Happy new year!
2022 was a difficult year in many ways, and I’d like to thank everyone who helped keep DIY Packraft afloat by placing pre-orders during those months when I was waiting for fabric to arrive and had nothing to sell except my promises.
I managed to get all of the pre-orders into the mail before the end of the year, so if you haven’t received a notification email with your tracking number, please look for it among your spam.
Looking ahead to 2023, I’d like to know if there’s something new you want to see in the DIY Packraft shop this year. If so, please leave a comment below.
Have a happy new year, and may 2023 bring peace, prosperity, and packrafting to us all!
Update:
Thanks for the feedback! Based on your comments below and comments I received by email, I’ve started offering a drybag kit. Aside from that I’ve decided to focus on improving the existing product line before designing any new packrafts.
I can’t estimate dates when things will be available, but…
Here are some things I’m actively working on now:
- Improving the spray deck cockpit coaming stiffener. This is an odd one because I purchased two batches of the same tubing from the same manufacturer and the first batch was nice and stiff and the second seems to be more flexible. I am working with the manufacturer to find a solution, and failing that I will find a new product elsewhere.
- A self-bailing option for the Atlin, Skeena, and Telkwa kits.
- Two new fabric colors – orange and olive.
- Separating and updating the Skeena and Telkwa instructions.
Here are some things I plan to work on:
- Updating the spray skirt so it can be used with a more aggressive seating position.
- Thigh straps.
- A 2-person packraft designed for speed instead of carrying capacity (for you adventure racers).
- An inflatable pontoon kit. This would make a good platform for people who want to design their own projects.
- A bow bag.
- A detachable spray deck.
Here are some things I probably won’t be doing:
- Adding products to the Shop that are readily available elsewhere.
- Offering a PFD (life jacket) kit. Too much liability!
16 Comments
Clyde · September 28, 2023 at 9:11 pm
The self bailing boats and bow bag kits sound very intriguing to me!
Thanks for all you do here Matt, I’m so psyched with my new Atlin.
Patrick · June 14, 2023 at 6:01 pm
I concur with Fred’s suggestion on a spray deck upgrade. The combing is poor in the current design, and makes the skirt nearly unusable. I am considering cutting the deck off my raft entirely.
How about an inflatable floor to make the boats self-bailing? It doesn’t seem that difficult – just an extension of the seat with a couple more baffles, and voila.
Uncle Fred · September 19, 2023 at 9:11 pm
The best thing you can do is to replace the provided blue tube with a large one off Amazon. You can find it by searching for “Nylon Tubing 1/2 inch ID Pneumatic Hose Tube Pipe” and selecting “3/8″ ID, 0.47″OD, 10 feet” If you’re in Canada, it will take some time to get this tube as it’s from the states. When adding it, shift it around a bunch while feeding it into the combing ring, this will allow you to fit in as much of the tube as possible. The more tube you can get in there, the better. This is a huge improvement. You’ll also want to glue velcros along the deck and sew velcros into your skirt. I use ten strips. It’s not an issue with pulling the skirt off, but these help getting the skirt on a lot.
ABartels · May 5, 2023 at 6:08 am
Definitely a more stealth color. By that I mean a nature color like green, brown, Camo etc. The high visibility colors is what is keeping me from buying at the moment.
Matt (Admin) · May 5, 2023 at 9:26 am
I still have enough camouflage fabric to make a few kits, so if you would like one, just order a different color and in the Order Notes box ask me to make it camouflage instead 🙂
Roger Barber · May 8, 2023 at 7:32 pm
Matt,
Could you do a Skeena in camouflage? Could i see a picture of the color? I think this might be a better color for fishing and waterfowl hunting.
I am getting ready to order something and I am working through choices.
Matt (Admin) · May 8, 2023 at 7:53 pm
Yes, no problem – here’s a picture of the digital camouflage print: https://www.diypackraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DIY-Packraft-4.jpg
John · February 24, 2023 at 12:57 am
I‘s love to see a packraft designed for adventure racing. Tandem, light weight, long and narrow but still capable of handling grade 2-3 rivers.
Joe · March 1, 2023 at 9:17 am
I’ll second the request for an adventure racing type. Not sure if a tandem would be feasible, but if possible, that would be nice.
Steve D · February 15, 2023 at 11:32 am
I would really love to build a couple pontoons like those suggested by Cubenmaker. Seems like it would be a really fun platform for experimenting with different designs. It would also be nice if there was a small project like perhaps a dry bag that one could attempt prior to deciding to take on a boat. Like a gateway project!
Uncle Fred · February 13, 2023 at 11:33 am
Matt knows what I want. Fabric by the yard purchases. Well, that and I could see a few other things that really should be here to flesh out Matt’s offerings:
1. Anfibio’s lifejacket. This inflatable jacket is perfectly fine for all but the worse whitewater. It pairs great with a pack raft.
2. Anfibio’s packraft packsuit. Anfibio has great packraft gear that just doesn’t ship to North America due to “insurance reasons.” As a business, they may be open to partnering with you. This is a win-win. We could get our hands on this gear, and Anfibio and Matt would profit.
3. MRS packraft large and small Skegs plus an official way to make them slot in and removable.
4. Matt could sell the Flextail pump.
5. High-stance inflatable backrest. Basically, this would fill in the rear area to create a very firm and upright inflatable backrest. This allows for a forward and aggressive stance. I’ve created one on my own boat, and it makes the seating position far more comfortable and helps in the transfer of energy in the stroke.
6. Spray skirt upgrade. The spray skirt as available could potentially use an upgrade. The combing ring is, in my option, not robust enough to handle large whitewater. Second, there isn’t a lot of flexibility if a user adjusts their sitting location forward. If you do this, it creates a significant pressure point added at the base of the skirt. Check out Anfibio’s sprayskirt design where they add an additional angled fabric between the deck and the chest. I think this would greatly improve the design. The sprayskirt should also have suspenders.
7. Footbag with Tizip.
8. Bow bag with roll top or Tie-zip.
9. Leg straps
10. Inflatable sail with a clear interior. If Matt permits fabric sales, I’ll probably make one of these this year.
11. A few odds and ends could be offered for a really complete storefront including:
UWHPE rope
Titanium rope knife
1″ and 3/4″ buckles, D-rings, square rings.
1″ and 3/4″ polypropylene webbing in black, blue, yellow, and red.
Kit building items like packraft blocks, Talcrum powder, Fisker shears, Seam Grip, and straight edges.
IP68-rated radio (A good option might be the ELIDA-branded one from Alliexpress. I’ve used it over an eight-day backcountry portage trip with great success. It’s the only radio I can find at this price point with USB-C, easy to-read display, a week-long battery, and fully waterproof.
Cristobal · February 4, 2023 at 7:55 am
Maybe a flyflishing packraft? With protection on the top quarter and attachment for the rood and paddle
Dayne · January 22, 2023 at 5:11 pm
Detachable/zippered spray deck would be a great addition to the shop. But I’m aware that sourcing a waterproof, seperating zipper in the proper length wpuld be a very challenging endeavor.
Pete · January 10, 2023 at 9:46 pm
I would be interested in other DIY ironed projects.
Ultralight camping pillow?
Sleeping pad?
Maybe DIY paddle kits?
Gary Clements · January 9, 2023 at 1:13 pm
If there was a packraft that would double as an air bed I would be really interested ! Are you aware of such a thing ? Perhaps a hammock like spray skirt or a purposely shaped hull/air bed…..
Yelk11 · April 12, 2023 at 11:39 am
All packrafts that are “Self bailing” have a inflated floor, instead of just a sheet of fabric. That would be well suited for sleeping in. The only problem that I foresee there is the floor being long enough for your body.