• How to make inflatables?

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  • Is there a good book or a good website with technical instructions on how to make inflatables? Big ones, small ones? What size blower is needed? How to seal seams? Suggestions for anchoring? How to create sewing patterns? Or whether to even sew? Etc.

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    Question by kevin kelly
    03/07/2012

You should check out packrafting forums for info on home made inflatables. The community is very active, and while there aren't a ton of home made projects there are a few. This forum at BackPackingLight (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=20903) has some good information on materials to use.

I also found a few write ups which are pretty detailed and easy to understand (even after Google translated two of them from German). This one is a home made PVC packraft (http://www.packrafting.de/2011/12/myob-make-your-own-boat.html), and the maker explains what adhesives and seams to use and the placement and production of tiedowns (http://www.packrafting.de/2011/09/tiedowns-richtig-ankleben.html)

It also seems that people have had success contacting people at Stephenson's Warmlite (http://warmlite.com/) for advice given that they make simple but rugged inflatable mattresses, or even talking to the folks at Alpacka (http://www.alpackaraft.com/) who are the current kings of super tough packrafts.

Here are a few more: Packrafting.org (http://packrafting.org/forums/) Backpacking Light's Packraft forumhttp://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/display_forum.html?forum=56 Flyweight Designs (newcomers to the ultralight packraft world, but very successful) http://flyweightdesigns.com/default.aspx

Answer by Oliver Hulland
03/11/2012
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