How to Make Rain Gutter Boats Fast
Rain gutter boats, much like pinewood derby cars, are popular teaching tools in shop classes and for Scout troops. In a gutter race, wooden boats are built by participants, then placed in a long rain gutter full of water. Using a household fan, or the breath of the boat's owner, a breeze is provided that points down the gutters, and the boats are timed to see which boat is fastest. Though boats of many different designs will appear in a given regatta, choosing the right design can be the difference between participating and winning.
Things You'll Need
- Competition approved wood
- Crafting knife
- Saw
- Sandpaper
- Glue
- Competition approved rudder
- Competition approved sail
- Paint
- Brush
- Sealant
Instructions
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1
Cut two sticks of wood to the approved length for the competition.
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2
Sand one edge of both sticks so that they end in a point, then slowly arc down to full height approximately 1/3 of the way down the length of the stick. These will be the sloped front ends of the two barrels of the catamaran (two-hull) design.
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3
Cut two cross pieces from the approved wood, ensuring they are not longer than the approved width, approximately 1 inch wide and 1/4 inch thick.
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4
Cut a notch, 1/2 inch deep and as wide as your rudder, into the middle of one of the cross pieces, and secure the rudder in the cross piece with glue.
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5
Glue the two long sticks together by placing the two cross pieces atop them. The cross piece with the rudder on it goes on the back of the sticks, opposite the rounded fronts, and the second cross piece connects the two just before the point the sticks start to narrow in front.
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6
Cut a thin stick as wide as your boat, and glue it across the top of the approved sail, centered across the width.
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7
Glue the sail to the boat, wrapping the bottom edges of the sail around the sides of the front cross piece and the side of the boat.
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8
Paint the boat, and apply a layer of sealant after the paint dries.
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