A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Raft construction

I am considering building a bunch of rafts and was wondering what would be my best choice of materials. These rafts will be completely free floating and tethered via fishing line for retrieval.I can make them wide enough they do not flip over easily but am concerned they will begin to sink as the plants grow.

I want to start my test with both lettuce and celery. Any suggestions?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by john tramell on December 11, 2012 at 8:34pm

PAT ARE YOU GOING TO USE THESE IN A POND OR LAKE AND IF SO WHAT TYPE OF FISH ,ARE THEY NOT GOING TO EAT THE ROOTS OF THE PLANTS IF THEY ARE UNDER THE PLANTS.

Permalink Reply by Pat James on December 12, 2012 at 9:29am

This is a swimming pool. Right now I have minnows,but figure channel cats will be going in when I can.

Permalink Reply by Pat James on December 12, 2012 at 10:10am

Another question: What is the easiest way to cut holes in foam?

Permalink Reply by Jon Parr on December 12, 2012 at 10:20am

IMO, Pat, the best way is to melt, not drill, if you have very many to do. Take a heavy chunk of steel, weld it to a comfortable handle, and rest it in a propane burner cradle. Roofers call them irons, and the burners are called hot pots. I use starter plugs that are made for tapered square 1" holes common in te hydro lettuce industry, and I use Beaver Plastics rafts made for that purpose. They are cheaper than foam sheets, and better (3 lb density as opposed to 1 lb, and expanded rather than extruded), but I had to buy a semi load to get the shipping from Canada down to a reasonable price. Literally. If you can hold off a little, I may have a new supplier here in the states, and my design and whole spacing is better too.

Permalink Reply by john tramell on December 12, 2012 at 2:14pm

JON CAN YOU SEND ANY PICTURES OF IRON AND RAFT

Permalink Reply by Rex Byrns on February 8, 2013 at 11:16am

I would like to get some info on these rafts when I can get them in the U.S. I am about to try using 1/2 inch Dow blue board covert with polyester resin and painted to lock in any chemicals and make it tough enough to hold the load. I plan to put supports under it to hold it up.

Jon Parr said:

IMO, Pat, the best way is to melt, not drill, if you have very many to do. Take a heavy chunk of steel, weld it to a comfortable handle, and rest it in a propane burner cradle. Roofers call them irons, and the burners are called hot pots. I use starter plugs that are made for tapered square 1" holes common in te hydro lettuce industry, and I use Beaver Plastics rafts made for that purpose. They are cheaper than foam sheets, and better (3 lb density as opposed to 1 lb, and expanded rather than extruded), but I had to buy a semi load to get the shipping from Canada down to a reasonable price. Literally. If you can hold off a little, I may have a new supplier here in the states, and my design and whole spacing is better too.