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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 6 years, 1 month ago
Update: This packraft is now available in the shop here!
I recently finished building this new Ultralight DIY Packraft. It went together easily and relatively quickly (about fifteen hours including figuring out […]
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 6 years, 1 month ago
These two new fabrics have been added to the shop to replace the older 40D “ultralight” fabrics, and will be used in the long-awaited update to the Ultralight DIY Packraft kits. They are currently only […]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Help & Questions re: DIY Packraft Construction in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 1 month ago
Hey, good question – I just posted an answer in the FAQ because I’m sure other people wonder the same thing and it’ll be easier to find there. Here it is: https://www.diypackraft.com/faq/what-size-work-surface-do-i-need-to-assemble-my-diy-packraft-kit/
Cheers!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 2 months ago
Another great looking packraft – well done!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 2 months ago
Excellent!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Top-Off Tube in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 3 months ago
Very cool idea! I’ll try this out myself. Thanks for sharing!
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 6 years, 3 months ago
Several months ago I received an email expressing interest in the DIY Packraft kits from TJ Miller, Director of the Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation at the University of Alaska Anchorage. TJ […]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 3 months ago
Fantastic!!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Rod holder insert in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 3 months ago
I haven’t found a readily-available glue that is as strong as a heat welded joint, so instead of gluing the attachment loop to the non-TPU side of the fabric, I would simply cut a hole in the tube and patch it with a piece of scrap so the TPU is on the inside there – then you can attach a loop to the TPU there.
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Rod holder insert in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 3 months ago
Hi Gustav,
I think that is a very interesting idea, and it could work quite well if made in the way you described. I would first build the packraft and then make the rod holder afterwards, both so you can decide exactly where you want it, and also because after making the packraft you will have a very good understanding of what is possible and…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 3 months ago
Looks great! Thanks for posting!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Paddle size in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 4 months ago
Hi Phil,
Thanks for this question – I’ve been thinking about writing a paddle review/comparison, so this will be a quick preview.
To some extent paddle choice depends on the type of paddling you’ll be doing in your packraft, but here I’m assuming you’ll want to do a little bit of everything and you’re looking for a good all-around…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Help & Questions re: DIY Packraft Construction in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 4 months ago
Hi Robin,
Sealing around corners definitely gets more difficult the tighter the curves get. This video shows how I do it: https://www.diypackraft.com/construction/how-to/v2/step-6-center-seams/
You might consider making the drybag with pointy corners and/or making it slightly oversized, because as long as it’s larger than your backpack it will…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 4 months ago
Very cool! It looks like the modifying worked well 😀
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 4 months ago
Very Cool!!
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Matt (Admin) wrote a new post 6 years, 4 months ago
Please note that Nikki and I will be travelling between August 10th and the 24th, so no orders will be fulfilled between those dates. I will have limited internet access so I may also be slow to respond to emails […]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic WRONG SIDE TPU 1-2L JOINT in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 4 months ago
I’m still not sure what each piece is, but maybe it doesn’t matter. Can you make two patches, one for the inside and one for the outside? They could be sealed each other in the middle and to the pieces in the picture around the edges wherever TPU contacts TPU. In the spots where there is no TPU on either side you could sew it together and then use…[Read more]
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic WRONG SIDE TPU 1-2L JOINT in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 4 months ago
Hi Matteo, together we will find a way! Can you post some more pictures or draw a diagram to explain the problem? It is difficult to visualize and I’m not sure I understand what must be fixed. Thanks!
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic DIY Packraft Photos in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 4 months ago
Beautiful!! Congratulations 😀
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Matt (Admin) replied to the topic Help & Questions re: DIY Packraft Construction in the forum DIY Packrafts 6 years, 4 months ago
Hi Robin – with the lightweight fabric, you may be able to use a slightly lower temperature, and to avoid bubbles I like to use the edge of my iron and slide it outward, rather than using the large flat part. Then it’s important to press on the fabric with a rag or something as it cools so it can’t lift before the weld sets. You may still have an…[Read more]
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Hi Steve – that’s certainly a possibility for people who want it, as the V3 is still a good all-around design. Since the ultralight boats (hopefully) won’t be shooting any rapids, I wanted to offer an ultralight boat that is a bit easier to assemble and faster on flat water.
Thanks, Felix – I just added the results of my speed tests, too!
The fabrics are the 115 GSM yellow and 190 GSM black fabrics that are available in the shop. I’ll start selling the kit later in November – I just have to finish figuring out how to produce it and how much it will cost.
The 115 GSM ripstop is just too lightweight to use as the floor?
No, but being coated on one side it will soak up water weight and end up heavier than the double coated fabric. That, and this design requires bonding to both sides.
The 115 GSM ripstop is just too lightweight to use as the floor?
Yes, eventually there will be an update to the V3, though perhaps not with this design. If people want this design made from the heavier fabrics, that could also be a possiblity.
Thanks for the question – the 190 GSM fabric has TPU on both sides, so it can’t be heat sealed with an iron in the same way as the single-sided fabrics, so I won’t be offering a kit made entirely from that fabric.
Awesome. Very exciting. How can this be leveraged to make a two person boat? Think this fabric can be used with the voyageur template?
The plan is the phase out the current Voyageur design now that I have space to make a longer version, but yeah, there could be an ultralight version as well 🙂
Awesome. Very exciting. How can this be leveraged to make a two person boat? Think this fabric can be used with the voyageur template?
Can we order the new design with standard fabrics? That is, 420D floor and 210D tubes? I know the new Telkwa model has the new design but it also has the wrap-around floor which I wouldn’t need, so I’d rather save the weight. But I like the new design for the faster construction time and faster flatwater travel compared to the V3.
Stay tuned for this…