Theoretically, is it possible to make a raft with only wood and no nails and no rope?

Question

It is for an English project on Lord of the Flies...

Answer 1

It's actually relatively easy.......If you are prepared to cut the timber by hand.

You probably want to use softwood logs, (floats better, more water resistant,)small ones,about as thick as your calf. After you cut the logs and strip them, you can weave them together with thin green willow branches. You can secure the free ends with a little ingenuity, by bending them back around and under. If it's made tightly enough, and if you weave along the entire length of the logs, such a raft could be suprisingly strong and durable.

Another option is to not use logs, but woven bundles of dry reeds and rushes. see here:
http://www.reedboat.org/index.html
Such boats have been used since prehistoric times to the present day. This takes some skill, but since hollow reeds float so well, improvising a water-worthy craft would be easily possible with some practice..

Answer 2

Step One - Using resources at hand!

First, you don't have to be a Professor and secondly, you don't need the Howells' millions to build a raft. All you need is an ax and a bunch of dead wood. Cut a half dozen or so 12-foot long dry logs, about 12" in diameter, and 2 smaller logs, say 7 or 8 feet long and 4-6" across. Search around for some fibrous bark or coarse seaweed will do the trick - to tie the logs together.

Step Two - Make the Cut!

Lay the big logs side by side until you have a platform measuring 12'X7'. This way you get a raft big enough to carry you and Mary Ann (sorry, Ging, but Mary Ann wins all the polls). About a foot-an-a-half from each end (of each log), cut dovetail notches 2" deep and wider at the bottom than at the top.

Step Three - Get Hitched!

Now you're ready to line up the logs so the notches are all even with each other. Cut the smaller logs into three-sided wood pieces, then slide them through the inverted notches to connect the logs (B). Use the seaweed (or other fibrous material) to tie the crosspieces in place. Finally, cover the raft with brush to provide dry footing and a place for luggage - you never know when you might be shipwrecked and spend over 30 years in syndication, so you have to be prepared!

Step Four
Find you very own Mary Ann and SAIL AWAY!

Answer 3

If you are able to use vines instead of rope its not that big a deal. However, if you have only an axe or saw it will be a long and tedious process. One would probably have to some kind of mortise and tenon each piece into each other. The tenon would probably go all the way thru and then use a peg to keep it from sliding out. It would be a very very time consuming process. Then again if you are a tropical island you do have a lot of time to do this

http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/printpage.asp?article_id=60169

Answer 4

Cut down a giant redwood tree and hollow it out. Instant raft with no seems or rope. Actually the native indians in South America do just that with smaller trees making canoes.

Answer 5

Thor Hyerdahl

"Kon-Tiki"

Peru to the South Pacific

1955

and the answer about the woven reed boat is spot on!

Answer 6

Yes use hand made wooden nails or pins. Like the amish.

Answer 7

A large door(wooden obviously)

Answer 8

It should be if you cut the wood right to interlock.

Answer 9

yes but it would most likley not be able to last long