576603d38c365d1ca5e9 Derek posted a new activity comment https://www.diypackraft.com/2018/05/08/adams-diy-packraft-build-report/#comment-5741 Thu, 10 May 2018 00:12:25 -0700 Matt,
A few more friends from Juneau will be ordering from you soon. I’m going to order another kit, too. Juneau folks are excited.

In reply to - Matt (Admin) wrote a new post Adam DiPietro documented the build of this beautiful red and black V3 DIY Packraft, and he sent his pictures and comments to share with everyone! I’ve posted the full report here. […] ]]> a4e9431206606dcb3c3d91d53ce3c78d Derek posted a new activity comment https://www.diypackraft.com/2018/05/08/adams-diy-packraft-build-report/#comment-5740 Thu, 10 May 2018 00:11:07 -0700 Hahaha, you built one! Nice, Adam. I figured you might.

In reply to - Matt (Admin) wrote a new post Adam DiPietro documented the build of this beautiful red and black V3 DIY Packraft, and he sent his pictures and comments to share with everyone! I’ve posted the full report here. […] ]]> b5c54753c656db9ee0af6415c89d05bf Derek replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/diy-packraft-photos/#post-6326 Thu, 10 May 2018 00:05:02 -0700 Bruce,

I built one like yours, but 14″ longer.  I just bought a Big Agnes sleeping pad that fits in as an inflatable floor.  It’s uncanny how well it fits.  Perfect width, stiffens the boat up very well, and it’s a heck of a lot easier than building an inflatable floor.

]]> 0 7af31057013415f457b8da390020bbf9 Derek replied to the topic "Voyageur" extra huge. in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/voyageur-extra-huge/#post-6264 Fri, 04 May 2018 23:53:46 -0700 First float.  Still have some pinhole leaks to fix, but it works fine.  

]]> 0 1507fdf54350926ee3800a333dd0a42e Derek replied to the topic Heat increase Coverite Black Baron? in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/heat-increase-coverite-black-baron/#post-6123 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:34:43 -0700 I thought the same, but I found if you use masking tape to protect the TPU and use the entire flat surface of the iron, it goes pretty quick and makes a good seal.  Then just use the tip for the finer details.

]]> 0 979a31546f2386b0d1993ce129237ab9 Derek changed their profile picture https://www.diypackraft.com/activity/p/1730/ Sat, 21 Apr 2018 22:20:58 -0700 0 6708d0c02461fb176da193c276aece2d Derek changed their profile picture https://www.diypackraft.com/activity/p/1729/ Sat, 21 Apr 2018 22:20:10 -0700 0 585496470b458336957a34c8562525e0 Derek's profile was updated https://www.diypackraft.com/activity/p/1728/ Sat, 21 Apr 2018 22:17:31 -0700 0 5af4c08cd6db99e722ddbc3b0ef52980 Derek started the topic "Voyageur" extra huge. in the forum DIY Packrafts https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/voyageur-extra-huge/ Sat, 21 Apr 2018 21:44:15 -0700 Just did the first inflation of the Voyageur.  I extended the overall length by 16″ (40cm) to hopefully accommodate my wife and 7 year old on mellow water.  I still need to build the inflatable floor, seats, and fix small leaks.

I might have made it too big, we’ll see.  Was a fun build and I’m looking forward to building a regular sized one ne…[Read more]

]]> 0 7385895a0080a05f774cca10fa5f09e0 Derek became a registered member https://www.diypackraft.com/activity/p/1725/ Sat, 21 Apr 2018 21:38:20 -0700 0