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Growout Raft

Growout rafts can be configured in many different ways with the only constraint being the availability of different lengths of lumber. One complaint from operators is the width between the hangers. We have chosen to leave 36" between the hangers to make it easer to get the stacks of trays in and out of the water, this cuts labor costs and also helps to prevent accidents by getting two or even three stacks fouled together.

The raft in the drawing is 16' wide and 20' long and has 7 hangers, it would be capable of holding 42 or more stacks of trays. Growout rafts are constructed of rough sawn lumber and foam flotation. Fasteners are stainless steel and marine grade. The foam floatation is commercially shrink wrapped. Each raft measures 16’ X 20’ and sits approximately 20” out of the water. Rafts are then moored to each other and anchored to the bottom.

Each raft could theoretically handle a minimum of 42 hanging stacks of 8 trays, each tray can hold 120 oysters at marketable size for a total of 40,320 oysters or 3,360 dozen per raft. Each raft could hold up to 336,000 25mm (1”) spat when purchased from Naukati Bay Shellfish Nursery.

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A typical Growout Raft built by Eric Wyatt and family of Marble Islands

"Blue Starr Oyster Company"

Blue Starr Oyster Co. is located near
Naukati Bay on Prince of Wales Island


	*New raft built in Naukati Bay* The sides are 2"X8"X20', tops are 3"X6"X20' with 4"X8" spacers between. The spacers are cut 19-1/2" to squeeze the the foam and hold it in place. There are 7-16' cross members, this raft will hold 42 stacks of trays minimum. The end cross members are 4'X6"X16' and are bolted through to the floats.

Estimated cost for Raft construction and Trays

9-2X8X20'     26.7 bf Ea.      240 bf
4-3X6X20'     30 bf Ea.         120 bf
8-2X6X16'     16 bf Ea.         128 bf
3-4X6X16'     32 bf Ea.          96 bf
                               Total       584 bf @ .50 per bf                            $292
8-Foam floatation                    $43 Ea.                                               $344
Shipping on foam                     $10 Ea.(depending on quantity)           $80
Hardware                                 approximately                                    $200
                                                Approximately total cost per raft   $916 (not including labor)

Rope for hangs 37' per hang, 42 hangs @ .10 per foot                       $155
Rope for slings 10' per sling, 42 slings @ .10 per foot                         $42
Trays, 42 hangs with 8 trays each at $15 per tray                               $5040
Tray Liners                                                                                        $672
                                            Total for one raft and trays                $6825

200,000 oysters at market size would take approximately 4.5 rafts     $30,712

     These figures do not include labor to construct the rafts or trays. Foam floatation shipping cost will very depending on the quantity you ship. Tray cost will very depending on whether you purchase them from a manufacture or would be willing to purchase the wire mesh and construct them yourself from scratch.

Sourcing materials
                   Lumber, Local saw mills

                   Foam floatation, Insulfoam, Kent Washington. Sales person: Todd (800) 775-9424
                                             Floatation comes in 10"X20"X108" or 20"X20"X108". You can get it in unwrapped, Shrink
                                             wrapped or with a sprayed on polyurethane coating. The numbers above are for shrink wrapped.

                   Fasteners and bolts, Tacoma Screw, Tacoma, Washington Sales person Shannon (253)572-3444

                   Tray Liners, Norplex Co. Auburn, Washington Sales person Jerry (800) 929-2960
                                                carries various sizes of Vexar mesh. 1/2"X48"X100' is a standard size, you can get a
                                                smaller mesh size.

                    Trays and wire mesh, Aqua Pacific (877)751-3772    www.aquapacificwire.com

Naukati Bay Shellfish Nursery (907) 629-4147 boatahi@gmail.com

for information about this web site contact: Gregg