Raft

Raft is a flat buoyant watercraft that floats on its surface and is propelled by paddling, oars, or simple sails. Traditional rafts are built by lashed logs or planks, while modern versions often use inflatable fabrics such as nylon or reinforced PVC with multiple air chambers to provide buoyancy. A raft may have a simple floor or an integrated frame to support movement and cargo, and it can be equipped with paddles, a rowing frame, or a small sail.

Rafts have a long history across many cultures, serving as transportation, fishing platforms, and construction tools. In river and lake contexts, they are used for travel, cargo transport, or recreational purposes. Contemporary inflatable rafts are common for whitewater activities and are designed for buoyancy, stability, and durability. Safety features typically include life jackets, helmets, throw ropes, and repair kits, and operators or users follow local regulations and river classifications.

In recreational use, whitewater rafts vary in size and are often designed to seat four to eight people. They may feature self-bailing floors, rigid seating, and high-visibility materials. Training, weather awareness, and equipment checks are important for safety on challenging rivers, and guided trips are common in areas with rapids.

In computing, Raft is also the name of a consensus algorithm used to manage a replicated log in distributed systems. It aims to be easier to understand than some alternatives while providing safety and liveness guarantees under defined conditions, typically by electing a leader to coordinate log replication among followers.