Building a raft can be a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. With inexpensive materials, simple tools, and a quiet afternoon on a pond, you can turn a couple of old shipping pallets and some barrels into a float-able sailing device.
A group of friends wanted to go out on the water and have some ice cold drinks and some fun in the sun, but needed to stick to a budget. They built their own pontoon raft using old wooden pallets and plastic barrels for buoyancy. This isn’t a replacement for a real boat, but it’s still an awesome project with awesome friends that will leave you with awesome memories.
Let’s take a look at how these chaps managed this feat in only $808.
Dismantling the wooden pallets and arranging the 2×4’s in the rough shape of a raft.
The pallets were used as the deck for the raft
To give it support, crossbeams were added.
Slowly it begins to resemble a raft.
They used ratchet ties to tie the barrels to the pallets.
They used decking boards to the middle deck.
That proved to be a good idea.
After a long day’s work….it’s time to test it out.
They had to dismantle the raft in order to transport it to the lake.
It wasn’t much trouble to put it back together again once they arrived at the lake.
Gotta add the middle section too.
Assembling it in its entirety wasn’t too time consuming.
Almost done.
Adding some personal touches and comfort.
Million dollar question….Will it float?
Pop open the champagne!!!!! Yes it does!
Bon Voyage!! Smooth Sailing.
Ahhhhh….floating on a cool lake in the summertime….Heaven.
When summer’s over, disassemble it for easy storage.
