Home Made Raft

captain359

Hello Everyone,
I thinking of making a raft for a local upcoming raft race, It has to hold 4 guys and any ideas would be great, I have an idea to use empty 50 litre beer kegs (which i have to return after use !! ). How many kegs would I need to use to float four guys and a sheet of ply ??
Any feedback would be great to assist me in my calculations

Thanks in Advance !!!!!

pmccormack

From rafts we made in the scouts and different times we made 2 square frames say 6 foot by 6 foot. About 1 foot (this depends on the size of the barrel or keg u use) in from the side place another spar do this on two sides. Rough outline of what it would look like on one side below.
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What your trying too do is to sandwich the barrels in-between the 2 frames you will need too lash the two frames together at each of the outside corners and inside and in the middle of the sides.

Effectively all going well you will have made a raft with 2 pontoons which should hold 4 men 2 on each side.
I would not use a ply wood top as you will slide around on it and It maybe hard to attach.

Kegs sound good but are heavy enough 50L blue plastic barrels work perfect and are light.

Hope this helps
paddy
irishcanoekayak.com

Chiorino

Give Trim Canoe Club a bell. They have a raft race on the Boyne every St Patricks day and have been doing it for years. I'm sure a few of the lads there are old hands at raft building at this stage.

captain359

Cheers for sharing the info guys, I will hopefully begin construction next week.

MugMugs

captain359 wrote: »

Cheers for sharing the info guys, I will hopefully begin construction next week.

best of luck.... post pics when done