put something introductory here
Though most Kkoarhae rafts are intended to be attached to the larger raft colony, smaller rafts may be created for scouting, hunting, or to facilitate communication between raft colonies, which cannot safely move close together.
Raft-Building
Construction
Kkoarhae rafts are made from long, thick kelp fronds harvested from the sea floor. Sourcing and collecting these fronds is one of the jobs of the forage-divers, and kelp fronds may be stockpiled in waterbaskets in anticipation of future need, as kelp fronds can only be harvested in relatively shallow water, and must not be allowed to dry before weaving. Forage-divers also collect kelp floats, especially large, thick-walled ones, also for use in raft-building.
The first step of raft-building is carefully drying and lacquering the kelp floats. This is generally done as soon as they are collected, as kelp floats (unlike kelp fronds) are worked dry. Once dry, they are thickly coated with lacquer. The waterproof lacquer used in the building of rafts is derived from the crushed shells of certain crustaceans, the bodies of mhoë insects (see domestic animals of the Kkoarhae), and the gel derived from a type of algae.
When sufficient kelp fronds have been collected, they are soaked in a solution derived from urine and certain minerals that renders the fronds both more pliable and slightly less water-permeable. Once soaked, they are rinsed in seawater and woven into large panels. Each panel must be twice as big as the final desired size, as the kelp shrinks dramatically as it dries. When a single panel is done, while the raft is still wet, the dried and lacquered kelp floats are placed at even intervals on its upper surface. Another layer of kelp is woven into a matching panel, which is laid on top with the floats sandwiched between layers, and then the two panels are tightly woven together.
Once the panel has been woven, it is hung to dry on a large rack under an awning. At this point, it is critical to keep the raft away from water so that it will dry quickly and evenly; for this reason, raft-panels are often built in the dry summer season, and raft-building is done in an inner raft far from the spray at the edges of the colony. As the panels dry, the fronds tighten, creating a dense surface with kelp floats trapped inside it.
When the raft panel is dry, it is flattened using a heavy press for several days to ensure an even surface. It is then heavily lacquered and hung to dry again; once again, care must be taken to keep the panels dry as the lacquer sets.
The result is a dense, flat, hard, buoyant panel, usually about three meters by three meters in size, though due to variations in kelp the size varies. These panels are lashed together to make larger rafts, or lashed to existing raft colony panels, or used to patch worn or failing panels. Often, the central areas of a raft colony, where foot traffic is heaviest, will stack two or three layers of raft panels together for greater durability.
Painting
Dedication
Repair
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