CARDBOARD BOAT BUILDING 101
by United Way of Elkhart County
What floats your
Cardboard boat...
United Way Kick Off
August 28, 2015
CONSTRUCTION RULES
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The ENTIRE boat must be built of cardboard, duct tape, and one-part polyurethane.
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Only exceptions are the paddles & decorations
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Use Cardboard boxes, “blocks”, carpet tubes
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NO pre-treated cardboard allowed
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No Sona-Tubes, waxed or ‘treated’ cardboard
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NO wood, plastic or fiberglass
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NO caulking compounds or two-part/mixed adhesives
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NO wrapping in duct tape, plastic or fiberglass
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Duct tape may be used to reinforce seams
CONSTRUCTION RULES
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Waterproof the boat with Varnish, Paint or Polyurethane (one-part, paint-like substance)
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Decorations are encouraged -as long as they don’t effect structural strength or buoyancy
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The crew compartment CANNOT be enclosed so as to interfere with escape
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Every crewmember must wear a personal floatation devise (PDF) and proper footwear
CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS
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Permissible Materials
Corrugated Cardboard
m Appliance or grocery stores
Cardboard “blocks”
m Furniture stores
Cardboard Tubes
m Carpet/linoleum stores
Fastening material
m Duct or masking tape
m Liquid nails adhesive
Latex Paint, Varnish
Materials NOT Allowed
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Wood, Styrofoam
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Plastic sheathing
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Fiberglass
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Sona-Tubes, coated cardboard
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Silicon, Wax, Tar
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Caulking compounds
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Metal
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Staples, clamps, screws
Judges decide on the interpretation of the rules
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
EXAMPLES
Carpet Tube
(about 4 ½” dia.)
CardboardBlock
(2-3” thick)
Cardboard Box -cut open
CARDBOARD BOAT
DESIGN
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Consider its size -building & transporting
m Big enough to hold crew, small enough to carry
m Wider is better, but still be able to paddle
- No surfboard style designs are allowed
-Rafts are allowed
m Consider total weight of all materials when wet
m EVERYTHING must be removed from the pond
r Boat decorations and crew costumes are encouraged -use your imagination you will be awarded for
your creativity!
CARDBOARD BOAT
PHYSICS
“How much will you sink?” - Displacement
water
boat
displaced
water
displaced volume of water (V)
V=LxWxH
Weight of Water =
Water Diplaced (ft3) =
Weight-of-boat-&people-lbs
62.4 pountds/cubic-foot
62.4lbs/ft3-H2O
Depth (ft) boat sinks____________________
EXAMPLE:
Box boat, 3ft x 6ft, 1 ft tall (high)
Boat volume= 3’ x 6’ x 1’ = 18 ft3
Boat displacement= 18 ft3 x 62.4 lbs/ft3 = 1123.2 lbs
Which equates to 93.6 lbs per inch of boat height
MORE CARDBOARD BOAT
PHYSICS
“Wider is Better”- Center of Bouyancy
EVEN MORE CARDBOARD
BOAT PHYSICS
Movement Through the Water
CARDBOARD BOAT
DESIGN SUGGESTIONS
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Set the Design Goal: Fun, Speed and Appearance
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Sketch out your design
m build a scale model from manila paper:
- estimate materials or plan how to use what you have
- plan out what construction techniques will be used
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1’x1’x3’ box: will float 187 lbs.
m if it’ll hold you, it’s big enough to float
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Flat bottom, sit-to-paddle & canoe styles -are the best/easiest
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Rudders help keep you straight but make turning difficult and adds complexity to your design.
MORE CARDBOARD BOAT
DESIGN SUGGESTIONS
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Long boats go fast -but are harder to turn
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Short boats (<8’) -are difficult to keep straight
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Best Length: 8-12 feet
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Best Height: 18 inches
m allows room to sit/kneel & still paddle over the edge
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Best Width:
m 18”-30”(max) for 1 person
m 48” wide for 2 people side by side
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Kneeling is a “power” position but sitting is more comfortable
CONSTRUCTION TIPS &
TECHNIQUES I
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Cover all edges of cardboard -acts like siphon
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Cardboard Tubes make great frames
m Cut for joining & bending
m Fasten tubes together
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Cardboard Hull
m 1-2 layers, fasten & cover the seams
m With 2 layers, overlap the seams & polyurethane in between
m Decorate, paint & varnish
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Reinforce the area where you sit, kneel or stand
CONSTRUCTION TIPS &
TECHNIQUES II
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Carpenter’s glue and liquid nails work well
hot-melt glues will melt in the heat and sun
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Duct tape only non-painted surfaces (tubes or frame that will be covered)
m Duct tape shrinks when painted
m Duct tape should be covered with masking tape if you need to paint it
m Clear tape melts when painted
m Masking tape works well on glued edges & seams
m Kraft paper with spray adhesive may also be used
CONSTRUCTION TIPS &
TECHNIQUES III
CONSTRUCTION TIPS &
TECHNIQUES IV
CONSTRUCTION TIPS &
TECHNIQUES V
CONSTRUCTION TIPS &
TECHNIQUES VI
CONSTRUCTION TIPS &
TECHNIQUES VII
GO BUILD YOUR BOAT
WE’LL SEE YOU ON THE CORPORATE POND
AUGUST 28, 2015
Boats arrive August 27th at United Way by NOON.
If you have questions, contact:
United Way of Elkhart County
Jess Koscher
601 CR 17
PO Box 3048
Elkhart, IN 46516
574-295-1650
www.unitedwayec.org