Proposed 1.5 lb packraft (a reborn Curtis?)

Very sweet. Much better than a Sevylor Trail Boat.

This boat is awesome. I'd love a really light raft like this someday once my wallet has recovered from my recent Alpacka purchase. Maybe for next year.

The dimensions of this raft are essentially the same as the old Curtis Raft. No, it is not 30D material, it is 70D material like the old Curtis Raft. The marginal weight savings that one would achieve using 30D fabric would be minimal compared to the strength gained by using 70D material. The fabric is white, because that was the color I was able to get the sample fabric in.

The boat was designed based upon the specs of the old Curtis Raft. Here is a side by side comparison.

I would love to hear feed back on this proposed design.

Marc, Thanks for chiming in. I'm glad to hear that the reported overall weight was achieved with 70d fabric. Bitter lamentations about the disappearance of the Curtis raft are among the most common general sentiments about packrafting that I encounter online. When Ti Goat decided against producing a similar raft after announcing a prototype, many people were very disappointed.

My only design suggestion is about valve placement. The only sleeping pad my girlfriend will use anymore when we backpack is my overturned Alpacka Scout (with clothes and our foam groundsheet underneath). It makes a very comfortable little bouncy hammock on the ground. This reduces our pack weight by almost a pound because we don't have to bring a sleeping pad for her. I've read here on BPL that it works well for kids, too. This is possible with the Alpacka because the valve is not on the top surface. I think the valve placement on your design might prevent using it this way, or at least strain the fabric around the valve and increase the risk of a failure at that spot.

Colin, thanks. While I wouldn't recommend using it as a makeshift mattress, I agree that I need to move the valve. That is definitely one of the changes that I would make. I like the boston valve because it is very light, allows for easy inflation and deflation, and it is easy to find replacements. I was hoping to source a different style of the boston valve that is recessed. Should I get some of those, then placement would be somewhat of a moot issue.

I would most definately buy one of these.

I also want one.

The ultralight diy packraft is just heavier than this and much better design. I just made one, it was a fun project.

That website seems for sale.

https://www.diypackraft.com/