I love pool noodles! They are so versatile and many things can be made with them.
I designed this DIY Pool Noodle Float Raft using cut sections of pool noodles. This raft is easy and cheap to make plus you can customize it to your own design and color tastes. Kids can help too and plan out their own rafts so everyone in the family can have their own personally styled noodle raft.
Using new noodles works best for this project. I bought mine at Walmart.
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I Love Pool Noodles
Do you love pool noodles? Like I said, I do. I’ll tell you why, it’s because they don’t need to be blown up and they fit every sized individual. They are popular because kids use them and adults use them too. In our backyard pool, we use pool noodles all the time because we swim a lot as a family plus we have several pool parties in the summer so we have frequent visitors at our home (we love to host).
Pool noodles are more durable because they don’t get holes easily like other floaties do (unless someone bites them of course) so they tend to last longer for us than the air filled rafts and floaties. Tried and true, noodles tend to last the longest so I thought why not make a fun pool noodle raft with them.
The Supplies You Will Need to Make This DIY Pool Noodle Raft
To make this raft you will need about the following supplies:
- 6 Mega size pool noodles (don’t use the thin noodles, use thick-walled noodles)
- 100 pack 14 inch zip ties (you will have some leftover)
- 36 of 4 inch zip ties (or cable ties they are also called)
- nylon rope
- scissors
- serrated knife
- lighter
- tape measure
The First Step
The first step involves the cutting of the noodles into 4 inch segments. I also cut 12 one inch pieces of blue noodle and 12 one inch pieces of green noodle to add striped decorative ends to the raft. This step will take you about 20 minutes to complete. I cut enough 4 inch segments for 11 rows of noodles each six noodle sections wide (so 66). For the raft there are thirteen rows total, 11 rows of 4 inch noodle sections plus the decorative rows at each end made up of the one inch sections.
Simplified: 13 rows total=11 rows of 4 inch + 2 rows stacked 1 inch pieces
- cut 66 of the 4 inch segments, half green and half blue
- cut 12 one inch pieces of blue noodle
- cut 12 one inch pieces of green
You can make it as long or as short as desired. Make up your own design using the colors and patterns you choose. I did have some leftover cut noodle pieces which prompted my son to make some fun glasses using zip ties and two of the one inch noodle pieces (see photo below).
Stringing the Noodle Rows Together
The next step involves stringing the rows of six noodle sections across together by using 14 inch zip ties. Keep scrolling down for photos.
Thread the zip tie tip down into the first noodle hole keeping the smooth side of zip tie towards the left side and the grippy side towards the right. Slip the tip of the zip tie through the bottom of the next noodle section from the bottom going up towards the top. Bring the ends of the zip tie together and zip it. Make sure to tighten the zip tie snug. Cut off the excess zip tie and push the clasp down into the noodle hole so it doesn’t stick out. Continue to string rows of six noodle sections together until you have 11 rows. This step took me about 45 minutes.
Next Step: Make the Striped Decorative Raft Ends
The next step involves taking the one inch pieces of noodle to make six stacks of alternating colors for the two end rows of the raft. Stack them every other color and zip tie them together as shown in the picture below. Making the striped end decorative rows took me about 5 minutes.
Next String the Nylon Rope through the Raft
The next step involves stringing the nylon rope through the raft. The rope may not be absolutely necessary, but I feel it helps the noodle pieces stay together as a raft unit.
Keep the rope as one uncut piece. Lay out the rope along all sides of the raft to estimate the amount of rope required while leaving plenty of extra slack for tying a knot at the end. Be sure to leave extra rope slack sticking out where you started to thread it through so you can easily tie the rope in the end.
String the nylon rope down the first side of the raft starting at one corner.
Lift up the end noodle section of each row to help you thread it through as you go down the raft lengthwise threading rope through the noodle sections.
At the end of the raft, thread it through each of the 1 inch stacked noodle sections and then thread through the rows up the opposite side of the raft.
Thread each ends of the rope through the end row noodle segments to meet in the middle.
Threading the rope through took me about 20 minutes.
Tie the Knot
Once both ends of the rope are strung in and out of the sections on the end row to meet in the middle of the last row, tie a Fisherman’s knot in the rope. This involves crossing one end piece of rope over the other 7 times, threading it through at the top and then pushing knot down tightening it. Slip the knot into the noodle hole and then double knot it to secure it.
Cut the rope leaving about an inch or so of the rope sticking out. To prevent the rope ends from unraveling, burn ends for 5-6 seconds each with a flame from a lighter. Blow out the flame. Wait about 1 minute for it to cool and then shape the ends of burnt rope with your fingers to compress. This step took about 5 minutes.
Outdoor Party? Send a stylish invitation from Evite
Pool Party? Send a stylish invitation from Evite
Link Rows Together Using 4 Inch Zip Ties
Next link the rows together using small 4 inch zip ties (or cable ties).
Basically you will zip tie the zip ties together linking the rows. Said another way, thread the 4 inch zip ties through the 14 inch zip ties that you used to link the segments together when initially making the rows.
Adding these small zip ties in will make the raft more of a cohesive unit so it will stay together better and not be floppy. I linked each row to the next in three spots along the row. You will need 36 of the 4 inch zip ties (for 12 rows). Feel free to add more in as desired.
This step took me about 25 minutes.
I like this design because the scratchy clasp of the zip tie is nestled down in between the pool noodle sections so we find we don’t get scratched by them when we use the float.
All Photos by Julie Hoag.
Trouble Shooting Solution For A Problem You Might Encounter
If you end up with too much rope slack, simply tie a knot in the rope to use up the rope slack. This will tighten rows together.
Now Enjoy!
Tighten zip ties if they slide, cut off extra, and tuck clasp into noodle hole.
The raft takes about 2-2 1/2 hours to complete so plan accordingly. This raft is about the length of a eight or nine year old child. Make yours as short or as long as you need; this craft is very versatile.
I hope you enjoy your raft! Customize it to your own colors and taste. Make patterns with colors or use different colored noodles to make the first letter for your child’s name.
Check out my other DIY pool noodle craft to make a DIY Pool Noodle Float Ring
Or try making this one……DIY Pool Noodle Fish Float With Headrest
Have fun swimming with your new raft!!
updated: 11/16/2017
This post is copyrighted @4/2/17 juliehoagwriter. All Rights Reserved.
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