Name: Build Your Package
Brand: Odyssey Rafts
SKU: 1341
Availability: InStock

Mehler VALMEX® Boat Fabric

Mehler VALMEX® Boat Fabric is a high-performance, PVC-coated polyester textile known for its strength, durability, UV resistance, and airtightness, making it ideal for premium inflatable boats (RIBs, dinghies, rafts) and even architectural shade structures, offering a blend of flexibility, resistance to abrasion, weather, and dirt. It’s constructed with multiple PVC layers bonded to a strong polyester base, providing excellent performance for marine and outdoor uses.

VALMEX® boat fabric is a multi-layered material designed to withstand extreme physical stresses.
Composition: Multiple layers of PVC are combined with a high-strength 1100 dtex polyester base fabric using a melt-roller coating process. The specific blend includes high-quality plasticizers that prevent the material from becoming sticky or brittle over time, a common issue with cheaper PVCs.
Seams: The fabric is specifically designed to be thermo-welded (heat-sealed), a process that creates a bond significantly stronger than traditional glued seams and results in a seam that is highly resistant to failure.

Key Features and Benefits

Durability: The fabric offers exceptional flexibility and resistance to mechanical damage, tearing, and abrasion.

Weather Resistance: It is UV-resistant, weatherproof, and insensitive to high temperature conditions, making it suitable for a wide range of climates.

Chemical Resistance: It maintains strength and integrity when exposed to oil, fuel, saltwater, and other harsh elements.

Maintenance: The fabric is dirt-repellent and easy to clean with mild soap and water.

Airtightness: The layered structure provides high airtightness, which is crucial for inflatable applications.

Construction

All Odyssey boats are made with world-class German Mehler VALMEX® BOAT fabric, Leafield valves, and meticulous construction methods. All seams are thermo-welded resulting in seams stronger than the material itself. Odyssey boats come standard with top and bottom chafing guards creating a 1.64mm double fabric layer in high contact areas in and out of the water. Our expedition and outfitter boats come standard with a full top and bottom wrap, plus bottom chafing guards maintaining 1.64mm tops but increasing bottom thickness to 2.46mm of protection in high contact areas.

What's Included

Here’s what’s included in every frame order:

All frames come with adjustable oar mounts and oar locks. Also included is adjustable crossbars for your cooler and foot bar. All frames come with necessary straps for benches, dry boxes, frame to raft, oar tethers, etc. We want you setup right when you leave our shop.

1.25″ 6061 SCH 40 Aluminum Pipe Construction
Oar Mounts & Locks, and quick release Tethers
Adjustable Cooler Bar & Foot bar
Any Dry Box comes with cam straps
Any Frame and Raft Packages come with additional cam straps needed
Decking is 1/2″ HDPE with 1″ square holes for great drainage and lashing
Benches are 1/2″ thick HDPE and come with cam straps

Currently we are producing frames within: 2 WEEKS. The 2026 Rafts will be available end of February, 2026 TBD. Currently accepting deposits, just contact us.

Description

Base Options

Some folks prefer seats, some prefer benches, or padded dry boxes. Our frames come with various options and you can select the frame that suits you best. These are just basic variations so if you don’t see what you are looking for please contact us for detailed pricing on any custom variation. We are happy to help make the perfect frame for you!

Decking

Decks are a great way to improve your raft frame and offer a bunch of benefits. The decks are great for getting in and out of the raft safely, you can lash gear to them for those big river trips, they are great for dogs as they protect the raft’s tubes, the list goes on. We highly recommend getting decks for your frame. We usually add them to both sides and run the length of the frame, but if you are wanting segmented decks or maybe just for one side we are happy to help.

Adjustable vs. Welded Crossbars for the Rowers Bay

The simple difference is deciding what you plan on doing with your frame. For example, if you know you are going to have a dry box in the rower’s bay 100% of the time there’s really no reason to have the front crossbar adjustable. In this case we recommend to go with a welded crossbar to reduce weight and reduce your cost. This is included in our standard model. If you see yourself changing out box sizes, or sitting on different coolers, go for the adjustability. It’s a small added cost but gives you the added flexibility.

Hatches / Benches:

Our benches are made from 1/2″ HDPE textured decking. It’s very rigid and durable! Swivel seats can be mounted to these benches for added flexibility. Our standard bay size is 15″ L as this is the standard dry box we prefer for folks but if you want a different size bay we are happy to make them any size. Benches on a 15″ L bay are 18″ L x 48″ W, wide enough for two passengers to sit side by side. We also love Paco Pads to lay on these benches for added comfort. These benches can either be lashed to the frame or permanently fastened.

Stern Seats and Anchor Systems:

If you are planning on bringing another rider you’ll need a Stern Seat System. The Stern Seat System bolts onto the base frame on the stern, it comes with a padded swivel seat. If you plan on adding a Anchor System you will need a Stern Seat System for it to attach to.

Aluminum Dry Boxes:

Our favorite dry box that fits most boats is 15″ L x 37″ W x 16″ H. If you are needing a custom size please contact us. These boxes are heavy duty and have a very strong seal on the lid. Two handles are spring loaded, and the two lid latches are secure and easy to use. We also have comfortable foam pads that can be added to a dry box, as well as flip seat mounts to add a padded seat on top.