Bamboo, the giant panda’s delicacy of choice, is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth. According to David Farrelly, author of “The Book of Bamboo,” the giant grass has been known to grow as much as 4 feet in 24 hours. Bamboo is found in a variety of diverse climates ranging from tropical islands to frigid mountains. Because of the hollow nature of the intermodal regions of the poles, bamboo floats and is an excellent choice when building a raft—whether for a hobby or in a survival situation.
Place three bamboo poles on the ground that will be used as slides to support the raft during construction.
Cut 10 bamboo poles to 6 feet in length with the saw. Set the bamboo poles parallel to each other, perpendicular on the slides.
Lash bamboo poles to each other, two at a time, approximately 6 inches from the end of the pole. Make sure that the knot on each lashing is secure. Repeat the process for all six poles, then move to the opposite side of the poles and do the same.
Measure the width of the bamboo raft and cut two pieces of bamboo to the measured length. Place one bamboo piece 2 feet out from the center of the raft. Place the other bamboo piece 2 feet out from the center of the raft in the other direction. Lash both pieces into place using rope.
Enlist the help of a friend to help you flip the raft over on the slides. Blow up three sturdy inflatable tubes, each measuring at least 4 feet in length. Set the tubes on the bamboo slides, running the length of the raft. Lash the tubes into place.
Flip the raft over and either use the slides to guide the raft to the water or carry the raft to the water. Launch the bamboo raft and sail away.
