Making rafts?

[Ragnarok]

Okay so, I just saw pictures of rafts being made together. I just got started. How do I get started on making super rafts?

[C҉♥5๓1C҉]

You must search (in sunken ships) how to float it: buoys, barrels or tires

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by C҉♥5๓1C҉:

You must search (in sunken ships) how to float it: buoys, barrels or tires

And you can combine these rafts somehow?

[M4S0N13]

You can't combine rafts, you have to add on to an existing one. Build one base, then add on.
If you build another base without attaching it to your 1st raft, it is a separate raft which cannot be combined. Hope that makes sense.

[thomlovessue]

First of all, there is a major difference at this time on raft design and building between console versions and PC versions. Can help somewhat, if I aknow which you are console or PC?

[Ragnarok]

PC.

[80 GRIT]

Hers a few designs you might like.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2134234987
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1981848649
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2134215654
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2012325934

[thomlovessue]

First of all the general rules for all rafts. Place the rudder/motor as close to the center of the raft as possible for best steering and control. Since you often need to carry items that do not fit in inventory, it is vital that you carry them in the EXACT center of the raft. This means that tyhe number of bases in the raft need to be odd both in length and width.

While big rafts are your goal, a first raft is important if you are just starting. The best way to do that with limited resources is build while you use the raft. In the beginning, you basically only have wood available. So we'll start with wood bases. Make 1 baqse then another making sure to attach them when crafting. Put wood floors on each. Put a motor/rudder on the back of the left base. I prefer rudders since they do not require fuel or fuel still and the rudders have a tighter radius of turn. If you use a rudder, put a sail thrusting forward on the right base. In an emergency, this is enough to get you to the next island to get supplies. Total cost is 40 sticks, 4 lashings, and 2 cloths. When you have eniough stone and lashings for an anchor, put it behind the sail base. Now on PC, you can put bases behind the rudder and anchor. You can also put floors on them, though the rudder while require timing as the game only gives you a fraction of a second to put the floor behind the rudder. When you first try, the floor will be white for that fraction of a second then it will go red and you will not be able to place it. But if you click during that fraction of a second, it will take (this info is for bigger rafts, this one you leave the base behind the rudder without a floor). Add bases as you get materials. Go first for a 3x3 and then a 5x3. All bases not in the first row get container shelves (furniture tab on crafting menu - needs 3 plank scraps). Each shelf holds 3 containers which equals 9 inventory slots. A 3x5 done this way will have 9 shelves or 81 inventory slots. The unfloored middle base can carry 2 tyres, 3 barrels, a giant hog, 3 giant crabs, etc... I also generally throw a lantern in that middle base to provide light. In the front, from left to right you have forward thrusting sail, forward thrusting sail, rudder/canopy, forward thrusting sail, and reverse thrusting sail. Advantages: Your view is never blocked by shelves, you can reach every sail and anchor without letting go of the rudder, you can go backwards away from beach or rocks, and the working end of the rudder is in the exact center of the raft for great steering response.

For bigger rafts, you should consider other type bases. The only difference that I know is draft (how low in the water they go) between the other bases. You can mix and match bases at will. Barrels have the deepest draft and are likely to hit rocks on the reef. Next is wood by a little. Buoy balls only go down an inch or so, so they go over the reef nicely. Tyres basically float on top of the water and have the least draft of all. I usually make my final raft 7x5 or 5x5 out of tyres and buoy balls only. The design is the same except the base behind the rudder. I put a floor on it followed by a post light so I can read my compass at night. The very middle base is always unfloored to carry non-inventory items. Even though, the rudder is not in the exact center, it is 1½ bases closer to the center; and will still steer nicely, though not as nimble as the first raft. But a 7x5 will hold 162 inventory spaces ( enough to take everything on an island in one trip ).

[M4S0N13]

Originally posted by thomlovessue:

First of all the general rules for all rafts....

Great post man, I have to applaud you on the time taken to write this, neat work.

[nomasky]

Originally posted by thomlovessue:

First of all the general rules for all rafts. Place the rudder/motor as close to the center of the raft as possible for best steering and control. Since you often need to carry items that do not fit in inventory, it is vital that you carry them in the EXACT center of the raft. This means that tyhe number of bases in the raft need to be odd both in length and width.

While big rafts are your goal, a first raft is important if you are just starting. The best way to do that with limited resources is build while you use the raft. In the beginning, you basically only have wood available. So we'll start with wood bases. Make 1 baqse then another making sure to attach them when crafting. Put wood floors on each. Put a motor/rudder on the back of the left base. I prefer rudders since they do not require fuel or fuel still and the rudders have a tighter radius of turn. If you use a rudder, put a sail thrusting forward on the right base. In an emergency, this is enough to get you to the next island to get supplies. Total cost is 40 sticks, 4 lashings, and 2 cloths. When you have eniough stone and lashings for an anchor, put it behind the sail base. Now on PC, you can put bases behind the rudder and anchor. You can also put floors on them, though the rudder while require timing as the game only gives you a fraction of a second to put the floor behind the rudder. When you first try, the floor will be white for that fraction of a second then it will go red and you will not be able to place it. But if you click during that fraction of a second, it will take (this info is for bigger rafts, this one you leave the base behind the rudder without a floor). Add bases as you get materials. Go first for a 3x3 and then a 5x3. All bases not in the first row get container shelves (furniture tab on crafting menu - needs 3 plank scraps). Each shelf holds 3 containers which equals 9 inventory slots. A 3x5 done this way will have 9 shelves or 81 inventory slots. The unfloored middle base can carry 2 tyres, 3 barrels, a giant hog, 3 giant crabs, etc... I also generally throw a lantern in that middle base to provide light. In the front, from left to right you have forward thrusting sail, forward thrusting sail, rudder/canopy, forward thrusting sail, and reverse thrusting sail. Advantages: Your view is never blocked by shelves, you can reach every sail and anchor without letting go of the rudder, you can go backwards away from beach or rocks, and the working end of the rudder is in the exact center of the raft for great steering response.

For bigger rafts, you should consider other type bases. The only difference that I know is draft (how low in the water they go) between the other bases. You can mix and match bases at will. Barrels have the deepest draft and are likely to hit rocks on the reef. Next is wood by a little. Buoy balls only go down an inch or so, so they go over the reef nicely. Tyres basically float on top of the water and have the least draft of all. I usually make my final raft 7x5 or 5x5 out of tyres and buoy balls only. The design is the same except the base behind the rudder. I put a floor on it followed by a post light so I can read my compass at night. The very middle base is always unfloored to carry non-inventory items. Even though, the rudder is not in the exact center, it is 1½ bases closer to the center; and will still steer nicely, though not as nimble as the first raft. But a 7x5 will hold 162 inventory spaces ( enough to take everything on an island in one trip ).

[80 GRIT]

I like my rudder up front it turns the raft sharper and I put the creates behind me an use 2 sails so nothing is blocking my view. I can reach the sails an anchor while i`m on the rudder sailing an can stop on a dime. Use tires they ride higher on the water an allow you to go over rocks an reef heads that are just below the surface. JMO
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2134405999

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by thomlovessue:

First of all the general rules for all rafts. Place the rudder/motor as close to the center of the raft as possible for best steering and control. Since you often need to carry items that do not fit in inventory, it is vital that you carry them in the EXACT center of the raft. This means that tyhe number of bases in the raft need to be odd both in length and width.

While big rafts are your goal, a first raft is important if you are just starting. The best way to do that with limited resources is build while you use the raft. In the beginning, you basically only have wood available. So we'll start with wood bases. Make 1 baqse then another making sure to attach them when crafting. Put wood floors on each. Put a motor/rudder on the back of the left base. I prefer rudders since they do not require fuel or fuel still and the rudders have a tighter radius of turn. If you use a rudder, put a sail thrusting forward on the right base. In an emergency, this is enough to get you to the next island to get supplies. Total cost is 40 sticks, 4 lashings, and 2 cloths. When you have eniough stone and lashings for an anchor, put it behind the sail base. Now on PC, you can put bases behind the rudder and anchor. You can also put floors on them, though the rudder while require timing as the game only gives you a fraction of a second to put the floor behind the rudder. When you first try, the floor will be white for that fraction of a second then it will go red and you will not be able to place it. But if you click during that fraction of a second, it will take (this info is for bigger rafts, this one you leave the base behind the rudder without a floor). Add bases as you get materials. Go first for a 3x3 and then a 5x3. All bases not in the first row get container shelves (furniture tab on crafting menu - needs 3 plank scraps). Each shelf holds 3 containers which equals 9 inventory slots. A 3x5 done this way will have 9 shelves or 81 inventory slots. The unfloored middle base can carry 2 tyres, 3 barrels, a giant hog, 3 giant crabs, etc... I also generally throw a lantern in that middle base to provide light. In the front, from left to right you have forward thrusting sail, forward thrusting sail, rudder/canopy, forward thrusting sail, and reverse thrusting sail. Advantages: Your view is never blocked by shelves, you can reach every sail and anchor without letting go of the rudder, you can go backwards away from beach or rocks, and the working end of the rudder is in the exact center of the raft for great steering response.

For bigger rafts, you should consider other type bases. The only difference that I know is draft (how low in the water they go) between the other bases. You can mix and match bases at will. Barrels have the deepest draft and are likely to hit rocks on the reef. Next is wood by a little. Buoy balls only go down an inch or so, so they go over the reef nicely. Tyres basically float on top of the water and have the least draft of all. I usually make my final raft 7x5 or 5x5 out of tyres and buoy balls only. The design is the same except the base behind the rudder. I put a floor on it followed by a post light so I can read my compass at night. The very middle base is always unfloored to carry non-inventory items. Even though, the rudder is not in the exact center, it is 1½ bases closer to the center; and will still steer nicely, though not as nimble as the first raft. But a 7x5 will hold 162 inventory spaces ( enough to take everything on an island in one trip ).

Wow. You are one amazing fellow. Thank you very much. I will be using this sometime! Now to find someone to play this game with xD

[thomlovessue]

Sorry, miscalculated, the 7x5 will old 234 inventory slots unless you use more light posts. The 5x5 holds 162 inventory slots...

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by thomlovessue:

Sorry, miscalculated, the 7x5 will old 234 inventory slots unless you use more light posts. The 5x5 holds 162 inventory slots...

I will def try my best to make a good raft. I started making one. The first one I buitl was with bouy balls.


Would there be a difference in durability? Like would the barrel raft be harder to capsize?

[thomlovessue]

Not that I know about. As I said before, all raft bases are the same other than draft. Now, I am not the encyclopedia, so I could be wrong. Also, I failed to mention why so many sails. Now sail speed is capped, but the resistance of weighty non-inventory items, waves, and raft size will slow you down. Multiple sails add "umpf" or torque to fight the resistance and maintain speed and steering. I also failed to let you know that you can carry wooden containers (up to 7) in the unfloored base. I've never seen storms or sharks flip a 3x5. You can do it yourself by misloading or causing to slide the non-inventory material. Sudden starts and stops, having a deployed sail while anchored, or being tipped can cause an item to slide. The furthur it gets from center makes it worse.

I also failed to give you the 'speech'. Which is: "This game is all about finding new and better methods of solving problems. Try whatever, let your creativity flow freely. Who knows, you might find a better solution"...

Example: I found out about multiple sails when everyone told me that speed was capped and I was wasting resources. I did this by setting up as near as I could a scientific time trial as I could to find out the truth.

[Ragnarok]

Cool. Im learning as I go on myself. Be careful of the night... its super dark. Lol