Issue: Improvised raft building is a fun and popular activity offered by many providers. It is licensable if conducted on water in scope of licensing.
1. Improvised rafts are commonly made from barrels, poles and logs or similar items. Annex 1 also gives relevant information of some of the key safety issues with using rafted open canoes as an improvised raft.
2. There is no evidence that life -threatening injuries or incidents are common, but there is a history of less serious injuries.
These are potentially serious events, but with appropriate controls in place and an appropriate venue this activity can be safely managed.
3. Providers should consider the following topics in planning improvised raft building:
As a basic principle, it should be possible to get the whole group warm and preferably dry before the effects of cold become significant.
Note: What is meant by 'nearby' will depend on each set of circumstances and this in turn will effect the equipment required (e.g. compare the exercise run in the grounds of a centre that has showers, dry clothes etc. immediately available, with the same exercise run at a remote location that has a transport pick-up arrangement i.e. not even a minibus available at the site of the activity).
4. Staff Experience and Qualifications - all staff involved in the activity need to be competent. There is no NGB qualification for this activity so providers will need to consider at least the following points in determining staff competence:
In-house training and assessment is likely to be the main type of training instructors receive.
5. Technical advisor - it is likely that the technical advisor will be someone with considerable experience and, where applicable, qualifications in:
6. Session Management - operating procedures should contain, amongst other things:
7. Raft Design - care should be given to the raft's design. Depending on the aims of the session this could be prescriptive or left to the participants. Most people will need several attempts before they come up with a design that works. There is much potential for more imaginative designs if different materials are used, e.g. sacks of plastic bottles rather than barrels, people instead of poles and ties, etc. Providers should be mindful of the potential for injury associated with different design options.
Much of the original material for this document was drawn from the Northern Council of Outdoor Education, Training and Recreation (1999) and Ian Ray's article if CoDe (1998)
N.B. A raft is improvised and needs constant close examination.
Swamping - rafts can and do swamp. The two most common reasons are a) not enough space between the canoes and b) surfing down waves and ploughing into the next wave. This has often happened when sailing rafted canoes and is potentially very hazardous. The sail should have been taken down long before and if necessary measures taken to slow the raft speed down. If the raft does swamp it is essential to empty the water as soon as possible. If the raft can still be paddled aim for the nearest shoreline and bail as quickly as possible with bailers, paddles or stirrup pump. If there is so much water in the raft that paddling becomes impossible then either bail furiously or alternatively rock the raft fore and aft to swill great quantities of water out quickly. This is effective but does need practice before it has to be used. Adequate large bailers should always be carried or a useful alternative is a stirrup pump.
Gap - it is essential to have a significant gap between the canoes (at least a canoe's width gap is recommended). If the gap is too narrow and the raft is sailing or surfing along then there is likely to be a flume of water growing between the canoes. This is a warning sign - if it gets too big then the raft could swamp very quickly.
No gap at all, i.e. the gunnels of the two canoes touching, may look more secure but in addition to handling problems it causes a real risk of fingers being caught between the adjacent gunnels in a massive scissoring action.
Man over board - stopping a raft and regaining ground with an inexperienced crew is virtually impossible in a strong breeze. Using throw bags or a sea anchor offers a possible solution. These are only as good as the people using them and practice in their use is essential.
Capsize - this has only been known to happen when rafted-canoes have been pitchpoled (a forward loop). It can happen in an extreme case of surfing too fast and ploughing into the next wave. It is lifted up and looped forwards resulting in the raft being totally inverted. This is an extremely serious situation and only practice, knowledge and a certain amount of luck will enable the raft to be righted. The technique is similar to righting a river raft but success depends on the amount of buoyancy in the canoe. Standard air bags fully inflated do not sink low enough whilst too little air in the bags and the raft sinks too much. If rafted canoes are regularly used, this should be practiced with other experienced canoeists but it is a situation which should never arise.
Trim - Trim is the relative distribution of weight in the raft forwards or backwards and in rafted canoes is important to maximise speed and minimise the likelihood of swamping. Many canoeists end up rafting because the conditions become too difficult for canoes on their own. If rafting in windy conditions trimming a canoe on its own in varied conditions should have been practiced. A well trimmed canoe or raft is much safer, faster and more enjoyable to paddle. Remember that trim may need to be changed regularly - particularly if sailing.
Raft shape - all rafts should be slightly arrow shaped, narrower at the bow. If the bow of the raft is wider than the stern not only will it be harder and slower to paddle but more seriously the chances of swamping will greatly increase.
Straps and Lashings - for fastening beams to the thwarts shortened roof-rack straps work well. These are not only very strong, they are also quick to use. Whether straps or ropes are used, the beams do need to be tight. If there is any movement between the beams and the thwarts before setting off then there will be problems later on.
Cockleshell raft - poor construction can be very serious. It is recommended that a line is passed from the outer gunnel of one canoe under the raft and up to the gunnel of the other canoe. Failure to do this could result in the shell closing trapping paddlers inside - it has happened.
