Raft - Definition and Overview

Children successfully test their raft, in Brixham harbour, south Devon, England. The raft is made from wooden poles, rope and blue barrels.

A raft is a type of boat, distinguished by the absence of a hull. Rafts are kept afloat either by naturally buoyant materials such as wood, or by inflated containers.

This technology has been superseded by hulled boats in most parts of the world, but inflatable rafts manufactured of flexible materials are used in industrialized countries for recreational navigation of whitewater.

See also

• Rafting