Collapsible raft design, Help!

[Pipsta]

i was floting the colorado river the other day in 1.50$ walmart pool toys when i desided to build a raft, i ahve a small pickup and i wanted to beable to haul it around so i stayed up last night drawing up some designs, they are mostly baised off of

http://www.captainfletch.com/project...barrel_top.asp

But wit some mods, if u guys could help me with some constructive criticism that would be great heres the pic: (this is not to scale)



steel cables go around the 55 gallon drums and the top half bolts onto the bottom half uhhh.. and the same bolts used to bolt down the 2 halfs also serv to tightne the cables around the drums aslo the middle section that is lower than the deck will stableize the durms. (if that made any sence)

[alan white]

So far, I see naughty miters. Use butt joints or lap joints on the corners!
Cable idea is fine, though more expensive and more prone to corrosion than 1/8"x 1" bar stock, which could be bent around easily and have a hole at one end and a coupling nut at the other.
Also, see if you can either add barrels or shorten the raft---- weld the barrels together at the lip, make a long pontoon, easier to motivate that raft.

Alan

[timgoz]

I like Alan's idea about welding the barrels together. Just make sure they did not contain (and still harbour) anything explosive!

Tim

[Pipsta]

"So far, I see naughty miters. Use butt joints or lap joints on the corners!
Cable idea is fine, though more expensive and more prone to corrosion than 1/8"x 1" bar stock, which could be bent around easily and have a hole at one end and a coupling nut at the other." (? huh ?)

I was plannig on useing 55 gallon plastic barrels, but i still ahvent gotten my hands on any... i dont think metal would go over well with the rapids im going to be incountering maby pvc pipes? but do u think metal would be better choice/ easier to get?

[alan white]

No, I thought you were referring to steel barrels. Sorry--- I'm over fifty---- when I grew up, a 55 gallon drum was always steel.
Yeah, poly barrels are the better choice--- slide better.
So the straps, they could be steel if those barrels have ribs that protrude more than the steel, right? Steel is nice because you can buy it galvanized and with holes every inch. Cheap. Then you can cinch the straps by bending the ends and using the available hole.
Another idea. You wrap conveyor belting over the bottom half of the barrels---- I've got some and it is some tough stuff. You'ks have to drive grommets through it to rope it on, but that stuff would slide over anything.

[Pipsta]

good i idea.... that would be perminate but i think since the raft is in 2 parts it would still be transportable. i was also thinking maby like thos motorcycle rachet straps.

[timgoz]

What type (class) of rapids are you contemplating running?

Tim

[Pipsta]

1-2 i am planning on avoiding them altogether if possible.