Step 5: Make Venetian Pole
This step is very simple. Cut the dowel into two 1.5 inch long sections. Place one on each end of the pipe and hammer it inside for a friction fit.
As mentioned previously, the diameter of the wooden dowel should only be slightly more than the pipe's inside diameter otherwise this step will prove near impossible to do.
A fall back option could be to duck tape the ends of the pipe very snugly but I woudn't trust the watertight seal to last long. (The seal is quite important because it will make the pole float and it will be harder to lose and easier to use!)
** This pole is by no means necessary for the raft's success but it worked wonders for our group! If you haven't noticed already, the raft is not hydrodynamic at all and so paddling doesn't help with propulsion too much. The pole on the other hand can be used for pushing the raft forward and keeping the vessel free of rocks and other dangerous phenomena. Furthermore the pole can also be used to defend your raft against pirates (Somalian?) if need be.**
As mentioned previously, the diameter of the wooden dowel should only be slightly more than the pipe's inside diameter otherwise this step will prove near impossible to do.
A fall back option could be to duck tape the ends of the pipe very snugly but I woudn't trust the watertight seal to last long. (The seal is quite important because it will make the pole float and it will be harder to lose and easier to use!)
** This pole is by no means necessary for the raft's success but it worked wonders for our group! If you haven't noticed already, the raft is not hydrodynamic at all and so paddling doesn't help with propulsion too much. The pole on the other hand can be used for pushing the raft forward and keeping the vessel free of rocks and other dangerous phenomena. Furthermore the pole can also be used to defend your raft against pirates (Somalian?) if need be.**
Remove these ads by
Signing Up
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
But for the record, I AM gonna build a raft one day....