John Drain's Model PT-Boat Site

The 1st Raft (Balsa Wood)

The Original Balsa Wood Raft Idea - John Drain's Model PT-Boat Site

Took a lot of work to make the basic shape out of layers of balsa wood and then with a bent fretsaw blade I was able to make the section round and then Tim said, "why don't you make it out of rubber?". I thought about that for a while and then made one out of rubber in about 10 minutes.

The 2nd, Better Raft (The Rubber Idea)

... becomes the Rubber Raft Idea - John Drain's Model PT-Boat Site

So after a trip to the Clark Rubber shop I made a raft out of 14mm round rubber section and 1.5mm thick rubber sheet. after studying the PT-Boat photo collection I decided that the ends should be half rounds and not squared off like the balsa raft was going to be. need to make some more paddles!

John's Rounded Rubber Raft - Completed Build - John Drain's Model PT-Boat Site

The round rubber section has a foam core so it's very light.

Easiest raft I've ever made and it's unsinkable!

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