-
Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 9 years, 4 months ago
Here are a few pictures of the new spray deck! It’s made from 210D heat sealable fabric and a lightweight, collapsible aluminum tent pole.
The total weight of the packraft, including the inflatable floor and […]
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
@lynsg Thanks for your input and for prompting this discussion – at your suggestion, I have deleted the other thread to avoid confusion.
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
@lynsg Thanks for your input and for prompting this discussion – at your suggestion, I have deleted the other thread to avoid confusion.
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic some questions in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
Hi @hiroshi, the floor and seams can be either black or the same colour as the tubes – it is your choice. The product page tells you how to indicate which style you prefer.
I recommend a Large packraft for your stature.
The kit does not include a printed manual, as all of the instructions are on the How-To web pages, including pictures and…[Read more]
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic in the forum Lyn St George 9 years, 4 months ago
@lynsg Hi Lyn, I moved my reply from this topic to be its own topic so the colour chart will stay at the top of the page. Thanks for starting the conversation 🙂
Here is the new topic: https://www.diypackraft.com/forums/topic/split-diy-packraft-fabrics/
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic some questions in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
Hi @Hiroshi,
Thanks for your interest in a DIY Packraft. The side tube diameter is 27.5 cm (11″) and the safe load capacity is over 150 kg (300 lbs) – the actual volume is over 300 litres (i.e. over 300 kg buoyancy).
Whitewater packrafting is possible with the single layer floor, but I recommend the double layer floor for added durability if…[Read more]
-
Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 9 years, 4 months ago
I’d like to add some green fabric to the shop to complement the red, yellow, blue and black fabrics there now. I’m curious if people like light green or dark green, earthy green or bright green, or maybe something […]
-
Matt (Admin) started the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to people most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
-
Matt (Admin) started the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to people most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic in the forum Lyn St George 9 years, 4 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to people most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic in the forum Lyn St George 9 years, 4 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to you most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to you most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
-
Matt (Admin) started the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to you most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic What plans/kits would you like to see next? in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
Hi @olympicmtnboy, I’ve posted pictures and a write-up of my inflatable floor test, which could easily be made self-bailing 🙂
-
Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 9 years, 4 months ago
Some people haven’t been able to find suitable adhesives where they live, so I have added Aquaseal glue and Seam Grip seam sealer to the shop. I only ordered a small number of each, because I’m not sure how […]
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Alternative sources for fabric and other materials in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
@brucecampbell Hi Bruce,
The 210D fabric offered here is 8.25 oz (about 4 oz before coating). Doubled up, it would be much stronger than a painted 8 oz fabric because unlike paint, the TPU adds quite a bit of strength.
Seattle Fabrics offers a 430D heat sealable nylon, but it’s actually lighter than my 210D fabric, at 8.2 oz, which just goes…[Read more]
-
Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 9 years, 4 months ago
Several people have asked if it would be possible to make a self-bailing or inflatable floor using the double-layer floor option, and I have finished retrofitting my multi-colored packraft with an inflatable floor […]
-
I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s definitely on the list of things to do. I have an idea of how to approach it, but it will require a bit of trial and error, so please bear with me 🙂
-
Just curious, was the raft you retrofitted a single floor or a double floor before adding the inflatable floor?
-
It was a single floor. It’s not possible to heat seal to the back side of the fabric, so “windows” would have to be cut in the top layer of a double layer floor in order to attach the third inflatable layer.
-
-
Not yet. I think the R-value would be low because there’s no insulation and the air can convect freely… but it would be much better than sleeping on the ground!
-
Hey Matt, I’m about halfway into assembling my Telkwa kit, and everything is going smoothly so far. I’d like to make the raft self-bailing, and am curious on your thoughts.
I’m thinking I can make the Telkwa self-bailing by just adding four drain holes near the rear of the cockpit (using the two-way valves to plug the holes when in long stretches of calm water.
What are your thoughts on the necessity of adding an inflatable floor into the Telkwa? I’m thinking that with the seat being as large as it is, I can get away with not adding the floor, especially since bulk fabric ordering has been suspended for the time being!
I assume that the weight of the paddler is the biggest variable in determining how much water remains inside the raft when configured as a self-bailer, but having never sat in a DIY raft I’m unsure how deep my rear will be submerged below the water line (165 lb) so was curious about your experience.
-
I haven’t tested this myself, so I would start by adding one drain to the finished packraft and then paddle around with it open to see where the water level equilibrates. If it’s acceptable with the just the seat, add the other drains and go for it. If it fills up with too much water, then I’d start thinking about a separate inflatable floor insert. Cheers!
-
Thanks Matt, sound advice. I’ll post my results here for posterity after testing.
-
-
-
Yep, you can do that. I’m not sure if it makes it more stable, but I’ve done basically the same thing.
-
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic What plans/kits would you like to see next? in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
@awg28 Hi Andrew – yes, absolutely! It will not have to be fitted during assembly.
-
Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 9 years, 4 months ago
I just posted this new video to go along with the page I wrote about fixing leaks, which you can read here: Punctures, Leaks, and Repairs.
-
Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Alternative sources for fabric and other materials in the forum DIY Packrafts 9 years, 4 months ago
Thanks for the review, @webermarcoweber – you are one of the few people who have experience with both the DIY Packraft fabrics and fabrics from ExtremTextil.
Your new fabric is in the mail 🙂
- Load More
Hi Matt! Great – now I’m looking forward to your experiences in WW – just to know if it resists some WW or if it starts leaking after 2-4 runs….
Hi Joy,
Yes, I am looking forward to testing the spray deck as soon as the rivers thaw here!
hey Matt nice work, did U made this on the base of the youtube raft? Helps that you have installed a zipper? I think about to intall one on my first black raft. Was it easier with the reachable innertubesection, or its not nesesary? I would prefer a removable cruiserspraydeck, not interest to go whitewater with selfmade. Looking forward of video instruction for the spraydeck installation. Lighter fabric reached me, next project can start. 🙂
greetings from berlin
marco
Hi Marco,
Yes, I added the spray deck and inflatable floor to the packraft I made in the Youtube videos after it was finished. The airtight zipper is not necessary for retrofitting either the inflatable floor or the spray deck – I installed both entirely from the outside – but it is still a very nice feature for storing gear inside the tubes and for accessing the inside of the tubes to make repairs.
I will add a removable cruiser spray deck to my list of things to do!
I’m glad your new fabric arrived, and I look forward to seeing your ultralight packraft 🙂
Cheers,
Matt
Hey, Matt,
Should I purchase the kit and try to make the boat by myself…?
Or I want to visit Canada and learn some skills or know-how from you…
Which is better…?
Hi Maradona! I demonstrate all of my skills and know-how in my videos and web pages, but Canada has some beautiful places for packrafting (follow @benbrochu on instagram for pictures!), so I think a trip to Canada would be better spent in the wilderness than in my basement 😉
Yes, a removable cruiser spray deck would be awesome!
second on plans
Plans are posted here: https://www.diypackraft.com/2017/04/29/spray-deck-plans/