An amusing trip on a raft on a lake or river, like in the film about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Fin - 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 make it when there are no free wood materials? 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, wrapping 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 indentations made with a knife will serve as a place reliable fastening, and pulling 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 board manufacturers! 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, we select the required number of bottles. If you are interested in the topic “crafts from plastic bottles for the garden,” then watch the new episodes.

For the ladder ( better name the authors haven’t come up with it yet) 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.

The raft is compact, easy to build, and can be made from any available materials. For example, you can build a raft from plastic bottles. All you need:

• Rope
• Bottles
• Waterproof tape

But you can’t go anywhere without preparation. Bottles need to be checked for cracks and holes. Tear off the labels, wash, close tightly with lids so that air cannot escape.

These are the battleships with vertically positioned bottles that transport people to Malaysia.

Or you can place the bottles horizontally and it will turn out pretty good.

Dimensions are limited only by imagination and the number of passengers.

And I spent time with the child and saved on travel.

Just 800 bottles, a couple of boards and a romantic vacation on the water is ready.

And on such a “yacht” a resident of Crimea went on a trip to Odessa.

But Odessa residents, on the contrary, are in a hurry to leave their hometown.

On such a rocket, the guys from Pskov conquered the water festival.

A knife, ingenuity, time, and not even a raft, the whole boat is ready to sail.

You have the materials, you have the desire, you have the crew, so why waste time on trifles? Whistle everyone on the yards.

Patience, tape and labor, if they don’t grind everything, at least they will help you swim.

Complete the sides and you can open the transport line.

DIY raft: 10 drawings of the best models

Anyone can come up with their own model of a raft, making it with their own hands. There are many materials for their construction, but they are usually made from:

• wood;
• logs;
• plastic bottles and canisters;
• barrel;
• polystyrene foam;
• cameras;

Each raft is special to the designer. You don’t have to invent raft models, but take drawings from the Internet, you can only add your own details. Top ten drawings best models included both relatively simple and complex models rafts

To build you will need: an ax, a knife.

Without fish, reeds are like wood. All you need: reeds, a couple of sticks and a rope or its substitute.

Why is it not simple? Boards, bottles and forward to boarding.

Four barrels, a dismantled local pier, a rope - the raft is ready. Goodbye Earth.

You'll have to put in a lot of effort, but what a result!

Professional rescue rafts from the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Such a raft can support up to 5 people, of medium capacity. Well, a couple of boxes of 40 degree fuel.

All people over 30 have heard of Tom Sawyer. This is the same raft.

The sailing raft "Yukaghir" is not a fairy tale?

A raft built on chambers. The Black Pearl would be jealous of such a “destroyer.”

Read in full (link)

DIY canister raft 8 photos

A high-quality and difficult-to-sink raft, can be made from canisters. Of course, the more there are, the better, but 40 canisters are enough to keep two people afloat. To build it you will need 50x160 cm boards, cans, rope or tape, and enthusiasm.

To strengthen the structure, you can use metal packaging tape and several boards measuring 30x155 cm, which are attached to the finished frame. It is advisable to cover the boards with paint or glue to prevent deformation.

Floating cottage.

Budget, relatively quick option. I dismantled the neighbor's fence, took a rope with canisters and go for it.

This raft requires 28 canisters. At least cross the sea.

Another a budget option, the main thing is that the canisters are intact, and then, you see, it won’t drown.

A combined version of canisters with bottles, which were combined into blocks. The only thing missing is a sun canopy.

This amount is definitely enough for one person. The main thing is to do everything carefully and not touch the canisters.

A combined option, not budget, but worth it. Complete the chairs and canopy, and the excursions can begin.

Read in full (link)

DIY log raft 9 photos

The most ancient, but reliable material for building a raft is logs. It is not always possible to find even boards, but there are always logs, the only problem is their extraction. Despite the fact that they are heavy, they stick to the water like plastic, very well. For the most simple models All you need is logs, rope or its substitute.

Correct raft bundle.

Nobody bothered too much here. It floats and is fine.

Norwegian raft. The guys are trying very hard, it’s a massive job, it’s worth it.

A single raft for fishing, with normal currents you can get anywhere on the water.

The process of making a raft from logs with your own hands.

The guys from the USA spare no effort; such a “raft” can fit a truck or half a hundred people. In general, how will it go?

Hunting version of a single-seater raft.

This option is suitable even for romantic dates.

Floating house. For people tired of the city bustle.

Read in full (link)

12 photos - a raft made of wood, made by yourself

The main material for building a raft is wood. Without it, it would be impossible to launch a single raft. A wooden raft made by yourself can be combined with other materials: tubes, bottles, polystyrene foam, etc. It is better to choose wood without rotten parts or traces of termites. If possible, you can paint it for additional protection.

Model of an advanced raft from the middle of the last century.

Similar rafts were also used for military purposes. A couple of boxes of ammunition and 2-3 people will fit without any problems.

A simple version of a single-person raft. The main thing is to firmly nail and tie the materials together.

Bamboo raft from Thailand. Very light, maneuverable and durable.

Bamboo doesn’t grow here, but there are plenty of craftsmen.

Swimming through Siberian rivers is not a question.

The guys from Bryansk are preparing for the water festival.

Our domestic battleship. It wouldn’t be a shame to go around the world with this.

A good compact model that can accommodate two adults.

You won't be able to sail far on this, but you can swim close to the shore.

Island rafts are popular among tourists.

Read in full (link)

DIY foam raft 9 ideas + photos

When choosing a material for building a raft, you can pay attention to polystyrene foam. It is lightweight, durable, inexpensive, and most importantly, accessible to anyone. The amount of materials for building a foam raft with your own hands is limited only by imagination and time.

One of the simplest models. The foam blocks are held together with wood. It can be done without cross boards, but the raft will be unstable.

Practical implementation by the Finns. You can barbecue on it, sleep, or fish. You can take 3-6 people on board.

And this guy decided to go to the social network while sailing, why is unknown, but the main thing is that his raft did not sink.

Why not a canoe? Only made of polystyrene foam.

Here the guys decided not to waste time on trifles. Build a raft, so build it safely.

But a sailboat worth all the money. I found time to both build and sail.

With such a battleship, even to the far north. The main thing is not to fall into the water.

They prepare thoroughly, no, one might even say epically.

Read in full (link)

How to make a raft from bottles with your own hands

For active recreation 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 a lot of 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 flotation device 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 designs you will also need bags made of canvas fabric, ropes 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 you care appearance your “vessel”, 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. Next, you can attach either transverse strips to them, 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 bottles is the simplest and is suitable for creating a small raft similar to inflatable 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 in 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. Such option will do 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. Close the plastic containers tightly and screw them 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

You can use the floor to build a floating craft liter bottles. In order to reduce the amount of painstaking work, you can fill 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 a wooden frame (the 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.

Fantasize, invent own design 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 sharp drop temperatures By observing these storage conditions, the homemade raft can be used for several years.

Video of the process of making a raft from bottles

DIY boat or raft made from plastic bottles, homemade floating craft. Sometimes it happens that you really need some kind of water. means, but money to buy, for example inflatable boat no, but I want to fish or just swim. A way out could be to make a boat or raft from scrap materials, or purchased materials. But despite the fact that it is quite simple and cheap to make a full-fledged boat, for example from plywood, not everyone has the skills and capabilities to build boats on their own. But there is still a way out... It is advisable to collect 5 liter bottles in large quantities, since you need fewer of them, which means less to attach to the frame, you can also use plastic canisters, which are 5 liters, and often come across 10 liters. Below I want to consider 2 options for constructing a float. products from 5 liter plastic bottles. The first option is a raft similar in shape to a boat, for its manufacture there are 81 pieces. five liter plastic bottles. Such a raft will support about 120 kg. If you need more carrying capacity, simply increase the size and number of bottles. The base of the raft is made of poles, but the frame is assembled in stages. First you need to chop the required number of poles with a diameter of 5-8 cm, or thicker. Next, you need to tie two poles together with a distance between them of 5-10cm, depending on the thickness. This distance is necessary so that the bottle is additionally held against the sides of these poles. This means we tie 2 poles together using small sticks, and then plastic bottles are tied to these poles. On one side, around the neck, and around the center of the bottle. You can tie it either with a nylon thread or with a thin, soft wire, or you can also tie it with a thick fishing line. The end result should be a long section consisting of two poles with a row of bottles attached. Next you need to make the same sections in the required quantity. The example in the figure has 6 sections. And then all 6 sections are compiled and connected to each other using transverse poles. The transverse poles must be tied carefully and tightly, otherwise the raft will not have rigidity. It is enough to fix the bottles in 2 places, the first fastening is by the neck, it will hold the bottle in its place, and the second is a wrapping fastening so that the bottle does not jump out of its place. The result is a free float. a product that can be made in a day, and at the same time it is reliable and light, since the main weight of this frame will weigh no more than 20-30 kg, and the bottles will weigh 2-3 kg. You can also make an even lighter raft from plastic bottles by using, for example, thin plastic tubes instead of wooden poles as a “skeleton” (i.e. base), lathing for a raft or boat. A frame made of, for example, inch plastic tubes will weigh at least 2 times lighter than wooden frame, which will also get wet and become heavier. But in this case, you need to spend money on plastic tubes. For a raft as in the picture you need 5 pairs of plastic poles, i.e. 12 pieces. But there is one advantage here: bottles can be attached to plastic poles using wide tape. If you attach it to wooden poles with adhesive tape, then after the wood gets wet, the adhesive tape will not stick to it and all the bottles will begin to crawl along the poles. But on plastic, the adhesive tape holds perfectly and water does not get under the glued surfaces and the adhesive tape holds the bottles well. A boat with a plastic frame will only weigh about 10 kg. if it’s like in the picture, it won’t get wet and absorb water like wood, which means it won’t get heavy after swimming. Anyone can build such a boat on plastic bottles, and you can build it in 1-2 days without rushing, but you can use it for years, and at the same time, in the version with wooden poles and found bottles, such a melt. the product doesn’t cost a penny, except maybe rope or fishing line for tying bottles and assembling the frame of the boat. At the same time, the design is light enough to carry such a boat alone, and it’s not scary to leave it unattended, since it floats like that. Few people will be interested in the product and want to steal it.

Sometimes it happens that you really need some kind of watercraft, but you don’t have the money to buy, for example, an inflatable boat, but you want to fish or just swim. A way out could be to make a boat or raft from scrap or purchased materials. But despite the fact that it is quite simple and cheap to make a full-fledged boat, for example from plywood, not everyone has the skills and capabilities to build boats on their own. But there is still a way out...

For fishing or just for boat trips on a river or lake, you can make a watercraft that will cost zero. For example, earlier, rafts made from logs were used as the simplest watercraft, but such rafts are very heavy and they require good, large material in the form of wood. And now, due to the availability of plastic containers in the form of bottles of different capacities, you can make rafts, catamarans, or boats practically for free, since bottles can simply be collected, or collected at the nearest landfill.

It is advisable to collect 5-liter bottles in large quantities, since you need fewer of them, which means less to attach to the frame; you can also use plastic canisters, which are 5 liters, and often come across 10 liters. Below I want to consider 2 options for building watercraft from 5-liter plastic bottles.

The first option is a raft similar in shape to a boat, for its manufacture there are 81 pieces. five liter plastic bottles. Such a raft will support about 120 kg. If you need more carrying capacity, simply increase the size and number of bottles. The base of the raft is made of poles, but the frame is assembled in stages. First you need to chop the required number of poles with a diameter of 5-8 cm, or thicker.

Next, you need to tie two poles together with a distance between them of 5-10cm, depending on the thickness. This distance is necessary so that the bottle is additionally held against the sides of these poles. This means we tie 2 poles together using small sticks, and then plastic bottles are tied to these poles.

On one side, around the neck, and around the center of the bottle. You can tie it either with a nylon thread or with a thin, soft wire, or you can also tie it with a thick fishing line. The end result should be a long section consisting of two poles with a row of bottles attached. Next you need to make the same sections in the required quantity.

The example in the figure has 6 sections. And then all 6 sections are compiled and connected to each other using transverse poles. The transverse poles must be tied carefully and tightly, otherwise the raft will not have rigidity. It is enough to fix the bottles in 2 places, the first fastening is by the neck, it will hold the bottle in its place, and the second is a wrapping fastening so that the bottle does not jump out of its place. > The result is a free watercraft that can be made in a day, and at the same time it is reliable and light, since the main weight is the weight of the frame, and it will weigh no more than 20-30 kg, and the bottles are 2-3 kg.

You can also make an even lighter raft from plastic bottles, using, instead of wooden poles, for example, thin plastic tubes as a “skeleton”, that is, the base, lathing of the raft or boat. A frame made of, for example, one-inch plastic tubes will weigh at least 2 times lighter than a wooden frame, which will also get wet and become heavier. But in this case, you need to spend money on plastic tubes.

For a raft as in the picture you need 5 pairs of plastic poles, that is, 12 pieces. But there is one advantage here: bottles can be attached to plastic poles using wide tape. If you attach it to wooden poles with adhesive tape, then after the wood gets wet, the adhesive tape will not stick to it and all the bottles will begin to crawl along the poles.

But on plastic, the adhesive tape holds perfectly and water does not get under the glued surfaces and the adhesive tape holds the bottles well. A boat with a plastic frame will only weigh about 10 kg. if it’s like the picture, it won’t get wet and absorb water like wood, which means it won’t get heavy after swimming.

Anyone can build such a boat on plastic bottles, and you can build it in 1-2 days without rushing, but you can use it for years, and at the same time, in the version with wooden poles and found bottles, such a watercraft does not cost a penny, except maybe rope or fishing line for tying bottles and assembling the boat frame. At the same time, the design is light enough to carry such a boat alone, and it’s not scary to leave it unattended, since few people will be interested in such a craft and want to steal it.