Rafts were used in many different parts of the world in warmer climates.

They floated partly under water and were subjected to water constantly threatening to break over them, which did not make them a provider for much protection in cold water.
They were however used in big rivers in Europe as well as other parts of the world.

Now a days rafts are still used in certain parts, such as India, South East Asia and South America.

***************************************************************

The simplest rafts consisted of a few logs, bundles of reeds or inflated skins joined together. This small vessels were paddled.

The most refined rafts consisted of a complicated structure of beams and logs which were equipped with sails and a drop keel.
This later designs were therefore capable (under idyllic circumstances) of quite long ocean voyages.

Some of the types of rafts that I will be covering in coming posts are:

The Catamaran

The Jangada

Sailing rafts

And Inflated Skin Rafts.