Open Top Raft
Overview
This style of raft uses tall plantings in the two side boxes to keep eagles from landing on the nesting platform. These shrubs, saplings and smaller plants provide shade and camouflage, and the planting boxes add weight to help buffer wave action. This includes helping to prevent nest wash out from wake boat wakes. Planting boxes are easily detached for ease of transport, and can be added or removed while the raft is floating in the water. This style of raft does not support a mammalian guard.
Base
The base of the open top platform is 48” x 32” x 4.5”. It differs from the basic base in two ways. First, it has five eco composite stiffening beams that are threaded through the trap wire, extending out six inches on either side . These support the planting boxes (creating a 48” square raft overall). The second difference is that it has an extra row of trap wire extending upwards along the top of. its sides. This provides a surface that is easily accessible so that the planting boxes can be attached or removed while the raft is floating in the water.
Because the planting boxes add significant weight (40 - 60 lbs each when saturated with water), the base uses 2 1/3 layers of flotation, rather than simply two. This is accomplished by ripping four oyster floats into thirds lengthwise to form a middle layer. If a heavy raft is anticipated, as when using very dense mud, three layers of oyster floats (which fit in a 48” x 32” x 6” raft base) can be used. We have found both work well, and we adjust the flotation of the raft by adding or subtracting soil from the planting boxes while the raft is floating. For comparison, the raft on the left is a 2-layer raft with planting boxes in the lower position, while the raft on the right has three layers with very heavy planting boxes in a higher position.
Planting Boxes
The planting boxes measure 48” x 6” x 6”. They are made from a u-shaped piece of trap wire with two 6” x 6” end caps that are attached with stainless steel hog rings.. The planting boxes are lined with plastic mesh, and two sturdy layers of landscape fabric. In our first season, planting boxes with no mesh performed just fine, but we will continue to use it to promote longevity. The landscape cloth can be wrapped around the outside of the boxes to cover the cagey appearance of the trap wire if desired.
The planting boxes rest on eco composite beams threaded through the base. The height can be adjusted, and we have found it best to submerge the bottom at least inch or so as this provides a healthy wicking of water throughout the season.
