KINGSTON, Jamaica — River rafting is a popular vacation activity for locals and visitors in Jamaica, but have you ever considered the mechanics behind the raft?

In the latest episode of the Jamaica Observer’s How Dis Mek?, Captain Claude Johnson of Rafting on the Martha Brae explains the manufacturing process behind the structure that drives one of the island’s most recognisable leisure activities.

Each joint on a stalk is essentially an air-filled sealed vacuum, allowing the stalks to float extremely well. If some joints pop open, due to age or sun damage, as long as the others remain sealed, the integrity of the raft is maintained, Johnson explained.