Today I finished the packraft that I’ve been making in the demo videos, and I’m super excited about it! I think it looks much better than the white prototype, and it’s even lighter, at 641 grams (1.41 pounds)! I’ll post a video soon, but I wanted to post some pictures right away (if you zoom in on the photos you can see I couldn’t wait until the rain stopped before doing a photoshoot). Check them out:
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- V1 Ultralight DIY Packraft
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- DIY Packraft rolled
Update: Here’s a video!
12 Comments
Giovanni · July 2, 2016 at 8:46 am
Hey Matt didn’t know where to post question anyway. I was wondering about the seams on the Alpacka Rafts which are usually covered with some black lines of fabric. Is it PVC or something else in your opinion? And are they necessary to strengthen the seam or they just burden the boat with some extraweight?
Matt (Admin) · July 3, 2016 at 2:29 pm
I believe Alpacka seams are sewn and then that strip of black fabric is glued over top to cover the seam and make it airtight. My packrafts do have a similar piece of fabric that is heat welded in place, but it is the same colour as the tube material so it is difficult to see. Cheers!
Anonymous · June 17, 2016 at 8:46 am
Hey Mat what do you thing about this fabric?:
Nylon, 70den, einseitig TPU-beschichtet, 170g/qm, schweißbar:
http://www.extremtextil.de/catalog/Nylon-70den-einseitig-TPU-beschichtet-170g-qm-schwei%DFbar::1707.html?XTCsid=6cd934969b52b2e0619fa7cb29f8db19
How many I would need, litte raft plan orderd – wide 147 cm.
greetings marco
Matt (Admin) · June 17, 2016 at 9:08 am
Hi Marco,
For the smaller packraft, 6 m will be enough for the tubes and the floor, and with that fabric I estimate the weight to be approximately 800 to 1000 grams (1.8 to 2.2 pounds), depending on whether or not you put a double layer on the floor. I have not used that fabric, so I cannot speak to its quality, but it looks like it should work. Note that it is only coated on one side, however, so I would use it with the TPU coating on the outside of the tubes.
Cheers,
Matt
Henrik · June 16, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Hello Matt,
I ordered your large plans and I am going to buy some fabric.
How much fabric for the tubes and how long is the floor?
/Henrik
Matt (Admin) · June 16, 2016 at 3:27 pm
Hi Henrik,
Thanks for the purchase. For the large plans, it is possible to make the tubes out of about 5 m (5.5 yds) of fabric by cutting out the different shapes separately (assuming the fabric is 145 cm/57″ wide) or 6 m (6.6 yds) as they are laid out on the plans. The floor piece will be approximately 170 cm (67″) long and 76 cm (30″) wide – larger if you want more than 3 cm of overlap where it bonds to the tubes.
Cheers,
Matt
Matt (Admin) · June 16, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Thanks, Marco – yes, this packraft is made from the smaller (regular) size plans available in the Shop.
That 210D fabric is heavier than the fabric I used, but would be more durable. I estimate the finished weight using that fabric would be about 1.4 kg, or 3 lbs – still very light.
Marco Weber · June 16, 2016 at 1:24 pm
hey mat nice work, oeder already the smal raft plan, it is that U use? I wanna order this fabric by extremtextile, it is compare your amazing light one raft? http://www.extremtextil.de/catalog/Nylon-210den-einseitig-TPU-beschichtet-275g-qm-schwei%DFbar::1700.html?XTCsid=62315b0459f9a8372ace6d0f9ef28ecf
lookink forward next infos, hope hear you, greetings from berlin, marco
Steve S · June 15, 2016 at 12:22 am
Lovely job. Looks like a real winner and the weight is wondrous.
Next, please put your mind toward designing a good seat. I can assure you, I am sorry to say, that protecting the rump from rocks is essential for long happy paddling experience. Also you will find that being raised on a seat makes paddling more efficient (if the seat doesn’t shift too much due to internal air movement). Last, a seat would also serve as a confidence-building starter project for those of us who are uncertain of our skills.
Matt (Admin) · June 15, 2016 at 9:00 am
Steve, you are full of good ideas! I’ve been thinking about seat designs, but so far I’ve put off making one. You’re right though – it would be a good confidence-building project for people who aren’t sure they can really make a packraft (and more comfortable than sitting on a life jacket, which is what I’ve been doing).
I will make the seat plans a free download as soon as they are ready.
Ben · June 14, 2016 at 9:35 pm
Great stuff, Matt. I agree this one looks much better than the prototype! Itching to get started on mine, they look so so good.
Matt (Admin) · June 15, 2016 at 8:47 am
Thanks, Ben! Let me know if you have any questions when your plans arrive 🙂