"Polystyrene breaks up in the river and there are plenty of better materials to use," says Dan.
"We had some really creative entries last year and I'm hoping to see people get even more imaginative this year."
Plumber Dan's own imagination led to a duck race in November which raised $10,648 for Jigsaw Whanganui.
Competitors paid for small plastic ducks which were raced downstream from the Dublin Bridge in November.
He has also been plotting a birdman competition for Whanganui which would follow similar lines to the ones held in Queenstown and Wellington where men and women in outrageous costumes pitch themselves into the water.
"I was aiming to hold it in April but I have decided to postpone that one until next year," he says.
Instead the busy plumber will be joining his sister and two brothers for a snow boarding holiday in Japan after the raft race is over.
Meanwhile, the Whanganui River Raft Race will be held on Saturday February 25.
Enter online at The hits.co.nz or call Plumber Dan on 021 635517.
Cost is $50 per raft and entrants can win up to $300. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Plunket Wanganui.