Detatchable packraft skeg

thingiverse

Detachable skeg for alpacka packraft, based on fcsfin design, comes in several sizes. The 13cm version works best with my Llama and provides outstanding directional stability. Print with a recommended 1mm layer height, 90% infill, and 5 wall thickness using a 0.4mm nozzle, and be aware of possible over-extrusion. After printing, the fin should be oversized and sanded to fit tightly in the slot at the base plate. I glued the base plate to my packraft but used gorilla tape for attachment due to added slots for that purpose. Remove the five supports from the "quick release" tab on the base plate after printing. My version was printed with cheap Chinese ABS, and I strengthened all edges with superglue. It has survived several summer expeditions without damage, including flatwater and intense river kayaking. I expected the "quick release" to fail when hitting a river bottom at full speed but instead, it flexes away, even when going sideways. The base plate is designed to break at the upper "bulb" if overstressed, so I recommend carrying a spare. However, this has not happened to me yet. Recommended print settings for use with Oru Kayak are: Print with 1mm layer height Use 35% infill and 3mm wall thickness with a 0.5mm nozzle This allows the skeg to break easily without damaging the kayak.