How to Build a Raft Out of Bamboo

Bamboo is a very versatile material that can be used to create many things including rafts. Bamboo is strong and light, and therefore it is ideal for making your raft. The hollow stems, or culms of bamboo are filled with air, making it extremely buoyant. Bamboo rafts can be built quickly, they are also quite stable as long as the river is not too choppy.

Cutting down a tall bamboo plant is virtually impossible because of its strength, but you can try to burn at its base until it falls. Before that, pierce the lower culms of the bamboo to release the air so that explosion can be prevented.

Lashing the bamboo canes tightly and securely together will be the important key to making sure that your raft is safe. Before doing that, place two large bamboo poles on the ground parallel to one another about 8 feet apart. These poles will just be supports (to hold your raft off the ground later so it is easier to lash). Your raft will be very heavy, therefore you should build it very close to the water to get it in with ease.

Now you can start making a frame out of your bamboo for the raft. Get four large and thick pieces of bamboo. One set should be roughly 12 feet long, the other 8 feet. Place the shorter pieces on top, then the longer ones in the bottom to form a square. The long pieces act as stabilizing pontoons and will extend from each side by 4 feet. Lash everything tightly together with vine or rope.

Now that you have your frame, complete the pontoons and begin making the floor. Secure smaller pieces side-by-side on top of your frame until its completely covered. After that tie four more bamboo sections to the far edges of your pontoons, spanning the length.

After you are done, double-check to make sure that the lashings are secure.