Raft layout with the Container shelves

[cjenkins3]

I think I’m going to have to rethink the way I made my raft. I’m sitting at the back in the middle with container shelves on each side on 3 raft bases per side. It makes it very hard to see where I’m going. I think I’m going to need to reconfigure it so that I’m sitting in the front. Anyone else have this issue? How did you layout your raft?

[Chaophim]

I put my rudder and stuff closer to the middle/front and did a write-up on it. Look for "The Long Haul" in these discussions.

[cjenkins3]

Thanks...I’ll check it out

[Eagle Eye]

This is my current raft, my usual raft, plus the addition of 3 sections across the back to add space for 9 extra containers..

You could leave off the two front ones if you need more vision.. still leaving a capacity of 15, plus your back pack..

I use this one, and the 6 containers already on board contain all my supplies..

Spears, potions, food, fuel, sleeping bag etc...

Still fairly agile as it has a mid control point..

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1830306966

This was my previous standard raft..

But the front boxes blocked my vision...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1824499392

I did this version, which was 3 rows added to the front, but I had limited vision, and was harder to steer, so hence the current version..

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1821826833

EE

[cjenkins3]

Originally posted by Eagle Eye:

This is my current raft, my usual raft, plus the addition of 3 sections across the back to add space for 9 extra containers..

You could leave off the two front ones if you need more vision.. still leaving a capacity of 15, plus your back pack..

I use this one, and the 6 containers already on board contain all my supplies..

Spears, potions, food, fuel, sleeping bag etc...

Still fairly agile as it has a mid control point..

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1830306966

This was my previous standard raft..

But the front boxes blocked my vision...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1824499392

I did this version, which was 3 rows added to the front, but I had limited vision, and was harder to steer, so hence the current version..

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1821826833

EE

I like the Exp Prefered Raft Design...I think I'll go with something like that...fortunately, I think I can just make some additions & deletions to my current raft without having to totally rebuild it...thanks for the suggestions!

[lucyrocketdog]

I screwed up and put the rudder at the front of the raft by accident, and it was quite nice to sit up there and steer since there was nothing in front of me but ocean. The rudder seemed to work at the front of the raft. I don't have that game any more, but I might try it again.

[Chaophim]

IMHO, you get the best steering putting the rudder un the middle of the raft due to how the game mechanics work.

Picture holding a 2x4... Now, traditionally, people put the rudder at the aft end of the boat. This is like holding the 2x4 at the end.

It all comes down to physics. The longer the boat becomes, the longer the 2x4 becomes and the harder it becomes to point either in a quick and precise way.

Now, putting the rudder all the way to fore gives the same problem. You'd think this would be the fastest and most accurate but, again, you are fighting against the mass of the 2x4 the same way the game does with the boat.

Putting the rudder almost dead center creates a pivot point that allows for better control and speed of turning as you are, essentialy, only turning half the boat from the middle (with the other half mirroring it) rather than trying to turn the whole boat from either end.

[GrampyNH]

I dont know why the player crouches when using the rudder or the motor, If you could stay standing I think that would help.

[Capuzzi09]

Well, I just finished my cute little container-ship. ;)
I decided to build it with a almost completely empty middle section (except the sail which is placed in the middle section of the raft), so I have a fair good view to the surrounding which is straight in front of me (where I'm usually heading to).

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1832673200

This ship (I really think it's more a ship than a raft) is capable to carry up to 36 containers which seems to be more than enough capacity for carrying stuff around.
My next problem is to find 36 containers, lol. :D
The sight is good enough for me and the agility with the rudder placed at the end of the raft is surprisingly good. I attached an anchor right beside the rudder so I can stop the raft immediately when I'm close enough to the shore to get off the raft.
I'm just about to place a motor next to the rudder. But I usually only use that motor for manouvring the raft when I'm close tho the shore e. g. to turn the raft to the direction where I want to go next. Once the raft is lined out to the desired course I stop the motor and use the sail for moving between the islands.

I'm curious what you guys think about my design?

[lucyrocketdog]

There's never too many crates!! Only three logs fit in each crate, so lots of crates are needed in order to remove all the trees from an island.

[Capuzzi09]

You're right. But at the moment I own about 20 containers I think, two of them are reserved for tools and weapons and stuff to settle on an island for one or two days, all other containers are assigned for any stuff which I collect from the islands.
My last journey was for getting palm trunks (I need a lot of planks in the near future) And I was tired of cutting down trees before all crates were full. :)

Another point is that the raft would become really big if I add more sections to it. And from a certain point I guess it would be a nightmare to manouvre it precisely.

[lucyrocketdog]

The smaller rafts are better--like you say they are more maneuverable-- they just need to be big enough to hold all my crates, lol.
I like to build large buildings and docks on my main island, and every other island gets a shelter + smoker + water-collector, so I also carry a couple crates worth of supplies everywhere I go.

[ArcBiter]

Originally posted by lucyrocketdog:

The smaller rafts are better--like you say they are more maneuverable-- they just need to be big enough to hold all my crates, lol.
I like to build large buildings and docks on my main island, and every other island gets a shelter + smoker + water-collector, so I also carry a couple crates worth of supplies everywhere I go.

I like to do the same too, though more minimal. I'll always pack 24 fibrous leaves and some cloth whenever I hop to a new island, 6 crates with supplies and tools ( you never know when you want to heal up something nasty or just throw a bunch of spears at a shark, or need a replacement pickaxe), and around 24 empty crates for hauling loot back. There I build a campfire + smoker and a water collector using my stored supplies and whatever supplies I loot from the island, and unroll a sleeping bag that I always have stored in my raft.

Currently rocking a 7X3 raft.