I built a raft with a couple of my friends two years ago and it was quite fun. Our raft consisted of old wood planks, as many noodles that we could find, rope, empty milk jugs, nails, a broken hockey stick, and a sock we found on the side of the highway (it was our flag).

Maybe those who have this goal had a slightly different vision of their future raft, but the hours I spent hammering and hauling and laughing with my friends made it one of my most special memories growing up in this small town.

P.S. we took our raft out in the flooded ditches and then went swimming in the putrid spring river water.
Also it only floated properly when there were two or less people on it :)