What do you know about timber rafts?
There are many different ways to build a timber raft. You need something that floats and something that creates a surface. This could be barrels and planks, tree branches or something else. At Vildmark i Värmland, we have chosen to use timber logs that we tie together with ropes. This makes our rafts sturdy and secure so they can handle a journey down the Klarälven River for up to a week. But how many logs do you actually need? Do you use a lot of rope? And is there enough room on a timber raft for both people and luggage?
Logs and ropes…
- We choose spruce logs. Spruce has fewer branches than, for example, pine. But most importantly, dry spruce wood is somewhat lighter than pine, which means it has better buoyancy.
- A timber raft size 3 × 6 m requires approximately 120 logs of various sizes.
- Each log is 3 metres long. If you laid all the logs from one raft in a single row, you could frame an entire football field and still have a few logs left over.
- To tie all these logs together requires approximately 400 metres of rope. That, too, is more than enough to go all the way around a football field.
- The knots used to build the rafts were developed by the company’s first owner, Anders Wiss. They are simple to tie, very secure, and easy to untie once the trip is over.
…becomes a raft
- The raft is built from three layers of logs. The thicker logs in the bottom layer provide the raft with buoyancy, while the thin layer on top provides a dry floor.
- A standard raft for trips lasting several nights is 3 × 6 metres in size. This can vary, either larger (3 × 9 m) or smaller (3 × 3 m), depending on the number and age of people in the group. For a trip with a maximum of two nights, a 3 × 3 m raft is usually built.
- A timber raft can easily accommodate 6 people and their luggage. If you pack smart, there is even enough room for those who want to spend the night on board.
- The raft itself is surrounded by a railing/bench, ensuring that neither people nor belongings fall into the water.
Do you want to build a timber raft from logs and ropes?
For almost 50 years, Vildmark i Värmland has helped people from all over the world build their own timber rafts. We provide the logs, ropes and knowledge. You come to us and build your own raft, then slowly drift down the Klarälven River. At your destination, you dismantle the raft and leave behind the logs and the ropes. But the knowledge and memories of an unforgettable adventure you get to take with you home. Read more about timber rafting on Klarälven River.
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