Anfibio Packraft in the inventor magazine "Einfach Genial" on MDR television - Anfibio

1. June 2022

Anfibio Packraft in the MDR inventor magazine "Einfach Genial"

“Einfach Genial” is the long-running inventor show on MDR television in which presenter Henriette Fee Grützner presents the results of development work by amateurs and professionals. We were guests on the show and presented the latest developments, in particular the innovations of the Packrafts Anfibio Revo CL and Revo XL – from VenturiTube to TwinTail.

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What’s new in paddling and backpacking boats? The MDR team from “ Simply Ingenious ” and documented it with the camera for a day.

Interview

by Felix Köhler (Maximus Film)

with Sven Schellin (Anfibio Packrafting)

for the new Anfibio Revo CL and XL backpacking boat.

Photos: Thomas Butzmann.

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1. how did you come up with the idea?

The basic idea was to design a truly ultralight, freely configurable packraft for flexible use, from wild to mild. Backpacking boats are common and have been around for a long time, even very light ones. Some can also cope with white water. What was missing was a combination of the two. The principle of the self-bailer (also established) lent itself to this, as self-bailers offer many advantages in moving water compared to closed boats with spraydeck (light and easy, free and quick entry and exit). But who wants a boat with a hole?

The approach was therefore to be able to close this opening, or conversely, to be able to open a “normal” boat. This was new for a packraft and enables both applications.

In the course of implementing this idea, the floor mat required for self-draining was redesigned. Compared to conventional mats, it sits very tightly in the Revo and fills out. The result is a very stiff, profiled bottom, almost like a hard-shell boat. This is unique for a packraft. In addition, the residual amount of water in the bilge is minimized. Compared to conventional self-bailers, the Revo is therefore less sluggish and more agile. The floor design is at least as innovative and functional as the bilge.

Finally, the TwinTail was designed to underline the claim to a new type of boat visually. However, we copied this from surfboards (Swallow or Fish Tail). However, transferring this form and function (guidance and balance) to an inflatable product was also new and was recognized accordingly.

In the end, the Revo is an overall composition or recombination of known properties from other areas, but that is what “inventions” are all about.

2 What were the challenges in implementing the idea?

The steering function is not so easy to test in practice. White water does not flow at every corner and at all times. Especially as most of the prototypes came in winter.

It was also difficult to estimate or even calculate the optimum flow rate. How large should the opening be or where should the neck of the bottle be? The closure should of course be tight, but also durable and not pose any danger (not get stuck). Here it was also necessary to prevent potential concerns (solution: closure on the inside).

The construction of the floor mat leaves little room for tolerances in the interaction with the boat. Several variations almost drove us mad. Numerous rounds passed before both (boat and mat) fitted together and produced the desired shape. It was either too tight or too loose, the gap for the drain was too small or even completely closed, but it shouldn’t be unnecessarily large either. Finding the optimum here was a real challenge.

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The design of the TwinTail, on the other hand, was relatively simple. Nevertheless, it is always a surprise to see the physical result of a visualization weeks/months later, because we don’t actually have our own local production facility. But the biggest challenge lies ahead of us. How do you explain the concept to customers? Communication is always a decisive factor. Without understanding, innovation is useless. But we’re in the right place right now.

However, the TwinTail is the most striking part of the boat, but not the most functionally decisive! The taut floor, for example, makes more of a difference.

But we are not alone here, surfers, for example, have much more flowery explanations:

“The swallow tail can be more or less pronounced. If it is more pronounced, it is also known as a fish tail. Swallow tails are usually very wide, which generates a lot of speed because the surfboard can glide perfectly on the surface of the water. Compared to a wide squash tail, the hold of the swallow tail is better, as the two fins can be compared to two separate pin tails during turns. This means that surfboards with a swallow tail are a fast board with a lot of hold. So that they also work in steeper waves. Especially with the outline of a retro fish, this tail shape ensures that it still has hold and is maneuverable despite its width and thickness.” Aha!

3. what is your professional background, career, training?

I have a degree in business administration (Dipl. Kaufmann) and worked in start-up consulting and technology transfer at TU Dresden (Dresden Exists) and other scientific institutions (MPI-CBG, IWF Dresden) before becoming self-employed. However, the basis of my own start-up is clearly my personal passion for the outdoors, my enthusiasm for water sports and my fascination with ultralight.

4. when was the first prototype produced? Since when has the model been on the market as standard? What is the current status of the invention?

The basic idea is actually undated. In 2019, we started to flesh out the concept by discussing, drawing and testing partial solutions. 2020 saw the first prototypes and test rides (including in the Markkleeberg Canoe Park and on Saxon rivers).

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Further prototypes and external test rides(tour operators in the UK) followed in 2021 until the bike was ready for series production at the end of the year. The first series production, market launch and delivery then took place at the beginning of 2022.

5. what can you say about technical details such as assembly time and materials?

The set-up time is 5-10 minutes for the tame water configuration and 20-30 minutes for the white water setup.

The material used is tear- and abrasion-resistant TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) laminated nylon fabric in 210D, 420 and 840D thicknesses. This does not contain any plasticizers and is adhesive-free, i.e. 100% welded and sewn.

The basic weight is 2 kg. The comfort weight is around 3 kg. The maximum weight (XL/tube bags) is 4 kg. The boat can carry a payload of between 120-170 kg.

6. how stable is the base material against damage, e.g. when touching stones?

The floor is the strongest part of the boat. The double-sided, double-coated, reinforced fabric (instead of a foil) easily absorbs grounding. In addition, an inflatable boat always gives way on impact and the energy is absorbed (unlike folding boats, for example).

The Revo in particular also has an overlapping, protruding floor that provides additional protection for the side tubes. Last but not least, the floor mat ensures good load distribution and reduces the draught and any stress on the rear and feet.

Of course, there are limits (glass, metal, slate or broken limestone instead of round river stones). However, there are quick repair kits for on the go or special adhesives for at home so that you don’t have to abort your trip if the worst comes to the worst. With the Revo, you have an advantage in that a hole in the floor cannot affect the function of the boat, as it already has an opening.