Welcome to the open ocean! Whether you’re crafting your first spear or fishing in the middle of the night, your first day in Raft can be both exciting and overwhelming. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of our best day one tips and tricks to make sure your survival adventure starts off on the right plank.

1. Quick Crafting and Inventory Tips

There’s no need to waste time crafting components separately. When crafting any item that requires a resource like Rope or Nails, you can simply hover over that resource in the item recipe. If the green plus icon appears, click it to craft what you need on the spot. Even better: you don’t need to move materials from storage to your inventory. If you have a storage chest open, those contents are also available during crafting. To save time, keep a dedicated chest filled with high-use items like Planks, Rope, and Plastic.

2. Save Space with Wall-Mounted Storage

Storage containers taking over your raft? Try mounting them on walls. Both small and regular storage chests can be attached to vertical surfaces, saving precious floor space for other key structures. This is especially useful on multi-story rafts where space management becomes more critical.

3. Gear Durability and Backup Strategy

All tools and weapons in Raft degrade with use. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Wooden Spear: 20 uses
• Plastic Hook: 40 uses
• Basic Bow: 60 uses

Higher-tier versions last longer and typically deal more damage. With that in mind, it’s wise to always keep a spare or two of your most-used tools. Running out mid-shark fight or during a dive is the wrong time to realize you needed a backup.

4. Multitasking Efficiency

You don’t have to be idle while your hook is out. You can hand-pick floating debris while waiting to reel in your hook or even while you’re fishing. It takes a bit more focus, but it’s a great way to stay productive and make the most of every second.

5. Fish From Anywhere—Literally

Not a fan of sitting on the edge of your raft to fish? Good news: Raft’s engine doesn’t require collision checks for fishing. You can cast from inside a cabin or even on upper floors with no issue. It’s not exactly immersive, but it’s certainly convenient.

6. Protecting Your Crops With a Research Table

Seagulls stealing your crops? Here’s a clever (and probably unintended) workaround: place your Small Crop Plot under your Research Table. This blocks the seagulls from accessing it, giving you some early-game peace while you work toward building Scarecrows or fortifications. It saves space and adds a little bit of unintentional realism to your layout.

7. Skip the Night (and Heal Up)

Tired of struggling in the dark? Craft a Bed and sleep through the night. You can sleep anytime after 8:00 PM and wake at 4:00 AM. Not only does this fast-forward time, but it also restores some health. Do note that sleeping consumes some hunger and thirst, so make sure you’re topped up beforehand.

In multiplayer, all players need to interact with beds for time to pass.

8. What Happens When You Die?

Death consequences depend on your chosen game mode:

• Easy Mode: No item or durability loss upon death
• Normal Mode: You’ll lose tool durability and some random items from your inventory

In multiplayer Normal Mode, if a friend carries your body back to a bed, you can skip these penalties. So, teamwork really does pay off!

9. Stack Splitting and Management

Managing your inventory efficiently is crucial. Here’s how to split stacks like a pro:

• Middle Mouse Button: Splits a stack in half
• Right-Click While Dragging: Moves a single item
• Mouse Wheel While Dragging: Adjust the number of items moved

Whether you’re stockpiling materials, distributing food, or preparing to craft, stack management keeps things smooth and saves time.

---

These early tips are all about maximizing what little you start with. Every minute and every resource counts, especially during the first in-game day. With a few smart tricks up your sleeve—like wall-mounted storage, auto-crafting, multitasking, and a well-placed crop plot—you’ll turn your humble floating square into a functional survival vessel in no time.

Happy rafting! Keep an eye out for our upcoming beginner and advanced tips guides, and don’t forget to share your own best discoveries with fellow players.