Matt (Admin)

Thanks, @lynsg – this is great news! I will give it a try myself. Until now I’ve assumed that it would be too difficult to manage three pieces of fabric, an air gun, and a roller all at once. Are you heating between the layers and then setting the air gun aside and picking up the roller to roll the seam?

Thanks, @lynsg – this is great news! I will give it a try myself. Until now I’ve assumed that it would be too difficult to manage three pieces of fabric, an air gun, and a roller all at once. Are you heating between the layers and then setting the air gun aside and picking up the roller to roll the seam?

Thanks, @Lyn – this is great news! I will give it a try myself. Until now I’ve assumed that it would be too difficult to manage three pieces of fabric, an air gun, and a roller all at once. Are you heating between the layers and then setting the air gun aside and picking up the roller to roll the seam?

Thanks, Lyn – this is great news! I will give it a try myself. Until now I’ve assumed that it would be too difficult to manage three pieces of fabric, an air gun, and a roller all at once. Are you heating between the layers and then setting the air gun aside and picking up the roller to roll the seam?

Hi @hiroshi – well done! It looks good, but still a bit soft.

Another method of finding leaks is to put some air into the packraft and submerge it in a bathtub or lake and then squeeze it – air bubbles will escape anywhere there is a leak.

If you are experiencing lots of leaks from incompletely sealed seams (not punctures), it might be a good…[Read more]

Yep, you can definitely add a layer of fabric anywhere with my design, which would double the strength. I’m working on getting heavier fabrics, but can’t promise a release date yet.

Welcome to the forum, Jeb!

I’ve been working on a two-person packraft design for a while now, but I’d like to avoid the floppy side-tube syndrome that people complain about in the manufactured two-person packrafts. How much of an issue was this for you, @lynsg? I know you found the length an issue for comfort as well (it not really being long…[Read more]

Haha yeah – nothing is actually copied and pasted, but so far it doesn’t look like this Nick Kowalski character has anything new to offer, aside from his location.

As far as I can tell he hasn’t even built a packraft yet, which makes his “Iron Raft” venture quite a bold move… unless he’s selling someone else’s proven design.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery… check out this copycat DIY Packraft shop – they even call their product a DIY Packraft Kit 😀

“iron raft“

Thanks for posting these tips, Mike!

I will incorporate some of them into my future videos.

Thanks for posting these tips, Mike!

I will incorporate some of them into my future videos.

Beautiful work, Mike!

The seam fabric will not form a strong bond with the non-TPU side of the floor fabric, so I recommend heating the area with your iron again so you can pull it apart there.

Hi @hiroshi, that is a common mistake – if you heat the fabric with your iron again, I think you will be able to separate the fabric.

Great – I’m glad the package arrived in Japan without a long delay.

I have now enabled the ability to upload images in forum posts (click the mountain icon above the text box when typing a forum topic or reply).

Thanks

Sorry, there’s not much I can do about the parcel postage rates, and I don’t think it could be sent in a letter. I guess another option would be to buy a beach ball and cut the valve out… I’m not sure how good of a valve you could get that way, but it might be worth a try. I couldn’t find similar valves for sale anywhere, which is why I decided…[Read more]

Welcome to the forum, @maynard!

I recommend both, each for different applications.

Aquaseal is best for installing valves, making permanent repairs, and gluing fabric together in places that can’t be heat-sealed. (Aquaseal cures with exposure to air, so when gluing two things together, apply Aquaseal to both surfaces and let them sit for at…[Read more]

Welcome to the forum, @maynard!

Aquaseal is best for installing valves, making permanent repairs, and gluing fabric together in places that can’t be heat-sealed. (Aquaseal cures with exposure to air, so when gluing two things together, apply Aquaseal to both surfaces and let them sit for at least 30 minutes before pressing them together,…[Read more]