By Dan Beard
Figs. 171-179
Parts of Man-Friday Sailing Raft
Fig. 171--Logs in Place with Braces. Figs. 172, 173, 174--Struts. Fig. 175--Pegs. Fig. 176--Raft with Middle and Stern Strut in Place. Fig. 177--Springs for Dry Deck. Fig. 178 Dry Deck. Fig. 179--Dry Deck in Place
Before placing the bow in position we must go ashore and make a dry deck. Selecting for the springs two long elastic ash or hickory poles, trim the ends off flat on one side as shown by Fig. 177. This flat side is the bottom, so roll them over, with the flat side toward the ground, and if you can find no planks or barrel staves for a deck, split in half a number of small logs and peg or nail them on the top side of the springs, as in Fig. 178.
Now all hands must turn out and carry the deck down to the raft and place it in position, with the flattened sides of the springs testing on top of the logs at the bow. Prop it up in this position, and then bore holes through the springs into the logs and peg the springs down. Over the flat ends place the heavy bow cross-piece, bore the peg holes, and fasten it in position (Fig. 179).
In the center of the bow cross-piece bore several holes close together and chip out the wood between to make a hole, as square a one as possible, for the mast to fit or "step" in. With the wood from a packing box or a slab from a log make the bench for the mast.
Bore a hole through the bench a trifle astern of the step or hole for the mast below. It will cause the mast to "rake" a little "aft." You have done a big day's work, but a couple of days ought to be sufficient time to finish the craft.
