Raft – How to Use Engines

How to Improve Your Raft with Engines

You’ll need engines if you want to traverse the expansive seas of Raft quickly.

But unlike other structures, engines in Raft have multiple interactable parts, a specific placement requirement, and a technique to maximize their effectiveness.

Table of Contents

Crafting Your Engine in Raft

To create an Engine in Raft, you must first find the Engine blueprint located in the cockpit on the second-story island – Vasagatan.

Ensure that you know how to construct a second floor to set up the Receiver and have completed the Radio Tower to unlock Vasagatan’s coordinates.

The Engine Blueprint

Once you’ve obtained the blueprint, head back to your raft and utilize the Research Table to unlock the Engine recipe by researching the required materials:

  • 1x Metal Ingot
  • 1x Rope
  • 1x Circuit Board
  • 1x Plank

Locate the Engine recipe in the Navigation tab, represented by the seventh tab with a sail icon.

Each Engine will cost you 5 Metal Ingots, 5 Ropes, 1 Circuit Board, and 20 Planks.

Keep in mind that a single Engine can propel 100 foundations, so consider crafting extras for larger rafts.

Track the number of foundations your raft has either manually or with a Foundation Counter purchased from the Trading Post for 3 Trash Cubes and 4 Trade Coins.

Proper Placement of the Engine

Allocate a 2×3 area for each Engine placement on your raft.

One row (1×3) within this area should consist of solid foundations, while the other half should be open water with no foundations.

Placing Engine
How to Place Engine in Raft

While many players tend to position engines on the outer edges of the raft initially, it’s advisable to avoid this due to potential shark attacks. Instead, consider installing engines on inner foundations for better protection.

Remember, you can rotate engines to your preferred direction by pressing “R” during construction.

Using Your Engine Effectively

An Engine consists of three interactable parts:

  1. The fuel tank
  2. The direction lever
  3. The power barrel
Engine Parts
All Engine Interactable Parts

To activate the Engine, fill the fuel tank by pressing “E” and choose between using Planks or Biofuel. Planks last 36 seconds each, while a Biofuel canister provides up to 720 seconds of fuel.

For fuel efficiency, consider using Planks to avoid waste, as the fuel tank has a maximum capacity of 600 seconds.

To adjust direction, interact with the direction lever by pressing “E.” To start the engine, interact with the power barrel by pressing “E,” which initiates a distinct mechanical sound.

As you progress, explore Balboa Island to discover blueprints for automating the Engine’s fueling process.

Engine Fueling Setup
Engine Fueling Setup

Once in Caravan Town, unlock the Engine Control to manage all engines simultaneously, featuring three interactive components.

Engine Control Setup
The Engine Control

If you encounter issues with engine operation, verify that your raft isn’t anchored, that sufficient fuel is available, and that engines aren’t conflicting in direction.

Determining Your Raft’s Speed

By default, your raft’s speed in Raft is set at 1.

Upon integrating engines, your speed will vary depending on the number of engines and the raft’s foundation count.

Keep in mind that your speed won’t fall below 1.5 or exceed 2.5, regardless of engine quantity.

When calculating speed, tally the foundations and engine count on your raft first.

For example, with 221 foundations and 3 engines, your speed formula would be: 2 (speed of one Engine) x 3 (number of engines) = 6. However, the speed cap of 2.5 will maintain your raft’s speed at that limit.

To achieve maximum speed regardless of foundation count, consider installing six engines on your raft.

Now equipped with knowledge on crafting, positioning, and operating engines in Raft, you’re ready to enhance your seafaring adventures.

Share any insights or tips in the comments below!