Poor Man's Raft

Overview

A Poor Man's Raft, normally referred merely as a raft, is a hastily pieced together floating raft made primarily of wood, and may be covered by dense cloth or other similar materials to secure and protect the goods being transported on it. Most rafts of this type are built by poor farmers why are then forced to walk back upstream to return home.

Characteristics

Poor Man's Rafts are typically built from logs cut into long planks, sometimes using wood from the forest if the village or town is close enough; otherwise the raft is built from whatever trees one can find near their home. Most times ropes made of vines are made used to lash together the planks horizontally, and then vertically for the other layer. Because proper rope is expensive and useful, it is rarely used for a raft, and those who do use it attempt to reclaim it when they no longer need to use their raft. The top surface is supported underneath by a number of whole logs, the size and number varying based on what is needed.
If the raft builder is carrying goods down the Great Achton River, it is common for a small sail to be utilized but in all cases, Poor Man's Rafts are propelled primarily by the river currents. Poles are used to keep the raft from running aground, which is a bigger concern for the smaller rivers with sharp bends.
Farmers are the typical users of these rafts, typically taking their goods to the grasslands cities of Landfall, Hasenburg, or Tanfor. Those traveling to Hasenburg come from many different areas, including deep in the forests and from far off mountain valleys. Longer trips, however, are generally split up, with the farmer taking their harvest part way, and selling it to wealthier merchants with larger vessels that finish the trip. 
To protect their goods or harvest, a dense cloth lines the bottom of the raft and is large enough to cover what is on board. Lack of room forces those who are piloting the raft to stay near the edges, or stay in the water and float alongside it.
In nearly all cases, the raft is dismantled upon reaching its destination. Notably in Tanfor, the wood from these rafts is used for lower class residences on the western edge of the city.