Raft vs. Boat - what's the difference

CT River Raft Race - Contest Rules

View the attached file for The Connecticut River Raft Race Rules.

 

I'll go with the Floating Neutrino's definition:

A boat floats because of its shape and watertightness such, and a raft floats because of the materials it is made from (that is, the materials you use - so barrels count as the material in a raft where you get the barrels).

Arguments of "A raft you can't control" are wrong - this is a byproduct of the construction of many rafts, which are often square. But there is nothing to stop you making a raft in the shape of a boat that isn't watertight.

 

That definition would mean all unsinkable boats are rafts.

 

Not necessarily - unsinkable boats are watertight, no? I would personally class a watertight hull filled with foam as a boat.

I agree, however, that it is quite a foggy line.

 

Not necessarily. A Boston Whaler, for example, is foam filled and built like a surfboard.

 

And the outer shell is not watertight at all? If so, then I suppose its a raft, from your description.

 

It is basically a chunk of foam fiberglassed all around. There are no internal voids. Carolina skiffs are built like that too. I wouldn't call either one a raft.

 

Maybe no clear definitional difference exists?

Human nature likes to be black and white, reality isn't.

-Tom

 

The KonTiki is clearly a raft and a 12meter clearly a boat. There are some vessels that would be hard to define because they have elements of both.

 

Are these watercraft rafts...or a boats?

These are the five entries participating in the 2nd annual Riverhouse Raft Race held in Westport, Connecticut. http://westport.patch.com/articles/a-motley-crew-races-along-the-river-for-charity Are these human powered watercraft rafts or boats? Please provide some comments and/or opinions why each is either a raft or boat. Thanks.

"Knotty Gurl" - is this a raft or a boat?

Hulls are fiberglassed Lauan plywood construction, Mississippi Swamp Pirogue style pontoon hulls with sealed air floatation chamber at each bow tip. Crew of two pedalers using pedal powered propellers and there is one helmsperson steering with a rudder. The front unit is a Seacycle drive and the rear unit is 100% homemade exercise bike conversion.

"Annalisa" - is this a raft or a boat?

Foam hull construction with shrink wrap covering. Entire watercraft is artistically enhanced to look like a Roman galleon. Wooden framework & deck connects hulls together. Crew of six used to paddle and one helmsman on steerage duties with a rudder.

"S S Minnow" - is this a raft or a boat?

Two sealed & painted Sono-Tube pontoons strapped to foam panel decking. PVC pipe mast and sail. Watercraft paddled and steered by six crew members.

"Calvin Klein" - is this a raft or a boat?

Stacked Styrofoam panel pontoons that are strapped to wood framed deck. Watercraft uses four paddlers and one helmsperson on a rudder. There is one small sail too.

"Speedo" - is this a raft or a boat?

Stacked Styrofoam panel pontoons that are strapped to wood framed deck. Watercraft uses four paddlers and a rudder. There is one small sail too.

 

I would call all those catamarans "boats".

 

Gonzo,

If it's your opinion that the watercraft pictured are catamaran "boats" this would mean that the River House Raft Race didn't actually have any "rafts" in it. I find this interesting as none of the watercraft participating in the event were ever disqualified. I know this because I was a participant and everyone’s “raft” ran the race course. Thus, in my eyes and the eyes of the organizers, all of the watercraft were indeed rafts. Could it be that there are regional differences on just what constitutes a raft?

The event was held on the Saugatuck River in Westport, Connecticut which is in close proximity to Greenwich, CT and this being the home to many hedge funds and other large financial service companies. Money magazine ranks Greenwich #1 in the "Biggest Earner" category. Could it be that the region in which this raft race was held has roads paved of gold and its rivers are lined in platinum? In this region it just may be that any substance not silver plated could be considered a raft material. It could very well be that any entry shorter than a 100 foot yacht would be considered a raft in this neck of the woods.

All of the opinions stated in this thread have yielded clear descriptions of what does, and does not, constitute a raft. However, of all the opinions stated so far there is little agreement between them. Since there isn’t enough common ground established to make an authoritative declaration, maybe there is no definitive answer. I’m proposing that regional differences will influence the definition of what a raft is. Therefore it seems logical to make the evaluation based on a watercraft’s adherence to raft race rules at a specific event.

Here are the specific rules for the River House Raft Race that are related to raft construction. By using this criterion only; would anyone care to determine if the watercraft participating in this event were indeed rafts.

A raft is not a boat. A raft is a floatation device made from just about anything that floats. A raft does not have a hull or hulls: A boat has a hull/s that are self-contained vessel/s that uses air to keep it positively buoyant.

Boat hulls will be disqualified.

No commercially manufactured hulls allowed on any raft.

All entries are to be of homemade construction.

Inner tubes or inflatable devices are not allowed. (Any flotation device is allowed)

Minimum raft size is 4’ by 8’ and must be able to support the weight of the crew. Raft size to be measured at the waterline.

A raft’s deck must be securely fastened to a frame and the frame securely fastened to the hulls or floatation device.

The use of nails below the water line is prohibited.

Rafts that have open hulls with no bulkheads shall have Styrofoam floatation fastened to the underside of the raft deck.

Aftermarket marine rigging such as cleats and rope are acceptable.

All sheet metal raw edges to be turned over and taped.

Any protruding long bolts to be sawed off filed and taped.

 

So much text to defend your point of view.

Perhaps a definitive definition doesn't exist.

Is it possible?

Could it be?

What if it depends?

What are we to do without clarity...

-Tom

 

I agree the lines are foggy, however, I would say only 'Knotty Gurl' is a boat, as it uses air to float (unless I have misunderstood). All the others are rafts, as they float because of their materials.

 

Boats float thru displacement, rafts float by the floatation factor of their materials being lighter then the water.