An exciting journey on a raft on a lake or river, like in the film about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Fin, is the dream of every person, both a teenager and an adult. How to make a homemade raft?

Let's consider several options

The method is suitable for any plastic bottles. Placed in burlap bags.

Primitive, but floating design

Check out what this Chinese store has for water lovers.

why do it when there is no free materials made of wood? The simplest thing remains - to make it from plastic bottles. As a rule, they take one and a half rubles for this. This video tutorial from the UHack channel shows how to create a floating raft from large 5 liter bottles.

There are many options on YouTube on how to make this type water transport, wrapped plastic jars several kilometers of tape. But the video's creators wanted to do it without sticky tape. So that the structure could be easily and quickly assembled, and also, I wanted to reuse it many times.

So here's the solution! They took a dozen two-meter boards and divided them in half. Board size 65×20. Everything is calculated almost down to the millimeter and there will be two guides under each can, and one above the lids. The functional purpose of the design is to hold plastic bottles together. At the same time, so that they do not move apart. Essentially, you need to make a clip for air cylinders.

All steps to create a raft from PVC bottles

Having accurately marked one meter from the edge, we begin cutting the wood. What was unexpected was that it turns out that using a drywall saw is as easy as clockwork to cut wood. Many of you like to watch someone work. Especially if he tries to make a unique raft for you from plastic bottles with his own hands.

raft of 5 liter bottles

If you have a dacha, not far from a pond or a cargo van, it can be used as a boat for fishing from the water. This model is just a small raft and is an example of what can be done on a larger scale. But for now, this is a theory! Not everything is as simple and fast as we would like.

It would seem that the blanks have been cut off, and all that remains is to make cuts for the rope along the edges. By the way, we needed it for about 20 meters. The recesses made with a knife will serve as a place for reliable fastening and tightening of the boards together.

You need to make a wooden ladder for the top, which will be comfortable to swim on. Everything we are doing now can be done at home. So, if you were thinking about how to make a raft at home, then here is one of the options.

Somewhere on the shore in a secluded place, having hidden plastic cans, you can come with previously made elements and, in no more than 10 minutes, assemble a raft from bottles. It's even faster than preparing an inflatable boat.

And here's a surprise! The boards turned out to be not 2 meters long, as stated on the price tag and in the receipt. The excess has to be cut again. Very kind producers boards! If only butchers were so kind. You come to the store and say: “Give me the sausages that are 40 centimeters long, but they give you half a meter!” At least the nail file didn't let me down. And then, as luck would have it, on the last bitch...

We were lucky! Found a backup option hacksaw blade, which can be used to finish the last workpiece. Yes! This time it is better to protect your hands from injury. It will be safer to wear gloves. As mentioned earlier, we make cuts along the edges, on all four corners. Our raft will square shape from 25 cans. Therefore, between the attachment points, 75 centimeters. Depends on the size of the plastic bottles. Ideally, they should be the same size.

The wood turned out to be soft and can be cut well with a knife. The main thing is not to overdo it. In these places is the main fastening of the entire structure of our homemade raft. And the overall success of our efforts depends on how reliable they are.

So, let's select required quantity bottles If you are interested in the topic “crafts from plastic bottles for the garden,” then watch the new episodes.

For a ladder (the authors have not yet come up with a better name for it) you will need 10 blanks and a rope with which they will be tied into a single plane. Please note that all this is being done for the first time and it is not yet known whether the width of the boards will be enough to completely cover the surface of the cans, since this is very important. Initially it was supposed to make 3 knots between the boards. For now, we follow the plan and get down to business.

Ordinary nodes, nothing special. We tighten it well so as not to tie it again. It would be a shame if everything had to be redone again. But we are professionals! There shouldn't be any mistakes. Everything is simple, the first was pulled together, the second was pulled together, the third... And in the same way, board to board, all subsequent parts. We do the same on one side and then do the same on the other. The task is delicate, and so as not to stand in an uncomfortable position, it is better to do it on some hill. After this thought, a good idea immediately came to use the made ladder as a table for forays into nature. You just need to come up with folding legs for it. It’s also cool that thanks to the fact that we made three knots, the distance between the boards increased.

Now it can be rolled into a roll and it will not take up much space. This way you can make a budget multifunctional raft without using adhesive tape, that is, without wasting money. Another advantage of our homemade raft is that it will always be easy to replace any of the cans that have become unusable. Sometimes PET bottles are fragile. And now the last gestures and the base is ready.

Assembling a raft from bottles

Now we begin to assemble, directly, an epic raft made of wood and plastic bottles, measuring 5 by 5 pieces. The handles on the bottles were left on purpose. They will serve as clamps for the upper guides. We thread the same blanks through them as from below. 5 cans for each board. As you can see, while walking and taking smoke breaks, you can quickly make a raft out of bottles.

Having placed the bottles exactly on the surface, we laminate the upper and lower boards. We try to make a good stretch in order to press the bottles harder. In this process, someone's help is desirable, although it is possible to cope alone. We strengthen both sides in the same way. The upper guides will need to be tied together in several places, and then the bottles will not be able to move apart when the load increases. Although, as it later turned out, not only the top can be weak. The sides should also be thoroughly strengthened not only with rope, but also with boards. As they say, a good thought comes later. Knowing all the shortcomings of this design, having slightly modernized it, we could now definitely make the coolest raft on YouTube.

Can't wait to see how much weight it can withstand? The child will be like a feather on it. But an adult with a decent weight is still a question.

Finally we made a flotation device from PVC bottles. This is how it turned out, a neat homemade raft, albeit small. Task number one is completed! The raft was successfully made without using tape!

Testing the raft on the water

Now the most important thing! All that remains is to test our miracle vessel on the water. Now guys, let's go rafting. To celebrate, we almost forgot to strengthen the sides, but it’s good that we remembered in time and tied the rope tightly around the contour several times. Well, now everything is definitely ready.

We go out to sea. In general, as expected, a raft is more or less suitable for a child. You can safely swim or jump into the water with a pike. So, if yours have something similar, they would be happy to build their own ship with you. But for an adult. And yet, after the tenth time, I somehow managed to stay on this small raft for a short time. It is necessary to reduce the windage or simply increase its area at least 4 times. And after the crash test, all the shortcomings are clearly visible. But the main thing is that we found out what the problem is and next time it will be much more reliable. Thank you for being with us. Good luck to all. Bye. If interested, subscribe. We'll do more. Of interest for fun on the water.

Do you dream of fishing in the very middle of the river, but you don’t have the money to buy a boat? Build a universal watercraft that does not require special costs, from empty plastic bottles and scrap materials. Knowing how to make such a raft, you can gradually improve your creation, making it more and more comfortable and stable.

Preparation of materials

To build a raft you will need empty plastic bottles. It is most convenient to work with containers of 5-6 liters. You need less of them than two-liter ones, so building a raft will take less time and effort. Among other things, you will need waterproof tape. Some structures also require bags (not linen) and boards.

Before assembling the raft, the bottles need to be processed. To make the raft look good from the outside, try to collect plastic containers of the same color, size and shape. To keep your raft afloat better, select only intact and undeformed containers. Wash all plastic containers, free them from stickers and glue residues. The plastic bottles themselves are very soft. To make them harder and denser, it is necessary to increase the air pressure in them. To do this, briefly place the open bottles in freezer, and then take them out and close them immediately. At room temperature The air will gradually heat up and expand, making the plastic containers harder.

We build a raft with our own hands

There are several options for the design of a swimming craft, differing in material and time costs:

The simplest raft. Outwardly it looks a little like inflatable mattress. To create it you will need at least 120 plastic bottles. Wrap the prepared container with tape, connecting 4 pieces into one block. Make 30 to 50 of these blanks, and then use the same tape to connect them all together. Make sure that the containers are tightly screwed and pointing in the same direction. For reliability, the lids can be not just screwed on, but placed on waterproof glue.
A raft made from a clamshell. To create it you need empty plastic containers, beer crates, a board, tape, ropes and a folding bed. Place the empty bottles in 4 beer crates and secure them there with rope. Free the folding bed frame from the fabric and fastenings. Using ropes and tape, attach the bottle boxes to the corners of the frame. Attach a board in the center of the raft on which you can sit while swimming.
Raft made of bottles and boards. In this case, you can use containers of different volumes, colors and shapes - for appearance and it will not affect buoyancy. Take plastic bags and stuff them tightly with closed, empty plastic bottles. Tie the bags tightly with string. The number of bags is not limited. The more there are, the more weight the raft can support. Use the boards to form the frame of the future raft, fastening them in the form of a grid. Attach with tape and ropes to the resulting downed wooden mesh bags with bottles. For convenience, the frame can be covered with thick fabric.

After use, the watercraft must be taken out of the water and dried thoroughly, otherwise it will quickly become unusable. It is advisable to store it in a dry place, protected from wind and cold. At proper storage such a raft can be used for more than one year.

A raft is an extremely common construction of water transport, and it is much easier to make than a canoe or boat. There are various methods for constructing rafts; you can make a conventional structure from boards or logs, using barrels or PVC pipes that will keep it afloat. In addition, you can build a raft entirely from empty bottles from soft drinks- it's true, tested in practice! Take a wide one adhesive tape, with the help of which all the bottles are fastened together.

What can a raft be made from?

One of the popular types of rafts is wood. To make such a craft, you need to select high-quality logs and planks from strong wood. Many craftsmen are thinking about building a wooden raft, since this type of water transport is excellent for fishing and long hiking trips.

But besides this, there are other types of rafts. This can be polystyrene foam, inner tubes from cars, plastic and iron barrels, as well as cans or plastic bottles, and you will learn below how to make a raft from plastic bottles. Special pontoons are also sold for making rafts, but they are quite expensive. The most affordable and simple option is a water structure made from plastic bottles.

How to make a raft

Don't know how to make a raft out of bottles? You can make a watercraft with my own hands, for this you will need:

20-25 plastic bottles with a volume of 2 liters.
The tape is waterproof.

The number of bottles can be changed at your own discretion, depending on the size of the raft and the number of people who will be on it.

Raft construction process

How to make a raft with your own hands from bottles and where to start?

Cool opened empty bottles in refrigeration chamber, then tighten the lids tightly to stiffen the containers.
Glue the prepared containers into a single sheet. Using moisture-resistant tape, connect 4 bottles one by one, laid out in 2 rows. A two-layer raft is much more stable and durable. Make sure that the bottle caps are located on one side. For a full-fledged raft you will need approximately 5-6 double-row blocks.
Glue rows of ready-made blocks. To ensure the strength of the system, bottles should be laid in the following way: 2 pieces horizontally and 3 vertically. As a result, a standard rectangular “pillow” is formed.
Combine bottles. Adjacent rows must be laid one after another according to the plug-bottom pattern. The side of the raft should be additionally reinforced with tape. This structure is designed for 1 passenger!

How to make a raft from bottles with your own hands for two or three people? It’s very simple - the number of plastic containers is increasing two and three times. If you don’t have enough 2-liter bottles, you can take other sizes (5, 1.5 and even 1 liter). It is recommended to lay a thin plywood sheet or plastic on top of the glued bottles so that the raft does not press under the influence of a person’s weight.

Don’t be afraid to experiment and fantasize, but don’t forget about safety rules!

log raft

Don't know how to make a raft from wood with your own hands? In order to make a structure from logs, you will need dry pine or spruce wood, that is, when you tap it with an ax, the sound should be clear. But you need to take into account that dry material with old wood is not at all suitable for the construction of a swimming structure. Such a tree will become damp very quickly, and the raft itself will sink. To determine the specific gravity, you need to saw off a small piece of about 10-11 cm from the end of the log with a tool. Then throw it flat into the water. If the stump goes 5-6 cm down, then this wood is well suited for building a raft. So, how to make a raft from planks?

You will need:

Logs 8-9 cm wide and 1.5 m long - 2 pieces.
Wooden planks approximately 2.5 cm thick, 13 cm wide and 91 cm long - 11 pieces.
Thin planks 5 mm thick, 13 cm wide and 91 cm long - 5 pieces.

Manufacturing process

Don't know how to make a raft? The assembly process consists of the following steps:

Place two logs parallel to each other at a distance of 85 cm.
Place eleven planks across the logs to form a deck. The boards need to be laid in such a way that they slightly extend beyond the line of the logs, which, in turn, should protrude slightly from all sides from under the deck.
Hammer it all in with nails.
Turn the raft upside down.
Insert foam between the logs. Try to choose a piece that is the same size as the raft. If found right size If it didn’t work out, then you can use separate pieces, the main thing is to arrange them carefully.
Lay 5 thin boards across the logs to secure the foam.
Nail them down.
Turn the raft over and lower it into the water. This design is designed for one adult passenger of average build.

Important! When using a raft on a lake, you must wear a life jacket. This structure should not be taken onto a river as it is unstable and can be dangerous in moving water. For such movements, only an inflatable raft is suitable, which is used in sports such as rafting, but it is quite expensive. The structure made from logs, made with one’s own hands, is perfect for a lake; you can fish or sunbathe on it.

Structural features

You already know how to make a raft from wood; it’s time to figure out how to choose the right material.

The largest diameter of the log is 25-30 cm.
Minimum - 10 cm.
To ensure that the future raft made of logs has good durability, thin logs are placed in the middle, and thicker ones along the side. If the logs are slightly crooked, then these parts are placed in the lower part.
Allowable gaps between logs are 2-3 centimeters. Otherwise, the water structure will be unreliable and inert, and besides, it simply won’t be possible to build a raft according to all the rules.
The logs are stacked on a slipway, after which they are rolled out to the sides and their upper parts are marked.

Raft grooves

At a short distance of 80 cm from the end, grooves are formed on the main log (sawed or cut down). An indispensable condition is the location of the lower grooves at the same level. In depth they should approach the center of the log - this is very important. If this condition is not met, when hammering in a wedge, you risk damaging the sawn wood. As a sample, a special end is used, which is hewn out of damp birch. It is placed on the designated log with the central part.

Don't know how to make a raft out of wood? Next, in a groove prepared in advance on it, it is freely located on top, and the lower part fills the top of the groove. A wedge is driven between the groove wall and the slope side. It should be woody and dry, the ronjins should be placed in one plane.

Having worked out the technique on the sample, you can move on to the rest of the logs and make the same grooves. They are sequentially secured with wedges to the main log. Before laying the last logs, a different type of groove is formed in them, suitable for vags. In addition, 3 special stands are cut out, approximately 11 cm wide and approximately 70 cm high.

After this, the main rope is pulled over them, instead of which you can use twisted wire or rope ties.

Design selection

Don't know how to make a raft? If you are going to use the raft on calm lakes, then it is better to use the “P” scheme. 2 racks are cut into the logs in advance, onto which the deck is subsequently placed. It needs to be wedged out and a paddling area cut out. To avoid spalling of the racks, the rows should be placed at a distance of 50 cm from the stern and bow.

On fast-flowing and difficult-to-pass rivers, it is necessary to use structures with iron frame, for the construction of which modules and couplings are used. Modules can be taken of different lengths, but the coupling must be shaped. In order to build such a raft, a lot of effort will be required. There will be a lot of drilling involved and the help of a turner will also be required.

But despite all of the above, the resulting raft will be quite easy to assemble and disassemble. To pack the structure you will need two kayak covers and a separate case for storing oars.

The attractive thing is that the resulting frame can, if desired, be divided into two small rafts or even assembled into a catamaran.

Raft made of inner tubes

Have you decided to spend your summer days on the banks of a river or lake and the problem of lack of swimming transport has arisen? In this case, you can use the system of a shallow-draft tourist raft, which can support up to 6 people with backpacks; in addition, the design has decent stability, including on a fast-flowing river. Next you will learn how to make a raft, this process is as simple as possible.

You will need:

Cameras from a car with a diameter of up to one and a half meters - 6-10 pieces.
Wooden poles with a diameter of at least 6 cm and a length of 5 m - 3 pieces, with a length of 1.7 m - 4 pieces.
Pieces of duralumin pipes.
Iron or duralumin strips about 10 mm wide.

Manufacturing

Don't know how to make a raft with your own hands? Follow these steps:

Place wooden poles 5 meters long lengthwise, the shorter ones across them at the same distance from each other.
Next, the manufacturing of the main deck and the “captain’s” bridge begins. They are 3 shields made from assembled poles. First of all, the main deck is made. On two hewn poles 1.7 m long, poles or pieces of two-meter planks 20 mm wide (this is even better) are laid out and driven in with nails. “Commander’s” bridges are constructed in a similar way.
The supports for the canopy are willow twigs. You should proceed to making the raft only after they have been installed. First of all, the car cameras are tied to the base with ropes, then the main deck and “captain’s” bridges are installed. The sides are made from 4 hewn poles, and the canopy is made from a piece of cellophane.
The rowing (control oar) supports are located diagonally on the bridges: on the front part - on the right, and on the rear - on the left side. The supports are bent from three duralumin pipes and reinforced with two steel or duralumin strips. The rowing itself is made of long poles (250 cm), and the blades are made of duralumin or plywood sheets(sizes are selected individually).
The frame is formed using a cable with a diameter of 6 mm and modules 200 cm long, their connecting parts are hinges. A 20 degree bend is formed at this point. The frame weighs approximately 80 kg. On solid shafts, cable breaks are possible.

Conclusion

Now you know how to make a raft, so if you are thinking about an upcoming vacation on a lake or river, thinking about leisure time on the shore and leisurely boat trips, you need to build a shallow-draft watercraft for 5-6 people. The diagram presented above also includes their backpacks. For fishing on a calm lake alone, a raft made from plastic bottles is quite suitable.

Making a raft for river rafting with your own hands is quite simple, the main thing is to understand the basic principles. This floating craft has a fairly simple design; without special knowledge and skills, you can easily build a fishing raft with your own hands from wood and scrap materials.

Large raft with tent

Materials and components

To build a good log raft with your own hands, you need to make the following key structural components:

Frame.
Components for holding the structure on the water (pontoons).
Control systems.
Flooring and roofing.
Safety details.
Compartments for various things.

The frame is the basis of the structure on which all other components are fixed. It is necessary to achieve the highest possible strength of the frame in order to prevent destruction under sufficient high loads, to which the structure will necessarily be subjected during use. It is important to try to minimize its weight. This is important for the convenience of launching the structure into the water. At the same time, the frame must be rigid and resistant to deformation. Otherwise, the integrity of the structure may be damaged right on the water, which is fraught with the most negative consequences.

Typically, rafts are constructed in an inflatable or wooden configuration. In the case of wood, a log frame is used as a frame base. In an inflatable structure, the base is constructed with lathing.

It is extremely important to maintain the correct proportions of the dimensions of the raft. The ratio of width to length should be 1:3. In case of a significant deviation from this norm, the stability and controllability of the boat will be impaired.

Pontoons are designed to hold the structure on the water. They can be made from a variety of available materials. Here you should build on what is at your disposal.

The most popular pontoon options:

cameras;
plastic bottles;
barrels;
tree;
Styrofoam.

It is very easy to make a raft from chambers with your own hands; this is one of the most affordable and easy to implement options.

It must be equipped with properly equipped controls.

Most often used:

The rows are shaped like large oars. As a rule, they are operated by two people; working alone is quite difficult. Sometimes very large rows are built, which can be controlled by 4 people at once. In terms of efficiency, this solution is very good. The structure not only turns easily, but can also move freely against the current. Such control is relevant for large rafts descending onto large, deep rivers with fairly fast currents.
Poles – optimal solution for small rivers. Using a pole, you need to push off from the bottom, thereby ensuring the movement of the structure. In terms of efficiency, this method is significantly inferior to the previous one.
The movable keel is mounted on the aft part of the structure and is a steering mechanism.

It is not necessary to make a flooring, but it is advisable; this will make using the watercraft much more comfortable. The roof can be made in any form, based on the available materials.

The design must include safety elements. They must be responsible for the stability of people during movement and, which is extremely important, in any collisions. For this purpose, special footrests are equipped. Hands are usually protected by control elements. It is necessary to provide special posts on the sides to allow you to hold on in case of collisions or strong currents. And if possible, it is worth taking inflatable vests on the raft.

To conveniently store things and protect them from getting wet, raised platforms are equipped for folding everything you need. You can set up a kind of “greenhouse”, a structure that can be quickly covered with film if necessary. The crew can also hide in it during rain. To store documents, you should use special hermetically sealed bags.

You can set up a special place for a fire to heat food. If you are planning a long rafting trip, it is worth arranging comfortable places to sleep and rest.

How to build a raft with your own hands - video, drawings and photos

See what the finished raft, made by yourself, looks like in the photo:

Wooden raft

This is one of the simplest and easiest structures to construct. This raft is made entirely of wood.

And the video below demonstrates the process of launching a raft made from plastic kegs, made by yourself:

But, in in this case Not only wood is used, but also large plastic containers that ensure its free retention on the water. Therefore, if you want to make a raft from 200 liter barrels with your own hands, the drawings and videos will definitely come in handy.

First, let's talk about simple wooden rafts. First of all, you need to be puzzled by the selection suitable wood. It is important to use only dry materials. Usually a thickness of 10 cm is sufficient; such a raft is easy to build and launch. It is very easy to check whether the tree is suitable. Just put the log in the water, if it sinks at most halfway, this is the right material.

The wood does not need any special treatment. Just remove unnecessary branches and try to achieve as smooth a surface as possible. If the logs differ slightly in thickness, thinner ones are placed in the middle of the structure. As you approach the edges, the logs should thicken. Thanks to this, the structure will be very durable.

Stack the logs side by side and place the cross beams on top. As connecting elements You can use nails or strong ropes. You can use wire and other available materials that will strengthen the structure. But, if you use a rope, you must first moisten it. This is necessary so that when wet in water the nodes do not relax, otherwise the structure may even collapse. It is better to make connections using U-shaped brackets.

After connecting the logs, the raft can already be used. But to make operation more comfortable, you can make a flooring. Plywood, boards, sheets of tin and other available materials are suitable for this.

You can use not only wood, but also combine it with various available materials that provide better buoyancy. You can use, for example, pieces of foam plastic and similar lightweight materials that do not get wet and do not sink in water.

For example, this solution is demonstrated in the following video:

How to make a raft from inner tubes with your own hands (video)

Very often, car inner tubes are used as pontoons on homemade rafts. They are easy enough to find. This solution is very effective. Compared to wooden version, such a raft has many advantages. Its weight is significantly lower, making it easy to carry on the shore or in shallow water. On the water it is more stable and easier to control.

The photo below shows a raft with a sail, made by yourself. Its peculiarity lies precisely in the presence of a sail, due to which movement on water is ensured. Here the sail is of the most primitive type, but it completely fulfills the task. Since the raft is built on tubes, it is lightweight and glides well through the water, so even a small wind is enough for movement. Naturally, you should not rely only on a sail; you must also take oars or, at least, a pole on the raft.

Raft on tubes

So, we make a light raft with our own hands using inner tubes.

Main features of the construction process:

The cameras need to be placed in 2 even rows and then connected. A rope is perfect for this, nylon rope is best, but any other rope will do. The advantage of nylon is that it does not stretch when exposed to moisture.
Wood beams are placed on top of the chambers. To connect them to the cameras, also use ropes.
The beams serve as a platform for installing the decking. It is advisable to use boards. If they are not available, use any available materials suitable for solving this problem. It is advisable to process the material in advance so that all parts are identical and even. Thanks to this, there will be no gaps on the deck. Make sure that the beams protrude somewhat beyond the chambers and flooring. This is necessary so that the beams absorb possible collisions with obstacles.
Approximately in the middle, provide the simplest design in the form of a box covered with film. Things that should not get wet will be stored here. Even all kinds of wooden scraps are suitable for this.
Set up oar racks on both sides.

Take 1-2 spare tubes on the raft, as there is a risk of them being damaged by all sorts of obstacles. Even if the chamber bursts, the raft, naturally, will not sink, but controllability will noticeably deteriorate.

Ready raft on tubes

How to make a raft from plastic bottles with your own hands (video, photo)

One of the most popular options is to use simple plastic bottles. You can use both small and 20-liter ones. Bottles are quite easy to find, so there shouldn’t be any difficulties with materials. The frame of the raft can be made of wood, to which a large number of bottles can be tied. Make sure each bottle is screwed tightly.

It's easiest with big bottles. With little ones it’s a little more difficult, but still doable. But we need a lot more of these bottles. For example, a small raft requires about 100 bottles.

Bottle raft

The easiest way is to place the bottles horizontally. You can connect them using tape, and to increase strength, additionally tie them with ropes. Use special moisture-resistant adhesive tape. Point the bottle necks in one direction. Moreover, in rows the bottles should be connected as follows: necks to necks, bottoms to bottoms, so the design will be as compact and stable as possible on the water.

One of good options– pack bottles in bags. Depending on the size of the raft, prepare required amount bottles Such pontoons turn out to be very voluminous, which will ensure good stability and high carrying capacity of the raft. The bags must be tied tightly so that the bottles remain in the right place when floating on the water. The bags can be tied to the frame with ropes and tape. We invite you to watch the video “How I built a raft with my own hands,” which demonstrates the construction of a large raft from bottles in bags. The design turned out to be very large, stable and load-lifting.

The video also demonstrates the fusion of several people with big amount things on such a raft:

Bottles can also be placed in a vertical position. Divide the bottles into blocks of 4, joined together. Then connect these blocks into rows. Any structure, including a wooden frame, can be used as the basis for a raft.

Bottles are arranged vertically

One of the most successful and easy to implement solutions is to make a raft from 200 liter barrels with your own hands. You can also use barrels of other sizes. The difficulty lies in the availability of the material; it is not always possible to obtain the required number of such barrels. If you have unnecessary ones, it is best to make a raft out of them. Depending on the size of the structure, determine the required number of barrels. For a small raft, 6-8 pieces are enough. It is important to securely tighten the barrels, preferably using sealant, this will prevent leaks. You can use beams or boards as a frame. It is advisable to make the flooring from boards. Inside the frame you also need to provide several separate beams to which the barrels will be attached. Use ropes to secure the barrels.

Raft on barrels

Raft care

If you plan to use the raft more than once, it must be maintained to extend its service life. The structure must be thoroughly dried after each fusion. To do this, simply take it ashore and leave it in a dry place. With rafts on bottles, barrels or tubes, everything is simple because they are lightweight. In the case of a heavy wooden raft, it is better to equip special guides on the shore to facilitate landing.

It is advisable to move the raft indoors for the winter. If this is not possible, it is necessary to arrange suitable conditions storage right on the shore. At a minimum, it must be carefully covered with a tarpaulin. It is advisable to saturate the structure special means, repelling moisture, this will significantly increase durability.

How to make a raft from bottles with your own hands

For active rest on the water it is not necessary to use professional watercraft. Imagination, ingenuity and some tips that can be found in our article will help you build a raft from plastic bottles. The process of creating an alternative swimming device not only gives mass positive emotions, but also helps to take care of the environment by reducing the amount of non-recycled plastic.

What is a raft?

A raft is a simple floating structure consisting of logs, planks or reeds tied together (Figure 1). It can be considered the oldest means of swimming. With the help of a raft you can move to the other side of the river or go downstream. A huge advantage of such a craft is its ease of manufacture and transportation.

Figure 1. The most common raft options

What materials can be used to assemble a raft?

Nowadays, it is not at all necessary to build watercraft from wood (Figure 2). For help to modern man come modern materials, which are always within walking distance and do not require large financial investments. For example, plastic bottles. The swimming structure made from them will be quite strong and light, so it can not only support the weight of an adult, but is also very easy to carry. For additional buoyancy, plastic containers can be combined with foam.

Figure 2. There are many options available today when choosing materials for a raft.

Building a raft with your own hands will be interesting for children and adults, and will help to have fun, both during the creation process and after.

Preparation of plastic bottles and other materials

To build your floating craft you will need plastic bottles. Depending on the displacement, different quantities may be needed. Also, for work you will need waterproof tape, and for some structures you will also need tarpaulin bags, rope and boards (Figure 3).

In order to use the maximum volume of bottles, you must first prepare them.

Remove all labels from plastic containers, wash and place open bottles in the freezer for a while. Afterwards, take them out and immediately screw on the lids. When warm, the air inside the bottles will gradually heat up and expand. This technique will increase the air pressure inside the container and make it more rigid and dense.

Figure 3. Basic materials for making a raft from plastic bottles

If the appearance of your “vessel” is important to you, try to select bottles of the same color and size.

DIY bottle raft: step-by-step instructions

First you need to decide how many people your watercraft should accommodate. This determines the size of the vessel, its maneuverability, as well as the amount of materials and time spent on work (Figure 4).

Remember that a one-person raft is not only easier to make, but it will also be stronger, more stable and safer.

On the Internet you can find many options for building boats from plastic containers. Choose one of them, or come up with your own, based on the information you find and your own experience. However, for all options, several of the same rules apply, which will make the job easier and help make your raft as buoyant as possible.

Figure 4. Raft size depends solely on your needs and material availability

Carefully check all containers for holes or cracks. The container must be intact, otherwise it will leak water.

Each bottle must be tightly screwed on with a lid to prevent air from escaping. Do not use flattened containers. It is harder to connect it with others, and it has less buoyancy.

The easiest way is to divide the construction of a swimming craft into blocks. Each block consists of four bottles, forming a square, held together with waterproof tape. This design marking is very convenient and reliable. From blocks, like a puzzle, you can assemble a shape of any size, and if something happens, such “squares” can be easily replaced if they are damaged.

If desired, the blocks can be tied not only with tape, but also with rope. The main thing is that the bottles are twisted together as tightly as possible, without wobbling, otherwise the structure will simply fall apart.

The next step in construction is dividing the future raft into sections. They should consist of several blocks, and their number should be determined by the capacity and size of the future floating vehicle (Figure 5). This division will help achieve a more accurate assembly and make it easier to replace containers that have become unusable.

Using a rope, you can make loops-handles for convenient transportation of the watercraft.

Figure 5. Example of a raft with 2 and 8 sections

For maximum stability and strength of the vessel, you can make a deck from wooden planks. It will support the weight of an adult along with his equipment. Take two long slats or boards and tie them along the length of the structure. Then you can attach to them either cross bars, or lay a sheet of plywood on top. To prevent the deck from getting wet from splashes, it is advisable to cover it with tarpaulin or thick oilcloth.

If you are planning a long trip, install a small shelter from the sun for yourself.

Options for placing plastic bottles

Below we present the most popular options for building a raft from plastic bottles.

Option 1: horizontal arrangement of bottles

This method of arranging the bottles is the simplest and is suitable for creating a small raft, similar to an air mattress (Figure 6). Accordingly, it is better not to take risks by testing such a structure for strength, for example, by rafting down the river. This type of boat is more suitable for relaxing on the seaside or for entertaining children.

To create such a raft you will need about a hundred plastic containers, depending on the desired size, and electrical tape or waterproof tape.

Figure 6. Horizontal arrangement of bottles

Connect the bottles together in the manner described above (dividing the entire area into blocks).

Make sure that all bottles are tied with their necks facing the same direction.

You can make sides or a “pillow” by connecting not four, but six bottles into blocks, and placing them along the edges of the vessel.

After you connect all the bottles to each other, arranging each row so that the necks of the bottles are connected to the bottoms of the next row, it would be useful to additionally wrap the sides of the raft with electrical tape to avoid damage from snags or sharp stones.

Remember that without additional reinforcement wooden planks or a sheet of plywood, such a raft will not be very reliable and can quickly become unusable.

Option 2: Vertical arrangement

For this method of construction initial stages identical to the previous one.

Figure 7. Even such a floating craft can be built from vertically placed bottles

You need to prepare blocks of four bottles. When the required number of blocks is ready, begin assembling the sections, but now place the bottles with their necks down. It is more convenient to fasten such a structure in rows rather than square sections. The vertical arrangement of the bottles allows you to make a more durable base for the deck, which will not sag so much under the weight of a person due to the smaller contact area (Figure 7). You can put not plywood on the bottoms of the bottles, but, for example, a piece of linoleum or a wicker mat.

In order to make the sides of such a raft, you may need a rope or wire that will be used to secure the towering bottles. This option is suitable for long swims, ensuring the safety of passengers and their belongings.

Option 3: design from large containers

We consider large containers to be 20-liter bottles or plastic canisters. Due to their size, it will take little time to fasten such containers and build a floating craft. more than an hour(Figure 8).

Figure 8. An example of constructing a raft from plastic barrels

To build, in addition to bottles, you will need boards, wire, nails and a sheet of plywood.

From the boards you need to assemble a simple frame similar to the type of sheathing. Plastic containers close tightly and screw to the frame using wire. Fix a sheet of plywood on top and, if desired, cover it with tarpaulin or oilcloth. Such a raft will be very stable, and even bulky, but it will be able to accommodate a large company.

Option 4: a raft of very small bottles

Half-liter bottles can also be used to build a floating craft. In order to reduce the volume painstaking work, can be filled plastic containers polypropylene bags instead of tying bottles (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Raft made of small plastic bottles

You will need up to a dozen of these bags. Having tied them tightly, tie them together, or tie them to wooden frame(same as in the previous version of the raft). It is better to tie bags not with tape, but with thin wire or polypropylene twine.

Some tips:

The raft frame can be assembled not only from wooden slats, but also from strong branches. This method is suitable if you are relaxing in nature, away from the city. You can fasten the branches together using twine, tape or wire.

To steer the raft you will need oars. They are also easy to make from scrap materials. Take a long, strong stick, having previously cleared it of twigs and interfering twigs, and insert it into the neck of a flattened two- or five-liter bottle. Secure them together with tape or string. Make the required number of oars, and feel free to go swimming.

Figure 10. The end result of imagination and creativity when making a raft from plastic bottles

If you are connecting the structure with wire, handle and hide the sharp ends so as not to accidentally injure yourself while swimming.

Use your imagination and come up with your own design, taking into account exactly what you need from the watercraft (Figure 10). The cheapness of materials and their widespread availability allows you to experiment to achieve the desired result. If you are going on a long voyage, then you should take care of the availability of protection from the sun and bad weather, as well as build special fastenings or a place to store things.

A distinctive feature of your vessel can be a small sail or flag. Make it colorful, or write the name of your little boat on it.

After use plastic raft it is necessary to remove it from the water and dry it well in the sun, otherwise the materials may become unusable. If you plan to store homemade design Until next season, hide it in a dry place where there will be no sudden temperature changes. By observing these storage conditions, the homemade raft can be used for several years.

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