How important is a 'rafter length calculator' when constructing a large raft in Raft?
Summary
Q.How important is a 'rafter length calculator' when constructing a large raft in Raft?
A.Very little — a real-world “rafter length calculator” is unnecessary for Raft because the game uses square foundations and simple engine rules; what matters is foundation count and engine placement/power.
More info
A rafter length calculator (a carpentry tool for computing angled board lengths) is essentially irrelevant when building a large raft in Raft. The game uses discrete foundation tiles and simple movement rules rather than real-world roof geometry, so you won’t need angled cut measurements — instead focus on how many foundations your raft has and how many engines you run, since engines and foundation counts determine movement and speed. See the developer support article explaining engines and foundation limits. (For quick reference, one engine supports ~100 foundations, with a “slow zone” up to ~110, and six engines will cover any size raft.)
For practical building: you should pay attention to the engine/foundation rules, the placement requirements for engines, and performance limits on consoles/hosts rather than precise timber lengths. Useful gameplay details and examples are covered on the official support page and the community wiki; additionally, beginner guides explain engine recipes, where to place them, and that collection nets don’t count as foundations. If you want to optimize a huge build, consider:
- Counting foundations (or buying a Foundation Counter from the trader)
- Adding engines so you don’t enter the slow/overburdened zones
- Spreading engines and checking anchor/wheel state to avoid stuttering
These steps will have far more impact on a large raft than any real-world rafter calculator.
