We'z all might want to start a thread in the DIY section, but here goes.
Pasted below is copied from a Moose thread I responded to, but here's the short version:
I've built three, finding leaks is an issue but wider tape and gluing as you go, then after, then again after leak check helps. The new designs are way better. They're fun if you like to make stuff. I've made mine over the winter when I should be chasing coyotes. It takes time to figure out your heat iron, please do a bunch of test seams, then pull them apart to make sure the whole width is sealed/glued. For mine (clover) I keep it at the highest setting, but place the shoe against some cold tile to pull off some heat before sealing seams. Took a while to figure that out. IMHO Bigger = better especially for hunting. Read the forum, especially the guy who's big one failed in Alaska.
Pasted below is my recent response to a moose thread.
Sorry for this long reply
I’ve built three DIY packrafts and would like to be referred to from now on as the “The Packraft Kid”.
**For two chamber concerns, the best way in a DIY packraft or even Alpaca is to buy or build air tight chambers and stuff them through the zippers into the tubes, with the fill valves towards the zipper obviously. I’m going to do that for two of my rafts, then there will be flotation on both sides if the main chamber goes south.
First build was a Version 2 with some TPU fabric that I had. At that time Matt sold patterns and fabric by the yard. It’s great, light, packs small and holds air long enough but it was tough to find all the small leaks. There’s no way I could put myself, my pack and a boned out deer in it without concern. I think it would float, but not much room at all.
Given the concern about carrying space, I then I built the last version of their 2 person raft, the Voyageur. Better fabrics, way tougher bottom, would be tight for two people but would haul me and a deer pretty easily. Just like the V2, takes time to find all the leaks and still looses air, but could float for hours without need to top it off.
Because of mental Instability and being a gear nerd, I then built a third by lengthening the V2 pattern by a foot. Great compromise and fun to build new stuff.
If you want a DIY packraft for critter hauling, I strongly recommend the new 2 person and a Big Agnes Air Core pad in the bottom, backpacking pillow for a seat.
I’ve never shot a moose but highly doubt even my 2 person Voyageur would do the trick. The fabric is stout, but my concern would be dragging/hauling if there were rocks, etc..
I dream of a moose hunt in AK sometime and if I do and there’s a need for a packraft I‘m getting a Pristine Ventures Cork or PR49 or whatever other awesome rafts he has available. Soooo much tougher and built for the task. Watch his videos on YouTube, those rafts are bomber and design exactly for floating out a pile of meat.
Check out the stories about the guy who built three or four of them (not me) on the DIY packraft site. He has the leak thing down: wider tape and making certain that your welds are really good vs. patchy connections. Then glue the crap out of every seam and connection. I do this over several nights, pulling the seams out of the zipper and gluing along as much as I can. Plus follow Matt’s advice about glueing the seams as your building. Just build in the delay/dry time and don’t rush it.
One guy (see the forum) almost lost two friends when a Voyaguer had a seam failure. My total guess is that it wasn’t a great seam, plus he admits it was too high pressure and overloaded.
I highly recommend building a DIY packraft if you’re interested. The new ones are killer compared to the V2 or V3, Matt is very helpful, the videos are great, take your time, make certain you’re melting the TPU across the tape vs here and there. The price is right, you get to “pimp your raft” with your own patches/seat/etc.
