I’ve been promising a DIY Packraft spray deck + spray skirt kit for literally years, but until now I didn’t have a system that was affordable, simple to make, lightweight, safe, and quick to set up.
After lots of experimentation and several design iterations, I’ve come up with a deck that meets those criteria and can be added to a Telkwa or Skeena kit after the packraft is finished.
The comfortable stock seatback fits under the skirt, so no further modifications are required.
The deck isn’t removable, but with the addition of water-resistant zippers and/or velcro it could be (see Dom’s convertible V3 spray deck here).
Yesterday I recorded a video of me unpacking the boat from my backpack, inflating the packraft and seat, inserting the stiffener into the cockpit coaming, donning the spray skirt and my PFD, getting into the packraft, and securing the skirt to the deck. I wasn’t trying to do it quickly at the time, and checking the video today I see that the whole process took about six minutes and 45 seconds. The pictures below are stills from that video.
10 Comments
Theresa · November 21, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Hi! Is it possible to get a spray deck kit in an individualized length? I have a packraft with an inner length of about 170 cm and would like to add a spray deck on it. Additionally I’m wondering if its possible to build a spray deck with two cockpits as my packraft fits for 1-2 paddlers. Thanks!
Matt (Admin) · November 21, 2019 at 1:07 pm
Hi Theresa, sorry I don’t do custom products, but you can probably make your own following the same instructions. Cheers!
Ryan · October 17, 2019 at 11:07 am
Will there be an option for the deck to be made from the 190 gsm fabric?
Matt (Admin) · October 17, 2019 at 3:42 pm
Good question… probably not, unless someone really wants it, because the tear strength is significantly lower than that of the 250 GSM fabric and it’s more expensive. The weight savings would be only about 30 grams (1 oz), so it’s probably not worthwhile.
Michael G · October 11, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Wonderful! Exactly what I have been waiting for. When can we order?
Matt (Admin) · October 12, 2019 at 9:17 am
Excellent! I still have to figure out a price and make sure I have an adequate supply of materials, but I hope to have it posted in the shop next week.
Pirate323i · October 11, 2019 at 1:59 pm
Does the location of the optional zipper interfere?
(I haven’t mounted my zip yet)
Matt (Admin) · October 12, 2019 at 9:15 am
I think the location as it’s currently posted in the instructions will interfere, so I will update that. Thanks for the reminder!
Matt (Admin) · October 15, 2019 at 12:22 pm
I’ve updated the Skeena/Telkwa zipper page with dimensions that work with the spray deck.
Pirate323i · October 29, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Great! thank you!