sound advice from Jeff Stark

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jeff Stark <jstark@nonsensenyc.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 13:10:13 -0400
Subject: Re: raft questions
To: Taiga Christie <taiga312@gmail.com>

hi,

im jeff. i was part of the mississippi group and continued down the
hudson and to italy this year. i've helped build a lot of rafts.

i'm including all answers below. feel free to ask further questions if
you need.

good luck and send pictures please.

best,

j


On Aug 5, 2009, at 2:17 PM, Taiga Christie wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm part of a performance troupe hoping to build a raft and travel
> down the Mississippi next summer, and possibly into the fall,
> performing as we travel. We know of your project and were wondering if
> you could help us with any advice about raft construction. We're just
> starting to think about design and materials, and we've written up
> some basic questions, but we'd love any advice you have.
>
> 1) Are you aware of any advantages or disadvantages to the barrel
> flotation design vs. the wooden pontoon design?

the pontoons are nicer. barrels have advantages -- they are cheap and
replaceable. but if you can get your hands on foam, it's better for a
few reasons. first, the raft rides higher in the water. second, the
pontoons have a flatter surface, so they behave better in current.
third, if you build a box and fill it with foam, well, it's stronger,
and you can beach your craft and pry it off without worry of
puncturing your barrels.

> 2) Can you recommend a weatherproofing/waterproofing scheme for
> structural elements or cabins?

get a big sheet of rubber or vinyl and stretch it over the top of your
cabins. vinyl billboards are amazing for this if you can get your
hands on one of them.

> 3) Do you have any advice for maximizing maneuverability?

two pontoons work great. also, the better your motor, the more
maneuverable you are. rudder systems are nice but unnecessary. reverse
is nice but unnecessary.

> 4) Do certain designs handle turbulence better than others?

again, the pontoon thing works great. try to make something that
doesnt catch a ton of wind -- unless youre sailing. and stay wide and
squat if you can.

> 5) What kind of motor do you suggest?

there are so many options here and they all depend on what's available
to you and what kind of trip you want to take. one of the best things
i've seen is a combo of a 15 hp gas motor and a small electric motor
on a barrel raft (would have been bettter as pontoon raft). they used
the gas motor to get out into the channel and then they cut it and
just drifted, using the electric for slow changes in direction. then,
they could crank up the 15 hp to get out of the way of barges. this
will work for the upper mississippi down to cairo, not so well after.
this is slow, fuel efficient way to travel. if you want something
reliable and beefy, you could go with a 35hp motor, which will drink
far more gas, but it will really perform well and move you whey you
want to go. brand name motors are generally worth paying for. johnson
and evinrude are good. newer hondas are fine. be careful getting
anything too rare or too old as you'll have trouble finding parts.


> 6) What structural elements are most vulnerable long-term, and how
> would you plan for the decay/wear of those elements?

what do you consider long term? if you are going to be on the water
for less than two years you really dont have to worry about things. if
you want to build a houseboat, you need to think about marine grade
plywood and spar varnish and coated screws and stuff.

> 7) What do you think the viability of poling, rowing or sailing the
> raft would be?

it's all possible, but all of this is much easier if you have a small
craft. if i wanted to row, i'd build a small row boat, and if i wanted
to sail, i'd get a small sail boat and fix it. i would say that poling
is probably viable, but certainly not much fun.

> 8) What sort of food storage or cooking equipment would you recommend?

a cooler and a propane stove are nice. the towns are spaced very
conveniently, so you dont have to go far without access to supplies.
you won't need ice. and just get something very standard for cooking,
like a coleman stove that looks like a briefcase.

> 9) What do you wish you had known before leaving that you learned
> along the way?

that a lot of people travel the mississippi, that it's not really that
hard, and that people are really generous and open hearted, and it
would be way easier than i thought.

> 10) What other advice would you give?

take bicycles. remember that news travels on the river. don't burn
bridges behind you, because people ahead of you will hear all about
you before you even get there. the coast guard are not cops; they're
generally there for your safety, and they have legitimate concerns.
they're more like firemen than police. you will register your craft
and follow very simple safety regulations; this also is surprisingly
easy, and you just do it at a department of motor vehicles. it's cheap.