FLEX-RAFT• Flooded communities need a simple floating vehicle for

moving people and/or things. Such a vehicle should have readily available parts, easy to transport to the flooded areas, and easy to assemble/disassemble on site. More importantly, it should be affordable.

• Described in the next few slides is one such vehicle, named FLEX-RAFT, so named because (a) it can be made of 1, 2 or more basic components, and (b) if a raft is made up of 2 or more components, the assembly provides some sort of “balancing effect,” since the components “flex” with each other.

• Hopefully each flood-prone barangay can have one or more of these FLEX-RAFTs ready before the onset of a flood season.

• Many communities around Laguna de Bay might need this type of vehicle because they’re expected to be flooded for many months during the year.

Materials for a FLEX-RAFT (and where to get them)

• Marine plywood can be bought from a building materials store in 4’ x 8’ sheets; they come in ¼ ”, ½ ”, ¾ ” or 1” thickness. (I used the ½” plywood which costs around P700.) Ask the store to have plywood cut into two 4’ x 4’ sheets.

• Surplus truck tire interior tubes can be bought from some auto repair service shops for about P300 each.

• You need nylon rope – a 200-meter roll of #7 nylon rope costs about P280.

How to put together one component of FLEX-RAFT

• Sandpaper the edges of the plywood sheets and cut notches about 1 ft from each corner. (I used a round rasp file for this.)

• You may want to apply a water sealant on both sides of the plywood sheet as well as on all edges and notches.

• Cut two pieces of 28’ nylon rope to lash the tube onto the plywood as show in the picture. (Each rope is lashed diagonally across opposite corners.)

A two-component FLEX-RAFT

A two-tube FLEX-RAFT can be assembled by simply tying together the two plywood pieces together with about 1-2 inches space between them. For this purpose cut 4 pieces of 12’ nylon rope; lash each rope around two notches on each side of the plywood sheets – the “tie joint” should be at the edge so that the ends of the ropes can be tied to join the two plywood pieces together.

A two-component FLEX-RAFT

Shown assembled is the FLEX-RAFT in the right position for floating in water. (NOTE: The FLEX-RAFT is for limited use only in shallow water -- to be dragged and steered by one or more persons. However, it may also be used as a table, bed, or platform for storing things.)

Storing the FLEX-RAFT

• The FLEX-RAFT may be temporarily stored when not in use as shown.

• After a flood season, the tubes may be deflated and the parts stored requiring only a small space.

I made a two-tube FLEX-RAFT and donated this, thru an NGO, to a flooded town in Laguna de Bay but am still awaiting feedback on its usefulness.

… Bill Torres