How to make a raft of plastic bottles: features of the structure, materials

Sometimes in the head are born just crazy ideas. One such can be a descent along a river on a makeshift raft. Do not immediately throw away such thoughts, because they can develop into a wonderful adventure, which you can then remember all your life. In general, it is worth seriously thinking about such a venture. But for such a journey it will take at least some kind of swimming device. There is one solution - this raft. Many people ask: "How to make a raft with your own hands?" Thanks to him, you can easily and quickly go down the water. How to make a raft, from which materials - the answers to these and other questions in this article.

What is a raft?

Surely everyone in childhood knew how to make a raft of paper. It could transport stones and figures, organize competitions: who will swim first and so on. But now you can even go on a trip on the river, embodying a childhood dream.

The raft is the simplest swimming device, thanks to which you can quickly move to the other side or go downstream. It can be used for different purposes: for survival, entertainment, participation in amateur competitions, in some environmental actions. The range of application of the raft is quite large. What is its advantage over the boat? That it's very simple to make it, but you get no less pleasure. The raft is light, so it is easier to carry or carry. So, how to make a raft with your own hands?

A little bit about the materials

How to make a raft when there are no materials? And to create and do not need a lot of everything. It is necessary to think: what material is very light, both cheap and common? Plastic bottles perfectly match all parameters. They can be found even on the bank of that river. After a rest there is a lot of garbage, which would be useful for such a thing.

To give even greater buoyancy, foam can be used. It is also light and cheap. Surely everyone had boxes from under the TV or refrigerator, in which pieces of foam had been packed.

Wood is a wonderful material for a raft. In the old days, when there were no plastic bottles, such a swimming device was made only from it. But in our time to do a raft only from wood is optional, if there is a plastic container. The characteristics of this remarkable material will be useful for the "deck" of the raft itself.

How to make a raft of plastic bottles?

In fact, there is nothing complicated. But before you make a raft, you need to decide how many people it will float on. This is an important question. It is best to go alone, because making a raft for one person is easier than for two. The smaller the swimming device, the stronger and more reliable it will be. There is less chance that it will fall apart.

Getting Started

Variants of how to make a raft of bottles, quite a lot. Therefore, everyone has the right to modify his design in the way that is convenient for him. The first step is to prepare the materials. We have plastic bottles. We need to carefully examine them for holes. They must be whole, otherwise they just get water. Each plastic bottle must be tightly closed with a lid and filled with air. This means that it should not be flattened. The more in the air pack, the more buoyant the raft itself will be. When everything is ready, you can start work on creating a swimming facility.

Create a raft

One unit in the construction will be a block of bottles. Make it very simple. This will require four bottles. When they are joined together, a square is obtained. That's what we need. The construction of such blocks is very strong and reliable. The most important thing is that it can be repaired quickly. If something happens to the block, it is easily removed and replaced with a new one. Therefore, such an easy scheme is very easy to maintain and operate.

Bind the bottles in the block with waterproof tape. For greater security, it is best to hedge the rope. The main thing is to twist them tightly, so that it's tough, otherwise the block will fall apart again.

Now you just need to make blocks. How much they will need depends on the size of the raft and its carrying capacity. But the extra will not be lost. After a sufficient number of blocks have been produced, it is possible to start the formation of sections. This is the next stage in the division of the raft. One section consists of several blocks. It is formed by the width of the swimming device. If in width it will be like four blocks, then one section will unite them. This division will also facilitate the interconnection of all the elements among themselves and the replacement of spoiled bottles.

Thus, the blocks are combined in sections, which are then fastened to the raft.

How to make a raft deck?

What is located above can be called a deck. This is an important part, on which there will be a man with all his equipment. The base consists of two large wooden beams, suitable for the length of the raft. Then transverse boards are attached from above. They can be installed every forty to fifty centimeters. To these crossbars then it will be necessary with the help of ropes and an adhesive tape to fix a part from bottles. For greater convenience, it is best to put a piece of chipboard or plywood to cover the entire area of the raft. Thus, it turned out to be an even surface, on which it is comfortable to sit. That all did not get wet, it is best to cover this leaf with a thick tarpaulin. It will also be good to build yourself something like a hut, so as not to be baked in the sun.