Expanding the size of your raft is essential in Raft, allowing you to create elaborate structures to navigate the vast ocean effectively.

However, because the resources needed for each structure can be quite costly, particularly in the early stages of the game, it’s important to plan ahead before you start constructing.

How to Build Your Raft

To begin building and repairing in Raft, you’ll first need to craft a Building Hammer using 4 Planks and 2 Ropes.

The recipe for the Building Hammer can be found in the Tool tab, which is represented by a hammer and shovel icon.

Note: Keep in mind that you can only expand the 2×2 starter raft and not build an entirely new raft. If you lose your starter raft, you’ll have to respawn or start a new world.

Build the First Floor

Once you have the Building Hammer, place it in your hotbar and hold the right mouse button to access the building panel.

In the building panel, you can select different structures and their variations by hovering your mouse over the corresponding icons.

The initial structure you should build is a Foundation.

A Foundation is essential for constructing most other structures on your raft and is the only structure that keeps your raft afloat on the ocean.

Since the Foundation is at sea level, it becomes a prime target for shark attacks. To prevent these attacks, you’ll need to reinforce your raft.

Fortifying the outer Foundations against shark attacks can be costly, as each fortified Foundation requires 1 Metal Ingot and 2 Nails.

It’s recommended to keep the first floor as small as possible initially to reduce fortification costs and make monitoring shark attacks easier in the early stages.

However, having a too-small first floor can make expanding to the second floor and building utility structures more challenging.

For instance, structures like Engines require ample space. The more Foundations your raft has, the more Engines you’ll need to build.

A 7×7 first floor can accommodate 2 Engines and other essential structures. Alternatively, you can opt for a 10×10 or 10×11 layout to maximize speed bonuses from the Engines.

Don’t forget to reserve space for Collection Nets to gather ocean debris, a valuable resource in the game.

Build the Second Floor

Some players consider the second floor necessary only for certain structures like the Receiver and Antenna.

However, if you prefer a more organized layout or want to separate rooms, utilize the second floor for:

• Cooking and beverage area for preparing food and drinks.
• Animal pens for capturing and taming animals for resources.
• Farm for growing crops and harvesting honey.
• Industrial room for smelting ores and recycling Trash Cubes.
• Raft control room containing Receiver, Antenna, Steering Wheel, and Engine Control for raft management.

Refer to a separate guide for detailed instructions on constructing the second floor.

Important note: Use Horizontal Pillars instead of Vertical Pillars for the second floor to maximize space efficiency on the first floor.

Once you have a sizeable area of Wooden Floors on the second floor, erect Walls to delineate separate rooms.

For a visually pleasing design, paint the walls following a specific pattern to enhance the overall look of your raft.

Additionally, consider building roofs or additional floors to expand further or create distinct areas.

Having a clear layout can make it easier to manage different functions and structures on your raft.

Paint the Raft and Use Decorative Items

To enhance the aesthetics of your raft, explore painting options to add color and personality to each room.

Choosing different colors and patterns can help customize rooms based on their function and create a cohesive design theme.

Aside from painting, incorporating decorative items like furniture, lighting, and plants can elevate the ambiance of your raft.

Functional rooms like storage or smelting areas are best kept simple to prioritize utility over decoration.

Overall, personalizing your raft with paint and decorations can make it feel like a cozy retreat in the middle of the ocean.

Note: Consider breaking down structures with an Axe to reclaim 50% of the materials used. Avoid building the basic version of a structure first and then upgrading, as it results in higher material costs.

Best Way to Build Your Raft

There isn’t a definitive best way to construct your raft in Raft, as the ideal layout depends on your objectives and playstyle.

During the early stages, focus on expanding your raft sideways to maximize trash collection with Collection Nets.

Securing 12 to 15 Foundations on each side ensures comprehensive debris collection, assuming you have enough Collection Nets.

Protect the Collection Nets with additional Foundations to deter shark attacks.

Expand the central area only when necessary to conserve resources for higher floors.

Utilize vertical space by hanging structures like chests and crop plots on walls to optimize space usage.

Adapt your raft layout as needed to accommodate new structures like Engines and prioritize functional room placement for efficient resource management.

Explore creative solutions like levitating the second floor to create additional space without enlarging the first floor.

Experiment with different designs to find a layout that suits your needs while balancing efficiency and aesthetics.

These strategies can help you in building and customizing your raft in Raft.

Share your own tips and suggestions in the comments below!