How to Make a Toy Boat From Recycled Material

From trash to toy boat; a guide on how to make a working to sail boat from household recyclables.

Step 1: Materials

You will need 2 plastic water bottles, cardboard, chopsticks, 2 cardboard tubes(from toilet paper), tape, scissors, and a marker.

Step 2: Flotation Device

It is important that the bottles you chosen have caps and no holes. First tape your water bottles together so that the caps are facing the same way. Tape all the way around the bottles so the tape overlaps.

Step 3: Cut List

Base: Cut out a rectangle of cardboard that is 5" wide and 9" in length. Draw a line down the center of the base piece for future reference.
Sides: Cut out two rectangles of cardboard that is 6.5" in length and 1” wide.
Back: Cut out one rectangle of cardboard that is 5" in length and 1” wide.
Bow: Cut out two pieces of cardboard with two sides being 3.5". Ones side being 1" and the other being 2".(refer to diagram)

Step 4: Making the Sails

Cut the cardboard tubes in half so that you end up with 4 “c” shapes.

Step 5: Making the Sails Pt.II

Find the center of a cardboard tube and cut a hole twords the top and bottom. Repeat the process for the other half.

Step 6: Tape It Down

Secure the 2 side pieces and back to the corresponding sides of the base by taping it down to the top and bottom.

Step 7: Putting Up the Sides

Once both sides of the cardboard have been taped down,push them up at a 90 degree angle.

Step 8: Crafting the Bow

Place the 2 front pieces together so that they meet at an angle with the taller sides in front. Be sure the point is formed in the center of the base. Once they are positioned correctly, tape them to the base.

Step 9: Tape It Down Again

Now that they are taped on the boat, tape all of the side pieces together by pressing the corners together with tape. like so

Step 10: Putting It Together

To secure the base to the water bottles, lace a piece of tape under the tape on the bottles.(sticky side down) Once it is through, make the tape overlap into a circle. Make four smaller rings of tape and place them on the bottles as shown in the picture.

Step 11: Putting It Together Pt.II

Gently place the base of the ship onto the taped water bottles, so that the point of the bow is in between the caps.

Step 12: Creating the Sails Pt. III

Lace a chopstick through the holes of 2 cardboard tube pieces, so that the pointed side is away from them. Do the same for the other chop stick, except only put one cardboard tube piece on.

Step 13: Adding a Mast

Cut off the excess piece of chopstick from the mast with one sail. Put it to the side for later.

Step 14: Securing the Sail

Poke a hole near the back and direct middle of the boat. Be sure they are on the center line. Place the mast with two sails in the back and the mast with one sail in the middle hole. Secure with tape.