Adam

Matt: AWESOME link to this man’s quest to build a 2 lb float tube. I read through all 22 pages of posts spanning 5 years of research and design. Fascinating stuff. We lost a good one when he died.

Wow! Some seriously awe inspiring pictures, we have a different setting of beauty here in Hawaii, so when I get to see authentic photos of such luscious and diverse, beautifully blanketed land it truly is a treat so thanks for posting them! How did everything go with the V3, were there any things you learned from the expedition?

My favorite seat back, and the easiest, is a Crazy Creek folding camp chair. Not exactly a back packing item, but I can set a 2″ thick square boating flotation seat pad into the raft, top it with the crazy Creek chair and my daughter is up above the water and happy. Commercial versions that support the back and wrap around the hips are not popular among the hardcore here in Fairbanks. I bet Matt can develop something much better! The whitewater hardcore I know prefer a good kayak back band, supported with attachment loops or D-rings high on the inside of the raft. If using D-rings, they also attach their thigh braces to the same point. (I’m still looking for nice 1″ (25mm) aluminum D-rings, chrome rust, and the Titanium ones are a bit rough edged (DutchGear.com)). If using webbing one has to think through the connection so knees and back straps are connected and pulling against each other, not both building pressure on the side attachment patches in opposite directions.
Can’t wait to get my V3 built! Lets see, 1000D or 420D, that’s the question?

Yes indeed!

Thanks, Rob! Yeah, the inflatable floor will be a removable insert instead of integrated into the boat – it’s just easier that way.

Awesome – it should be within the next week or two. Thanks!

Looks great! Wider seams, appear to be almost 40 cm wide?

Looks great! Wider seams, appear to be almost 40 cm wide?

Very, very nice.. Have to get me one of those..

Hi Hugh – I’ve updated the post to include the main differences. Thanks!

Thanks, Eliot!

They are heat sealed together 🙂

Hey Matt

Sorry to hear you have had people stealing your designs for their own profit, that sucks! I can only imagine how much time and effort it must take to plan and test your designs – the V2 packraft I’ve made from your kit has handled beautifully without any leaks since I first made it. I was hoping to purchase plans or a kit for the 2-person voyager in order to make it in time for training for and competing in Godzone, an adventure race I am doing next year in NZ. When do you think kits for the 2-person will be online?

Thanks for your hard work

Hi Todd, I would start by reading the Fabrics, Tools, and Valves sections of the FAQ, above, and maybe check out the Forum as well, as there are some pictures of rafts people have made. Also check out the inflatable catamaran raft at http://www.cubenmaker.com. For seam sealing technique, check out the videos in the How-To sections above. Cheers!

Great! I hope to have it ready in the next week or two, but I can’t guarantee it.

Hi Tim – it will be approximately 4 pounds. Cheers!

Thanks, Brian – that means a lot to me! Best regards

Hi Mark – I will be designing a V3 version of the Ultralight packraft, but it will be slightly different because it will not use double-sided TPU fabric, so it will take a bit longer.

Yess Matt thank you so much! Deffinately excited about this and the next update, I have already begun imagining a way to add clips to the bag so it could double function as a drybag! Such amazing work your doing, I for one appreciate it!

I am especially interested in your connector that fits the fine Boston Valves. They are great valves, but an odd thread I have not been able to successfully fashion on my lathe. Worth the price of a kit, though I made my bag out of silnyl not TPU.