#Raft survival tips how to

Here’s how to make a raft with these materials: Pallets aren’t very buoyant, so you’ll need at least 6 empty 55-gallon plastic or steel drums with airtight lids and no holes to act as flotation aids. Wood pallets are an excellent base for your survival raft they’re lightweight and offer a prefabricated base to work on.Ĭollect 4-6 wood pallets of the same size, depending on how many people you wish to transport. No nails? You can use paracord to lash logs together for your survival raft (). If you have nails and plywood, you can make a more stable log raft that doesn’t get your feet wet (). In this case, 4 large logs were used for the base and four smaller logs were used at the ends to hold the deck together. Here’s how your log survival raft can look. Make a couple of oars, (see instructions below) then place the raft on the water. As an option, place and securely attach some flat planks of wood or a plywood deck for a more stable floor. If you don’t have a hammer and nails, lash the three logs to the other logs with paracord, rope, duct tape, tree roots or similar cordage. Once the logs are arranged, pair the remaining six logs - three on top and three on the bottom: one pair near each end and the third in the middle, “sandwiching” the nine logs as per the image below. Arrange 9 of the 15 logs side-by-side close to the water’s edge this makes it easier to “launch” the raft once completed. Cut off any protruding branches or twigs to ensure the logs are straight and uniform in shape. To put together your survival raft with logs, do the following: Be sure to check each log for rot or parasites before using them. Ideally you should source these logs from dead, dry trees, as cutting live trees require that you dry the wood out, and that takes too much time. If possible, the logs should be of the same length and thickness for stability and better buoyancy. Gather at least 12 straight logs measuring 7 feet long with a diameter of at least 2 inches. Even a simple scrap wood raft could meet your needs, as long as it’s lightweight and buoyant. If you live in a more populated area you could learn how to build a raft with pallets. For the base of your homemade raft, you can make a log raft from fallen trees or bamboo. Getting the Materialsĭepending on your location and what’s accessible to you, the materials can vary. A hammer and some nails are definitely welcome, but cordage like rope (nylon or hemp), paracord or tree roots will do nicely as well, as long as you have it in abundance.