Description
Adding an airtight zipper to your packraft allows you to store gear inside the tubes while you paddle, which improves visibility and handling compared to placing a heavy load on the bow. A zipper also makes repairs easier by allowing access to the inside of the packraft.
The TIZIP SuperSeal is the same zipper used in the best manufactured packrafts. It is also used in drysuits, survival suits, and other critical applications.
The SuperSeal incorporates multiple seals, and the coil links are completely protected when closed. It is very strong and abrasion resistant, and the seal is designed to tighten as the internal air pressure increases.
Every zipper is individually tested at the factory to withstand 700 mbar (10 psi) air pressure – that’s more pressure than in a basketball or football (packrafts are generally inflated to less than 1/4 this pressure). When closed, the zipper has a minimum cross-breaking strength of 300 N/cm, or 171 pounds per inch!
(See the MasterSeal description for a comparison between the two zipper models.)
Specifications:
- Approximate installed weight: 150 g (5 oz)
- Zipper length: 50 cm (19.7″)
- Air pressure rating: 700 mbar (10 psi)
- Cross breaking strength: 300 N/cm (171 lbs/inch)
- Highly abrasion resistant
- Operating temperature range: -30° C (-22° F) to 80° C (176° F)
Each SuperSeal zipper ships with:
- A tube of silicone lubricant
- A rectangle of fabric for attaching the zipper to the packraft (black)
- A TIZIP maintenance instruction card
Note: If you are planning to heat seal a zipper into an existing packraft and you have never done any heat sealing before, I recommend purchasing a fabric sample pack with your zipper so you have some pieces to practice on first.
The 50 cm zipper length provides easy pass-through of items up to ~30 cm (12″) in diameter, without the zipper being too long to mount conveniently in your packraft. (Beware of longer zippers, as you will struggle to find a suitable place to mount them.)
Text+video+picture instructions for installing the zipper are posted here.
Note: With careful use, cleaning, and lubrication, your TIZIP zipper should give you many years of reliable service; however, airtight zippers are mechanical devices with moving parts that interlock precisely and, as such, they may eventually wear out and need to be replaced.
Note: Other zipper lengths and styles are not available from DIY Packraft.
