From Pool to Boat in the Blink of an Eye

Got a Kiddie Pool sitting about that is in halfway decent condition? Well if you do, we are going to make it used for something that it was never designed for but works surprisingly well.

You Will Need:
-A Kiddie Pool (One of at least a 5ft Diameter for ease of use and safety)
-A Flat Plant of Wood or Paddle
-A Long Pole or Stick (Metal or wood, material does not matter for the Pole so long as its not breakable)
-Rope
-Duck Tape (Yes that wonderful magical sticky tape)
- A Heavy Cinder Block

Step 1: The Origins of This Boat

     The Original designs of this type of boat actually belong to the Native Americans who originally used a frame in the shape of a bowl with animal hides stretched over the frame. Although this was most common way to make a Bowl Boat for river, stream and swamp transport, ( I REALLY Do NOT reccomend this on the ocean) it wasn't their only material. It was also made out of straw and or tree branches. Whatever they could weave and float was used for the construction of these.
     These were next to canoes as far as usefulness goes. They could sometimes carry more then one person and were commonly used to carry food and gear.

My Personal story on it:
   A while prior to posting this I was really itching to go out on the pond a click or two away and I only had this pool and that made me think of when I do the dishes how a bowl will float because of it using water displacement, and the pool had the same basic shape. In a way this also made me think of the Native Americans and their different varieties of boats.Then all i needed was a paddle and I though of how the italians use a pole for their boats so i grabbed a 5ft stick and a flat piece of wood and they both worked out well, the sick for shallow water and the paddle for open water.

Comments

[dragonsniper]

can u post a picture or a video of it in use
that would be very helpful
:{)

[McGyver2]

Alas, I would but a few weeks ago when it flooded up here it also managed to drag it away. Should I ever get another I will.

[dragonsniper]

well can u remember about how much of the "boat" was still above the surface of the water when the boat was being ridden

[McGyver2]

I can actually. About 6-7 or so inches was above the water with one person. At three people it was about 5.

[dragonsniper]

also i have an idea so that the boat doesn't collapse in on u while u are riding it
u get some expanding foam and spray it in the boat enough to fill it up about 3/4 full after the foam expands. that way if any holes or cracks occur while riding the boat it wont matter because the foam is buoyant enough to stay afloat and rigid enough to not lose its shape ;{)
tell me it u think this will work or not constructive criticism will help

[rowerwet]

I have always wanted to find an old pickup truck tool box and make a boat out of it, the big problem is all the free ones I find already have holes drilled in them from past mounts, I wonder if there is a good way to plug the holes so they would float.

[Ranie-K]

A bolt with a head lightly larger than the hole. Use rubber gasket on the outside and washer on the inside. Add nut and tighten.

If the hole is very big, have a washer larger than the hole welded to a bolt and do the same.

Or use pieces of wood with silicone on both sides, stick them together, covering the hole and put screws into them to force them together. Paint.

[Blacksmith Spader]

in addition to the rubber gasket... perhaps melting bee's wax onto the top and then putting a painting primer over it?

[dragonsniper]

mighty putty lol

[McGyver2]

Always ftw if you have nothing else to seal things with

[geodez]

you are supposed to use a 10 foot by 1.5 inch dowel.

[McGyver2]

No. It doesnt make a difference, You need a pole for shallow water and a flat piece of a wood or paddle of some sort for deeper water.