Raft building is constructing a platform or raft from several available materials. There can be a variety of goals, such as building a floating object, crossing a lake or river, or racing against another group. Wooden poles, barrels, and other items are tied or lashed together with rope to form a raft. Depending on the type of knot you apply, things may or may not hold together.
Your raft’s design will be dictated by the materials you’ve been given. Wooden poles are generally included in the frame. Floating air containers are provided by barrels, which are employed in this manner. You may rely on them to keep you afloat.
Stability is essential. No matter how well it floats, that doesn’t imply you can all keep your balance on top of it. Stability will be affected by the raft’s height over the water compared to its width. Rafts can be created in various ways; the only limit is your creativity and imagination.
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How to make a survival Raft
Building a survival raft should be a piece of cake if you have the necessary supplies. What do you do when you cross a pool of water to get from one point to another? What do you do if you’re near bodies of water and want a launching pad from which to go spearfishing?
Access to a body of water can be a lifesaver when disaster strikes. You’ll have a consistent supply of protein and game that emerges to consume the freshwater and a reliable supply of hydration. Then again, if you need to flee or your home is flooded, you’ll need some kind of transportation. Your homemade raft comes in handy here.
Things required
At the very least, you’ll need an ax and a bushcraft knife to build a raft. Using a machete for heavy-duty cutting will save you time and money. A hammer and nails are always welcome, but you can also use cordage like rope, paracord, and even tree roots if you have plenty of it.
Obtaining the necessary supplies
The materials you access will differ based on where you live and what you can get your hands on. Log rafts can be created using fallen trees or bamboo for the base.
If you reside in a more crowded location, you might be able to get instructions on how to construct a raft out of recycled pallets.
Using Logs to make a survival raft
Acquire 12 long logs, each 7 feet long and with a minimum diameter of 2 inches. The logs must ideally be the identical thickness and length.
As cutting living trees requires drying the wood outside, which requires a lot of time. It is ideal to obtain these logs from dead, dry trees. Before using any logs, scrutinize them in case of any decay or pests. Follow the steps below to build your survival raft.
- Trim any sticking twigs or branches to make the logs straight and equal in size.
- To make it simpler to “launch” the raft after it is complete, position 9 of the 15 logs by each side on the water.
- After the logs are in their proper positions, couple the six logs remain.
- You can use paracord, tree roots, duct tape or rope to secure the three logs to the other logs.
- You can arrange and firmly fasten some flat wood planks or a plywood level to create a more steady floor.
- Build a few oars (follow the directions below), then set the raft in the water.
