I enjoyed puzzling this out, best score I had was 19 but I lost when extra people hit my growing platform without being ready with enough food and housing. I didn't pull them but it connected all the same. Perhaps if you had a pole as well with the ability to push away planks you didn't want? Or if you had the ability to switch to a paddle to maneuver your growing flotilla to reach a different area or far away planks? Either way, great job!