Hand-made raft

[payne]

I've decided that instead of renting a canoe for way too much money to go down the Yukon river, I'd build myself a raft and try to go down the river as far as I can with it.
The portion of the river I am going to attack is 735km long. (Whitehorse -> Dawson City.)

How feasible do you think it is to build a good raft for this kind of expedition?
I know there are quite a few log jams on the river, so it should be easy to gather good pieces of wood.
There aren't any serious rapids, and they are all avoidable by navigating on the right side of the river.
There is only one lake that I will cross, all the rest is a river with a very steady (but not too fast) current.

I will probably not have access to any other tools than a saw, my knife and my hands for the construction.
I will have rope and cordage with me.
I might obtain a few huge inner-tubes from scavenged materials up there, but it's not very likely. I might also buy a few floating tubes. I should be able to find some plywood.

This might look crazy, but I am very serious and motivated about this project.

I am basically looking for some more rational thoughts on the feasibility of this project, and some pro-tips as of how I could build such a raft.
Ideas/concepts are accepted as well. Let your imagination flow!

Encourage the youth and the foolish ideas that come along with it!
(I hope I won't get bashed too much on this.)

EDIT: The trip has been done!
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...l=1#post366145

[1stimestar]

Oh lordy!

[1stimestar]

Just giving you some pictures from my trips up the Yukon.

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And here's some video I took.
http://youtu.be/FTjvAwjtBJI
http://youtu.be/H-5Q6KMuRmA

[randyt]

I built a raft from a old platform, barrels and ratchet straps. It worked good and the main thing is it floated high in the water. The main challenge with most rafts IMO is they float low in the water and my gear and myself gets wet.

[crashdive123]

While it is certainly possible, I have doubts that you will be able to accomplish building a sturdy enough raft for a journey that you are planning on undertaking. I say that in all seriousness based on several of your earlier comments in posts.

I have a huge capacity to surpass myself/pushing myself to the limit

I believe I'm the kind of guy that likes to get into extreme stuff really fast, and once I've achieved something, I kind of start considering anything below it as being out of my interest.

I do realize a lot of people, even "experts", consider deliberately putting itself into that kind of situation is purely stupid and shouldn't be encouraged, but I think people have to understand who they are talking to: I'm an outdoor-megalomaniac.

I probably will write about my trip once I come back, yes, but it'll be out of memory: no time to take notes out there!

P.S. My memory sucks. :P

I never really intended on getting rescued. I'm not telling anyone I'm going into the forest, so no one will know I'm lost, which is kind of my intention. As I've said, dying isn't that much of a fear for me and I will be mentally prepared about it. However, don't think I'm going in there with purposely suicidal thoughts in mind.

I've stated it many times:
I am the kid with not much experience

I did not have much time since I was trying to start the fire right in front of every body, on the terrain of my college... and it's illegal. As soon as I realized I couldn't get the cord to have a proper friction with the wood, I just abandoned.

Now - having put all of your words up to explain my original statement.....

I believe it is something that is certainly possible. It will require commitment. It will require planning. It will require hard work. It will require testing. It may even require more money than renting a canoe. Buying a used canoe probably still remains your best option. The allure to travel the river like Huckelberry Finn is understandable, but unlike TV and movies the raft you would need for your trip would be a large undertaking.

[Sarge47]

When I was in High School I lived in Burlington Iowa, right on the Mississippi river. I read the book, Tom Sawyer and had a dream of building a raft and navigating the Mississippi river. I never did and it's probably a good thing cuz I'd more and likely would have drowned; that's one mother of a river; I've lost friends in it. However I certainly can understand why you might want to do that so my best advice is to make sure your raft can take any abuse that river might throw at it. Do your homework, both on raft building and what you might expect from the river! Don't neglect some sort of steering mechanism so you won't be at the mercy of the current. I once gave a thought to trying to find an old pontoon boat to salvage the pontoons and deck.

Also, you might check out the book "Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft" by Thor Heyerdahl, (http://www.amazon.com/Kon-Tiki-Acros...8013596&sr=1-1) it's a true account of a raft voyage across the Pacific Ocean by six men.

[Rick]

I think you are counting on materials that may or may not be there. What if you arrive and can't find suitable materials?

[RangerXanatos]

How deep is the river? Towing a water-logged, wooden raft over areas it couldn't float across get's very tiring. If you're set on this, go find a used canoe and tow it behind your raft. After a couple of those low water areas, you'll be glad to have the canoe and will leave the raft.

[kyratshooter]

Payne, check with the Coast Guard and Corp of Engineers first. You may not be allowed on the waters in such a craft.

In my area they will not let me float a leaf in a puddle without CG and COE inspection and approval.

to build and register a legal craft I must have:

a hull number from the Coast Guard
inspection by the state WMA
registration from the county
a motor (to get out of the way) if on transport routes

If I build my own craft it must pass all safty regualtions and I must submit an inventory of the materials that went into the construction of the craft.

The days of just jumping on a pile of logs and floating down the river like Huckleberry Fin are gone.


Consider this.

Get a job and earn a few bucks. Buy an old beat up jalopy that will just barely pull itself, and your canoe. Drive to the headwater point. Unload the car and forget about it or give the title to someone local. Make your trip. At the end of the trip sell the canoe to a local. Count the cost as a learning experience and catch a bus home.

As a side note, the long term parking lot at Springer Mountain GA, the jump-off point of the AT, is filled with 20 year old vehicles abandoned by through hikers. After 5 years they are towed away for scrap. It is a common practice at high impack locations.

Love those pictures 1timestar!

[southard]

1st your gonna get wet no matter what. Wet+cold=.....

Next your gonna build a raft using a knife. Do you plan on finding logs already cut to appropriate length, and how big around?
Lotta work and hard on the arm. What type of cordage?
Will it stretch when wet or when worked by the movement of the logs while floating down river?
What type of knots are you planning to use?
Are you gonna slap the logs together or are they to be fitted (more blade work)?
Are you gonna notch troughs in the logs to prevent lateral movement in the lashings?

You might try dry runs b4 hand.
Education is expensive. Its up to you if it cost is money, time, pride, or your life.

[hunter63]

payne, sometimes i think you come up with this stuff....jsut to get our goat, lol
Raft....bad idea....canoe better idea....making the trip...priceless.

[payne]

While it is certainly possible, I have doubts that you will be able to accomplish building a sturdy enough raft for a journey that you are planning on undertaking. I say that in all seriousness based on several of your earlier comments in posts.

Now - having put all of your words up to explain my original statement.....

I believe it is something that is certainly possible. It will require commitment. It will require planning. It will require hard work. It will require testing. It may even require more money than renting a canoe. Buying a used canoe probably still remains your best option. The allure to travel the river like Huckelberry Finn is understandable, but unlike TV and movies the raft you would need for your trip would be a large undertaking.

Haha, you made me laugh at myself. Those are some pretty nice quotes. Good memories of the fool I was just a few months ago.

I must admit my vision and goals have changed quite a bit, and you shouldn't consider those informations as representing me properly anymore.

Just giving you some pictures from my trips up the Yukon.

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And here's some video I took.
http://youtu.be/FTjvAwjtBJI
http://youtu.be/H-5Q6KMuRmA

Beautiful. Can't wait to be there.

Also, you might check out the book "Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft" by Thor Heyerdahl, (http://www.amazon.com/Kon-Tiki-Acros...8013596&sr=1-1) it's a true account of a raft voyage across the Pacific Ocean by six men.

Is the book well written? How does it keep your attention?

I think you are counting on materials that may or may not be there. What if you arrive and can't find suitable materials?

If I can't build a raft, I'll rent/buy a canoe.

Payne, check with the Coast Guard and Corp of Engineers first. You may not be allowed on the waters in such a craft.

In my area they will not let me float a leaf in a puddle without CG and COE inspection and approval.

to build and register a legal craft I must have:

a hull number from the Coast Guard
inspection by the state WMA
registration from the county
a motor (to get out of the way) if on transport routes

If I build my own craft it must pass all safty regualtions and I must submit an inventory of the materials that went into the construction of the craft.

The days of just jumping on a pile of logs and floating down the river like Huckleberry Fin are gone.


Consider this.

Get a job and earn a few bucks. Buy an old beat up jalopy that will just barely pull itself, and your canoe. Drive to the headwater point. Unload the car and forget about it or give the title to someone local. Make your trip. At the end of the trip sell the canoe to a local. Count the cost as a learning experience and catch a bus home.

As a side note, the long term parking lot at Springer Mountain GA, the jump-off point of the AT, is filled with 20 year old vehicles abandoned by through hikers. After 5 years they are towed away for scrap. It is a common practice at high impack locations.

Love those pictures 1timestar!

I had absolutely no idea there would be regulations. I might sound stubborn, but I don't think I'll check out if my idea is legal or not with the authorities.
If I get caught and have to abandon the project, I'll simply buy/rent a canoe.

1st your gonna get wet no matter what. Wet+cold=.....

Next your gonna build a raft using a knife. Do you plan on finding logs already cut to appropriate length, and how big around?
Lotta work and hard on the arm. What type of cordage?
Will it stretch when wet or when worked by the movement of the logs while floating down river?
What type of knots are you planning to use?
Are you gonna slap the logs together or are they to be fitted (more blade work)?
Are you gonna notch troughs in the logs to prevent lateral movement in the lashings?

You might try dry runs b4 hand.
Education is expensive. Its up to you if it cost is money, time, pride, or your life.

I forgot to mention I'll have a saw as well.
I also have a contact in Whitehorse, so if ever I need some additional tools, I most likely will have access to them.
Good thing you've talked about knots: I don't know many of them, and probably do not know the ones the I should be using in this specific case. Can you lead me to some useful information? And what type of cordage should I use?
I think I'll just slap the logs together, tie them, and add some plywood on the top to not have to bother with certain details.

I know I sound kind of stupid with my ideas, but heh, I really appreciate that some of you guys are taking me seriously and giving useful advices.

[SARKY]

As a kid, we built and used rafts to fish and hunt muskrat. BUT we were in a swamp, without any current or large open wind swept sections of water. While it may be an interesting project, it is not a safe nor efficient one as far as transportation goes. If you could find a large enough log and do a dug-out canoe, this would be a better choice.

[BENESSE]

I think I'll just slap the logs together, tie them, and add some plywood on the top to not have to bother with certain details.

I can see that you thought this out. Can't wait to hear how it worked out for you.

[natertot]

Plywood would be a bad idea. It'll get wet and shortly thereafter get soggy and fall appart. It would be better to use multiple planks of treated wood.

Good Luck.

[tipacanoe]

What means to you have to make some money? I would think that if there are any rafting companies in your area you may be able to buy a good used raft that is designed to float down a river. Then, maybe you could enjoy the trip rather than worry what that next rock you can't see is going to do to the homemade raft. There are several rafting companies here in Maine not that far from you that may sell used rafts.

[SARKY]

Tipacanoe, do you know if they are still doing the "Great Kennebec whatever river raft race"?

[JAMES09]

Payne, I think you are being wise to listen to what everyone has to say about your trip down the river...something like this should stay in the planning stage for at least 2 years before you set off. I say this because there is a raft
to acquire(either by building or buying) then there are provisions you will need(and you will almost always need 15% to 20% more than you think you will need) if you plan to fish, hunt or trap for food, there's more stuff you will need(don't forget about getting the proper license for trapping, fishing and/or hunting)....
My point is, when I was younger(23years old), I took a canoe from the Canadian/US border & through the river system of the the US, I ended up in LA. then the gulf of Mexico.

that trip was in the planning stage for 3 yrs before I left, & I STILL forgot some gear. upper Canada is not as
forgiving as Southern America, so one has to really plan hard.

I suggest that you do A LOT of research before you buy or build a raft of any kind...get to know the river thru the eyes of experts; learn meteorology so you can read & predict the weather at any given time...there is lots to do before you start, it would be in your best interest not to miss a beat if you can help it.

[JAMES09]

Plywood would be a bad idea. It'll get wet and shortly thereafter get soggy and fall appart. It would be better to use multiple planks of treated wood.

Good Luck.

I agree 100% Plywood on a boat is never a good Idea. even marine grade plywood will not last that long...it will last longer but there are too many variables to make plywood go bad & usually at the worst possible moment.I sugest sticking with 2x4's, or 2x6's...maybe even 2x8's.

[southard]

There are a slew of books out to help you. I just cant think of them right now and am 1,000 miles from mine. Learn lashing techniques and practice them. Test a couple different styles and ropes. Lash wood together let it soak for a couple of days work the whole structure for a good period back in forth. Get vicious with it. Waterproof your pack so it floats then tether it to you with 10' feet a cord. So when your in the drink you'll have a flotation "device" USMC style. Dont just count on your swimming skills I know from experience.