Description
This video shows the Skeena on a month-long trip that included ocean, lake, and river paddling.
The Skeena features lightweight but tough 270 GSM tube fabric and a full-length 450 GSM floor designed to protect the tubes below the waterline.
Compared to the previous generation (V3) DIY Packraft, the Skeena assembles more quickly, has more volume in the bow and stern for better handling and greater weight carrying capacity. It also includes a more comfortable seat and backrest, plus pre-scored attachment points to reduce the build time.
Learn about packraft capacity ratings here.
At a glance:
- Internal length: 120 – 140 cm (47-55”) – find your size here
- Internal width: 37 cm (14.5″)
- Tube diameter: 275 mm (11″)
- Overall length: 263 or 273 or 283 cm (103.5″ or 107.5″ or 111.5″)
- Overall width: 93 cm (36.6″)
- Packed dimensions: 18x18x45 cm (7x7x18″)
- Build time: 30-40 hours for a first-time builder
Every Skeena kit includes:
- Fabric for making tubes, floor (black), seat and back rest (black), seams (black), ten attachment points (black), and an inflation bag
- One Boston valve for inflating and deflating your packraft
- Two top-up valves, one for the seat bottom and the other for the back rest*
- Extra fabric for heat sealing practice, repairs, and making small accessories
- Parchment paper (silicone coated baking paper) to make heat sealing easier
- Access to detailed instructional videos
- Airtight zipper for storing gear inside your packraft’s tubes (optional)
- New for 2024: ten D-rings are included in this kit.
Airtight zipper option: An airtight zipper allows you to store gear inside your packraft’s tubes and to easily access the inside of the packraft for repairs. Both zipper options are high quality airtight zippers made in Germany, and both are rated to 700 hPa or 10 PSI air pressure (much more than the pressure in a packraft). The MasterSeal is lighter and easier to install, operate, and clean, and it has a single seal. The SuperSeal is heavier and more difficult to install, operate, and clean, but has multiple seals. A MasterSeal zipper will add approximately 65 grams (2.5 oz) to your packraft’s weight. A SuperSeal zipper will add approximately 125 grams (4 oz) to your packraft’s weight. Both have proven to be reliable in packrafts but the SuperSeal has a longer track record.
Multi-color option: Choose “Multi” from the drop-down menu and you can designate each tube segment to be made in your choice of the available colors, which are currently red, yellow, orange, green, blue, and black. Print and color the packraft outlines here if you want to experiment with different designs. When you have decided which pattern you want, add your list in the Notes field of the Checkout form (e.g. 1L: red, 1R: blue, 2L: yellow, etc.). Note: There is no standard multi-color pattern; your order will not ship until you specify a pattern or request to be surprised.
Spray Deck & Spray Skirt option: You can add a spray deck and skirt for whitewater paddling and to keep rain out of your packraft. Spray decks and spray skirts are sold separately.
Assembly instructions are posted here.
Tools required for assembly include:
- Heat sealing iron
- Two small (28 gram / 1 oz) tubes of Seam Grip+WP, Aquaseal, or Aquasure polyurethane adhesive (if possible, purchase these locally to avoid shipping problems)
- Ruler/straightedge
- Scissors
- Masking tape
- A heat resistant bowl or curved wooden form (see instructions)
- A few binder clips, paper clips, or small spring clamps
- A permanent marker (a silver Sharpie pen works well on the darker fabrics)
- A few wooden blocks of various sizes (or similar heat resistant items)
- An internet connection fast enough to stream the instruction videos
*An additional top-up valve can be purchased separately and installed in the packraft, but the air pressure in the packraft can be topped up on the water through the Boston valve’s built-in check valve.
Save $10 on a Skeena kit:
Some small cosmetic flaws are normal in large pieces of fabric, but I give a discount if there are pieces that have large flaws in places that will be visible on a finished packraft. Some Skeena floor pieces have a visible streak on the floor fabric – see the representative image below. If you’d like to save $10 USD on a kit, use one of the coupon codes below (the list changes with availability). Please only use the correct coupon code for the kit you are ordering – I may cancel your order if you misuse the coupon codes.
Large Skeena kit (140 cm / 55″), use coupon code s140streak (one available).
Prices and specifications for this product may change without notice.
Note: The weight and dimensions in the “Additional Information” tab are for shipping the kit with all of the additional scrap fabric and packaging. They do not represent the final weight and packed dimensions of a completed packraft.
