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LitePacker
Member
Joined: 31 Oct 2009
Posts: 32 | TRs | Pics
Location: Issaquah, WA
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 Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:59 pm New Pack Raft - UPDATE! |
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We just wanted to provide you with an update regarding the ultralight packraft that we have been developing. We are pleased to announce that we are in the final stages of production and we have sent a request for delivery of final product to our manufacturer. We are expecting availability within the next few weeks. In the meantime, please feel free to visit our redesigned website at http://www.flyweightdesigns.com and review product features, specs, and pricing.
Thank you again for your patience and interest in our product
FlyWeight Designs |
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erik the red
Member
Joined: 22 Dec 2007
Posts: 168 | TRs | Pics
Location: Everett, WA
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LitePacker
Member
Joined: 31 Oct 2009
Posts: 32 | TRs | Pics
Location: Issaquah, WA
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We are trying to keep the cost in the same range as the curtis raft. It will ultimately depend upon the first production run...the more we make the less they will be.  |
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TwoFortyJeff
FlorentineJeff
Joined: 18 Aug 2008
Posts: 1580 | TRs | Pics
Location: Someone get me out of Everett, WA
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How long does it take to blow it up?
Is there a good method to patch it when I break it? |
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George Johnson
Member
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 76 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bothell
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| LitePacker wrote: |
| We are trying to keep the cost in the same range as the curtis raft. |
I'm not familiar with that range. Can you eleborate? Thanks! |
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LitePacker
Member
Joined: 31 Oct 2009
Posts: 32 | TRs | Pics
Location: Issaquah, WA
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| TwoFortyJeff wrote: |
How long does it take to blow it up?
Is there a good method to patch it when I break it? |
We have not timed a pump up, but conservatively it takes under five minutes with your lungs. The nice thing is that we are using one-way boston valves which means air doesn't rush out between breaths. To deflate you just unscrew the entire valve and it deflates in seconds. Also, the valves happen to be compatible with Exped's pillow pump, which weighs only 5.8 oz and works quite well.
http://www.amazon.com/Exped-Pillow-Pump-Universal-Terra/dp/B001URGU24/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1257050560&sr=1-1
To answer your second question, we would hope that you don't break it! We are currently working on an effective puncture patch kit, and we are also testing some commerically available patch kits for mattress pads to see if they work. If you only need to take one patch kit for your sleeping pad and your boat, we think that would be ideal. |
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LitePacker
Member
Joined: 31 Oct 2009
Posts: 32 | TRs | Pics
Location: Issaquah, WA
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| George Johnson wrote: |
| LitePacker wrote: |
| We are trying to keep the cost in the same range as the curtis raft. |
I'm not familiar with that range. Can you eleborate? Thanks! |
Our understanding was that the Curtis raft was in the mid $200.00 price range. We are definitely trying to keep the price in that range, however, we are still in the process of crunching the numbers. |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 7556 | TRs | Pics
Location: Laboring
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| Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:22 pm |
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Very cool!  What about paddles? |
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Tom
Admin
Joined: 15 Dec 2001
Posts: 11682 | TRs | Pics
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| Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:23 am |
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| Lookin' good! Nice to see someone picking up the torch. |
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Hulksmash
Cleaning up.
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 3442 | TRs | Pics
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Sweet! I hope you post here when they will be available. 
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"Bears couldn't care less about us....we smell bad and don't taste too good. Bugs on the other hand see us as vending machines." - WetDog
"Just because it is the truth does not mean i am obligated to believe it" - Slugman |
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shadetree
Member
Joined: 22 Apr 2008
Posts: 322 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lost in the back yard
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| Looks like something I might like to have |
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Slugman
Daisy's agent
Joined: 27 Mar 2003
Posts: 9216 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lynnwood
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| Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:19 am |
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Design a raft that doubles as your shelter (tent), and I'm there. (A longer raft, a pole to prop up one end, and some mosquito netting?)
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You must have really hated that moose - Dudley Moore, Arthur
Where's the rest of that moose? More "Arthur" |
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captain jack
Serving suggestion
Joined: 25 May 2004
Posts: 3127 | TRs | Pics
Location: El. 162'
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| Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:45 am |
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Interesting idea. 
Netting could be easily attached with some peel and stick velcro.
Now the downsides;
Making the boat larger would increase the weight, bring it into the range of current lightweight tents. Adding guy lines and netting, and requiring the extra weight of either a paddle or hiking pole , it now becomes a marginal shelter for its weight, and only useful when you want both a boat and a shelter.
The more pressing issue is the wind resistance. An inflated boat would have the tendency to go sailing away like a kite if wind were to get beneath it. By turning it into a lean-to shelter, with only mesh for walls, you are encouraging the wind to do just that.
This means adding very strong guy lines and tie downs in order to prevent a shelter launch. Possibly cinching it down nearly level to the ground would decrease some of the pressure, but that would then be a very tight, dark, non-breathable, confined space to exist in, let alone weather out a storm. |
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LitePacker
Member
Joined: 31 Oct 2009
Posts: 32 | TRs | Pics
Location: Issaquah, WA
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| Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:55 am |
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| Magellan wrote: |
| Very cool! What about paddles? |
In the pictures we used a couple of Sevylor paddles that combined weigh around 20oz. We think that a better alternative is the Kwik Tek paddle:
http://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Tek-Paddle-Section-Aluminum/dp/B000FE5P0G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1257097679&sr=8-1
The fully assembled paddle weighs close to two pounds and works as a kayak paddle. You can actually break it down into two small oars with a combined weight at a hair over 16 oz. If you want you can break them down further and just use the blades which weigh only 4.5oz a piece. We think that it works pretty well with our raft and at $15 is a pretty good deal. We haven't had any issues with durability thus far. |
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Tom
Admin
Joined: 15 Dec 2001
Posts: 11682 | TRs | Pics
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I assume curtis style paddles will work? 1 pound paddles weigh heavily on the lightweight spec since the raft is almost a pound heavier than the benchmark before paddles. I know some people who use milk jug cutaways with their curtis rafts (to save even more weight vs. the curtis paddles).
Benchmark: Double bottom Curtis Designs Raft (23 oz), inflatabag (4 oz), paddles (6 oz) |
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