Inflatable boat “diplomat”: carry case, raft, camp chair

Whether it is a holiday or a weekend, we try to spend our free time as a family on trips: hiking and cycling, by car and on the water. We have been to the Baltic countries, Karelia, Crimea, the Caucasus, and the steppes of Pryazovia. Over fifteen years of such journeys we have built up a stock of design ideas that help solve problems tourists often face. We would like to share one of them.

Water tourists, hunters, and anglers often look for a way to carry an inflatable boat. It is sold packed in one—rather awkward—carry bag, and the paddles go in another. Multi-day water trips call for a lot of gear. Two tourists, for example, may need two backpacks of 20—25 kg each, an inflatable boat—another 25—30 kg, paddles, a tent… Even the tourist trolley sold in shops is little help: in my view it is too bulky and heavy.

So on behalf of our family design bureau I suggest making a “diplomat” for an inflatable boat.

You will need duralumin tubes from an old camp bed (ski poles will do), two wheels from a baby stroller, and… two free evenings.

Fig. 1. Cargo layout in the "diplomat" and construction of cover joint nodes (A — upper node, B — lower) — **Fig. 1. Cargo layout in the “diplomat” and construction of cover joint nodes** (A — upper node, B — lower):
1 — duralumin tubes of the upper cover, 2 — paddles, 3 — single connecting strips, 4 — duralumin tubes of the lower cover, 5 — inflatable boat, tent and other packed cargo, 6 — double connecting strips, 7 — wing nuts, 8 — rivets, 9 — bolts, 10 — washers, 11 — wheel, 12 — wooden insert.

We started by cutting frame blanks from the camp-bed frames, as shown in figure 1. Then, after inserting plugs of strong wood into the tubes, we joined them with rivets (screws can be used).

In the frames made this way we secured the inflatable cushions from the boat kit with cords—these are the covers of our “diplomat.” We joined them with metal strips so that when closed there was a gap of about 180 mm between the covers.

Fig. 2. The "diplomat" as a cargo raft — **Fig. 2. The “diplomat” as a cargo raft:**
1 — inflatable boat, 2 — tow lines, 3 — cargo, 4 — inflated “diplomat” cushions, 5 — “diplomat” unfolded, 6 — inflatable “logs.”

In a package measuring 700×540×220 mm a two-person inflatable boat with paddles fits easily; there is also room for a two-person tent, two or three children’s inflatable “logs,” or a deflated car inner tube.

One pair of connecting strips is doubled so that stroller wheels can be fitted on the mounting bolts and the “diplomat” rolled along while holding the protruding paddles.

It is also easy to tow behind a bicycle. If the bike folds, it in turn fits well on a raft made from the opened “diplomat” with inflated cushions. That opens the way for a combined water-and-bike trip.

Fig. 3. The "diplomat" as a chair — **Fig. 3. The “diplomat” as a chair:**
1 — “diplomat” chair, 2 — inflatable boat.

On long river trips the raft can be fitted with several children’s inflatable “logs” and will serve as a floating cargo platform (fig. 2) with a displacement of up to 120 kg.

Besides, the “diplomat” unfolds and can be used at camps as a sleeping place or a handy camp chair (fig. 3).

“M-K” 3’87, I. SHPANOVSKY, Riga

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