How to Make a River Cane Raft

River raft

Have you ever wanted to imitate the adventures of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn and build a sturdy raft to float down the river? Build a cane raft to ferry you on your journey of adventure. It is fairly simple to construct a raft with natural materials and basic carpentry tools. Building a cane river raft is a fun and inexpensive family project.

Things You'll Need

• Hatchet
• Knife
• Machete
• Canes
• Vines
• Nylon rope
• Saw

Instructions

1. Gather natural building materials. Cut straight canes or limbs. A hatchet, machete, knife or small chain saw can be used to cut the canes. Building a raft requires a good amount of sizable canes or tree tops and a lot of vines for lashing the raft together. Hollow canes are filled with air, which will add buoyancy to your raft.

2. Lay two of the largest and strongest canes on the ground about six to eight feet apart. Build your raft on top of these canes or poles to help it to slide into the water. The raft will be heavy. Construct your raft close enough to the water to get it in the without too much difficulty. Be aware of any tidal changes and do not locate it in an area where the raft is in danger of floating away.

3. Cut two pieces of cane roughly six to eight feet long and two pieces that are 10 to 12 feet long. Lay the longer pieces in the bottom, the short ones on top, to form a square. The long pieces will extend four feet on each side of the raft, acting as stabilizing pontoons.

4. Lash the pieces tightly together with nylon rope or cut vines.

5. Add more cane lengths, side by side on the frame until complete. Alternate the thick and thin end of the cane to keep the raft level. Lash in place as each cane is added. Add a second layer of canes on top of the first. (Cut the same size as the first layer.) Lash together with rope or cut vines.

6. Test your raft in safe water prior to beginning your journey on the open river.

References

• Paralumun: Making a Raft
• Bob Denver: How to Build a Raft