How to Make a Simple Bathtub Sail Boat
If you're little one is about to take a bath, but doesn't seem to have the proper navy to add enjoyment to the soak, there's a simple solution: Build your own bathtub sailboat. The construction is really pretty easy and doesn't take much in the way of materials (a piece of balsa wood and some common household items) and with a little wind power from your little one, this sailboat will sail the waves and provide hours of fun.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Pencil or small dowel 1-by-2-by-4 inch piece of balsa wood 2 craft sticks 1-inch washer 4-inch cloth square (from an old shirt, perhaps) X-Acto knife Sandpaper Hot glue gun and glue sticks
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1
Use the X-Acto knife to carve out the bow of the boat; this can be as simple as cutting one end of the balsa wood into a point, or you can bevel the sides for a more realistic look.
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2
Sand the balsa wood until smooth.
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3
Press the point of the pencil into the middle of the top of the boat and remove. Put some hot glue in the pencil hole and replace the pencil into the hole.
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4
Glue a craft stick (boom) to the pencil (mast) at a right angle about 1-inch above the hull of the boat.
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5
Cut two triangles out of the cloth by making a diagonal cut from corner to corner. You'll only use one of the triangles as the sail and have an extra sail for the second boat in your fleet.
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6
Use the glue gun to attach the sale to the mast (pencil) and the boom (craft stick).
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7
Push a craft stick into the middle of the bottom of the hull. The hole should be near, but not directly under the mast (pencil). Remove the craft stick and cut it in half. Put some hot glue into the hole and replace a piece of craft stick, which is now the keel.
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8
Hot glue a washer to the bottom of the keel to add ballast and make the boat stable and keep it from capsizing.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Because balsa is such a soft wood, use fine grit sandpaper.
This is a great project for children, but the X-Acto knife should only be used by adults.
