HOW DO I BUILD A RAFT?

Commercial or Novelty Comedy Rafts:
Almost anything goes in these categories. The difference being that advertising is allowed on the Commercial rafts and is not allowed on the Novelty rafts.

These rafts range from cars equipped to float on the river, to 4 ft. x 8 ft floating platforms to rafts as big as 12 ft. x 24 ft. Some look like pirate ships, sails included, while others may be barges, floating islands, castles or dragons! Your imagination is your only limit.

Many of the rafts in these categories use a welded steel frame construction. Either plastic or metal drums can be strapped under the frame for flotation. Don’t forget to ask us about free drums for first-time rafters when you enter this year!

Decks can be anything that keeps you from landing in the river. Plywood is a good choice. If the raft is too large to be loaded and unloaded by hand, then hooks must be built into the deck so the crane can attach a cable and lift your raft in and out of the river.

Once you have a floating deck built you can build pretty much anything you want on it. Have fun!

MY EMPLOYEES WANT TO ENTER THE RIVER FESTIVAL AND WANT THE COMPANY TO COVER THE COST. HOW WILL ENTERING THE SOURDOUGH RIVER FESTIVAL BENEFIT MY BUSINESS?

If you, as a business, enter a raft in the Commercial Comedy division, you will be able display your company name, logo and any other information about your company that you choose on your raft.

The Commercial and Novelty Comedy part of the race tends to take about three hours to get from Terwillegar to Rafters Landing. There may be as many as 80,000 people lining the banks of the river to get in on the festivities. And what is good advertising? Simply having someone remember the name of your company or service when they need it!

You will receive, in essence, a three hour long live commercial for your business or service! Not a bad return for a $150 entry fee plus a few materials! You will gain the added benefit of promoting morale and a sense of teamwork among your employees in a FUN way!

A commercial comedy raft from conception to race-ready:

Step-By-Step... Decorating a Raft:
1. The bare deck, railing and shelter painted a common undercoating color.
2. Figuring out how to put a palm tree together???

3. Painting the palm leaves for the trees.
4. Attaching trees to deck.

5. Painting the colorful parrots that will decorate the “grass hut” and railings
6. A whole round bale of hay was used to thatch the “grass hut” on this tropical island themed raft.

7. The completed raft, loaded on a flat deck & ready to race down the North Saskatchewan!

This raft is one used every year, changing the theme every second or third year. Work was started around the May long weekend and, with people helping out on the weekends, and on weekday evenings as race day drew near it was finally completed the week of the Sourdough Raft Race. There were never more than three to five people working on construction at any given time.