How to Assemble a Raft

River rafts are simple by design, but require rigging. In order to gain maximum safety and efficiency with your raft it needs to be rigged with a proper kit. This includes the frame, oars and oar locks, rope around the outer hull and frame strapping. Oar rafts have a metal frame with a chair in the center. The captain sits in the chair and rows and directs the raft down the river with the two oars.

Things You'll Need

  • Pump
  • Raft
  • Frame and frame straps
  • Oars
  • Raft rope (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unroll the raft on the ground near the launch. Open each air nozzle on the raft chambers and thwarts. A typical river raft has a minimum of four air chambers around the outer edges. One to two thwarts are found connecting the interior of the raft to the sides. Thwarts are used to sit on or lash objects to.

    • 2

      Inflate the chambers and thwarts to capacity. Check the sides of the raft to see if it has preinstalled rope around the outer edge. If it does not have the rope, thread the marine raft rope around the outer edge of the raft, threading it through the D-loops along the outer edge. Make the rope tight. Grip it when completed and pull it out at the sides. No more than 6 inches of slack at any given point should be felt on the outer rope.

    • 3

      Lift the frame up and onto the center of the raft. Use assistants, as the frame is heavy and unsteady. Align the frame so the captain's chair faces the front of the raft. Do not put the oars in yet.

    • 4

      Lash the frame to the raft via the frame straps. Loop them under the thwarts or through the outer rope on the raft edge. Tighten each corner of the frame as tight as possible using the nylon frame straps. Push the frame back and forth to make sure there is no more than 1 inch of slack and movement.

    • 5

      Place the oars into the oar locks on the sides of the captain's chair. Most raft oars are unidirectional meaning there is no left or right side oars. They are interchangeable.

    • 6

      Lash coolers, gear, dry bags and equipment to the inside of the raft via the thwarts and frame. Use bungees or nylon lashing straps.