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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic some questions in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Hi @Hiroshi,
Thanks for your interest in a DIY Packraft. The side tube diameter is 27.5 cm (11″) and the safe load capacity is over 150 kg (300 lbs) – the actual volume is over 300 litres (i.e. over 300 kg buoyancy).
Whitewater packrafting is possible with the single layer floor, but I recommend the double layer floor for added durability if…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 7 years, 10 months ago
I’d like to add some green fabric to the shop to complement the red, yellow, blue and black fabrics there now. I’m curious if people like light green or dark green, earthy green or bright green, or maybe something […]
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Matt (Admin) started the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to people most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
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Matt (Admin) started the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to people most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic in the forum Steve 7 years, 10 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to people most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic in the forum Steve 7 years, 10 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to you most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to you most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
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Matt (Admin) started the topic DIY Packraft fabrics: Green in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Several people have requested green fabric, and I’m wondering what hue appeals to you most. If you could have any shade of green, which would you pick? Keep in mind that it should complement the red, yellow, and blue fabrics already available in the shop.
As a starting point, here are some options:
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic What plans/kits would you like to see next? in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Hi @olympicmtnboy, I’ve posted pictures and a write-up of my inflatable floor test, which could easily be made self-bailing 🙂
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 7 years, 10 months ago
Some people haven’t been able to find suitable adhesives where they live, so I have added Aquaseal glue and Seam Grip seam sealer to the shop. I only ordered a small number of each, because I’m not sure how […]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Alternative sources for fabric and other materials in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
@brucecampbell Hi Bruce,
The 210D fabric offered here is 8.25 oz (about 4 oz before coating). Doubled up, it would be much stronger than a painted 8 oz fabric because unlike paint, the TPU adds quite a bit of strength.
Seattle Fabrics offers a 430D heat sealable nylon, but it’s actually lighter than my 210D fabric, at 8.2 oz, which just goes…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 7 years, 10 months ago
Several people have asked if it would be possible to make a self-bailing or inflatable floor using the double-layer floor option, and I have finished retrofitting my multi-colored packraft with an inflatable floor […]
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I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s definitely on the list of things to do. I have an idea of how to approach it, but it will require a bit of trial and error, so please bear with me 🙂
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Just curious, was the raft you retrofitted a single floor or a double floor before adding the inflatable floor?
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It was a single floor. It’s not possible to heat seal to the back side of the fabric, so “windows” would have to be cut in the top layer of a double layer floor in order to attach the third inflatable layer.
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Not yet. I think the R-value would be low because there’s no insulation and the air can convect freely… but it would be much better than sleeping on the ground!
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Hey Matt, I’m about halfway into assembling my Telkwa kit, and everything is going smoothly so far. I’d like to make the raft self-bailing, and am curious on your thoughts.
I’m thinking I can make the Telkwa self-bailing by just adding four drain holes near the rear of the cockpit (using the two-way valves to plug the holes when in long stretches of calm water.
What are your thoughts on the necessity of adding an inflatable floor into the Telkwa? I’m thinking that with the seat being as large as it is, I can get away with not adding the floor, especially since bulk fabric ordering has been suspended for the time being!
I assume that the weight of the paddler is the biggest variable in determining how much water remains inside the raft when configured as a self-bailer, but having never sat in a DIY raft I’m unsure how deep my rear will be submerged below the water line (165 lb) so was curious about your experience.
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I haven’t tested this myself, so I would start by adding one drain to the finished packraft and then paddle around with it open to see where the water level equilibrates. If it’s acceptable with the just the seat, add the other drains and go for it. If it fills up with too much water, then I’d start thinking about a separate inflatable floor insert. Cheers!
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Thanks Matt, sound advice. I’ll post my results here for posterity after testing.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic What plans/kits would you like to see next? in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
@awg28 Hi Andrew – yes, absolutely! It will not have to be fitted during assembly.
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 7 years, 10 months ago
I just posted this new video to go along with the page I wrote about fixing leaks, which you can read here: Punctures, Leaks, and Repairs.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Alternative sources for fabric and other materials in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Thanks for the review, @webermarcoweber – you are one of the few people who have experience with both the DIY Packraft fabrics and fabrics from ExtremTextil.
Your new fabric is in the mail 🙂
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Alternative sources for fabric and other materials in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Hi @michael-s-morse,
I and a few others have experimented with fabric with TPU on both sides, but everyone has concluded that it is unsuitable because it is very difficult to heat seal – you can’t apply heat directly to it with a sealing iron because the iron melts the TPU, creating a sticky mess. You have to sandwich it between two layers of…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Alternative sources for fabric and other materials in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Hi @michael-s-morse,
I and a few others have experimented with fabric with TPU on both sides, but everyone has concluded that it is unsuitable because it is very difficult to heat seal – you can’t apply heat directly to it with a sealing iron because the iron melts the TPU, creating a sticky mess. You have to sandwich it between two layers of…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Alternative sources for fabric and other materials in the forum DIY Packrafts 7 years, 10 months ago
Hi @michael-s-morse,
I am currently sourcing fabric with TPU on one side and a thick, airtight PU coating on the other side, so stay tuned for that addition to the shop! I and a few others have experimented with fabric with TPU on both sides, but everyone has concluded that it is unsuitable because it is very difficult to heat seal – you can’t…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) and
Quincy are now friends 7 years, 10 months ago -
Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 7 years, 10 months ago
One nice thing about a packraft is that you can toss it in your luggage when you go travelling and then go paddling at your destination without having to rent a boat. That’s what I did this Christmas, when I […]
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