by Jonathan Rose

Created on: August 20, 2009

Building a toy boat with a child is a wonderful project full of fun and packed with hidden educational opportunities. To build a toy boat you naturally have to consider engineering concepts like displacement if your craft is going to float. Basic woodworking skills will come into play and, of course, an artistic flair will be needed to ensure your boat is the finest toy watercraft in the tub or in the pool.

A toy boat project can be as simple as taking a flat piece of rectangular balsa wood or Styrofoam and cutting off two corners to form a point on one end that will serve as the bow. You can then propel your craft by taping a balloon to the long end of a bendable drinking straw. Packing tape works quite well for this task. Place your balloon propulsion unit on the surface of the boat with the bendable piece centered at the rear edge and the shorter end hanging over the stern. Use a 3-inch piece of packing tape to secure the straw to the boat right above the bend. You are now ready to decorate and there are no limits. Use magic markers, paint, glue on accesories, whatever "floats your boat", be creative. The brighter the colors the better. When you are ready to launch your boat, you can fill the balloon by blowing air through the straw. Pinch at the base of the straw to keep the air from escaping until the boat is in the water.

The simple balsa wood or Styrofoam boat frame described above can be propelled using a paddle wheel. The paddle wheel can be made from balsa wood pieces. 2 rectangles with notches cut halfway through in the center of each piece will allow you to put the 2 pieces together into t-shape. Cut a notch into the stern of the boat to allow for the paddle wheel. Attach the paddle wheel to the stern with a rubber band stretched between 2 thumb tacks. Knotting the rubber band on each end of the paddle wheel will keep the paddle wheel centered in the notch. Wind the wheel backwards to propel your boat forward.

Build several boats to race can entertain a few children all day. There are plenty of kits available for the more advanced hobbyist. These kits may include electric motors, steam propulsion or sails. Wooden sailboat kits vary from the very basic to very advanced. Once you get the boat-building bug you may not be able to stop.

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