Formally Building a Raft now building a canoe

[DonTadow]

Ok now i'm getting messages that the pcs are scrapping the idea of a raft in lue of building or attempting to build a canoe believing that it can be built qicker because it is dug out.

My gut tells me it could take longer finding a tree big enough to be a canoe. What am i looking at doing (if anything differently) for building the canoe.

 

[Tonguez]

Ok now i'm getting messages that the pcs are scrapping the idea of a raft in lue of building or attempting to build a canoe believing that it can be built qicker because it is dug out.

My gut tells me it could take longer finding a tree big enough to be a canoe. What am i looking at doing (if anything differently) for building the canoe.

tell them to stick with the raft

building a canoe is much harder, especially if they have no tools (I helped make a dugout using an alaskan saw to cut the log and an adze to shape the 'dugout').
Its possible to scrape out a pit with a sword/axe and then burn the soft outer wood but the hard corewood is going to be really difficult. However the hardest part is shaping the outside of the canope so that it stays upright in the water (they don't want to have a canoe that constantly rolls tipping them out). Since none of them are shiprights I wouldn't even allow it, otherwise set a really high DC

 

[Romnipotent]

get on your feet and head there now, steal any boat you can on the way... follow the river

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

Ok now i'm getting messages that the pcs are scrapping the idea of a raft in lue of building or attempting to build a canoe believing that it can be built qicker because it is dug out.

My gut tells me it could take longer finding a tree big enough to be a canoe. What am i looking at doing (if anything differently) for building the canoe.

I actually know the answer to this one.

1. First cut down an appropriate tree (I'm not sure what type of wood, but it should be healthy, about 3 foot diameter i think.)

2. Trim branches & bark off, and cut trunk to length

3. Cut a thin (6 inch?) slit into 1 side of the trunk

4. Set up a scafold under the "front" & "back" end of the canoe to hold it 3 feet off the ground.

5. Atach ropes from either side of the slit to nearby trees

6. Dig a pit under the middle of the trunk.

7. Start a fire in the pit under the trunk.

8. As the bottom/outside of the trunK dries the slit will expand/open up. Tighten the ropes to hold the slit open.

9. Once the slit is wide enough (about 5 feet) insert crossbars to hold it open and put out the fire.

10. Dig out aditional space.

I believe an experienced canoe builder, with the right tools, and sufficient help, keeping the fire going around the clock, can complete such a canoe in about a week.

Stick with the raft. (I don't suppose that anyone has access to a fabricate spell?)

 

[TheAuldGrump]

First comes the wood and just how well it floats, 25% above water line or only 5%, and let me tell you not all wood is the same! Once you got your wood you have to bind them together, rope use would be helpful because water does things to rope that may make the raft come apart. Now you have to think about the water, deep, shallow, rapids, etc, how are they going to steer it; poles, rudder? Now the time, it will take some time.

to me it would be better to travel down river and hope they come across a village, it would be better time used than building a raft without skill.

My raft is nice and strong, 'cause I made it out of ebony!

The Auld Grump, and me balloon is made out of concrete to make it sturdy!

 

[domino]

They can make canoes out of steel, an ebony boat is still feasible. Barely.

That said, the raft is better. Quicker and simpler.

Or they could just start walking.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

They can make canoes out of steel, an ebony boat is still feasible. Barely.

That said, the raft is better. Quicker and simpler.

Or they could just start walking.

Ebony boat, yes. Ebony raft, heck no! it relies entirely on the boyancy of the wood! Lignum vitae used to be employed for making the drive shafts for submarines.

Concrete has been used for building ships, and a lead balloon has been successfully lofted.

The Auld Grump