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Make a Cardboard Boat

This is an easy way to create a cardboard boat. Why build a cardboard boat? Well every year races are held at the river, and it's fun. I cannot guarantee that it will float. I typically build "stylish" boats.

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Step 1Gather Materials

You will need:
-Cardboard
-Water proof Tape (duct tape is best)
-Box Cutter/ Scissors
-Newspaper
-Something to draw with
-An idea and necessary decorations
-Paint (optional)

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29 comments

Nov 11, 2010. 9:18 AMchipper35 says:

I love the comment at the end: (paraphrase)....."you'll probably sink."

Um, if you build a BOAT....it's kinda important that it not sink.........at least for a few hours!

While I'm not certain, I bet that about two gallons of liquid epoxy would help on this bad boy.

Mar 27, 2012. 10:24 AMfarmerboyk says:

Actually, if his has the same rules as mine, your only allowed to use Cardboard, tape, and paint. If he has a small stacks, you can use some mechanical parts, but other than that only cardboard tape and paint.

Mar 27, 2012. 10:22 AMfarmerboyk says:

We have races at the river in my state as well, people come from all different countries just to watch(There's also a little carnival type thing going on called River days, so that helps) and I have won twice against adults in the small stacks race(Which is cardboard boats with bike pedals attached to wheels to propel the boat). My dad won the one I raced in in a raffle and I raced it 3 years, im gonna try and get him to make a new one with me....

Apr 20, 2011. 4:03 PM

poofrabbit says:

I've made several of these for a contest, it is so much fun! The last two years the same two guys have won, they use the same boat over and over again. Mine look fun, lol but they sink.....and by golly it's really fun seeing how long they will last! Great work!

Aug 30, 2009. 11:51 AMycc2106 says:

Nice idea! Though it is a lot of duct tape. I think you could find a work around w paint or plastic bags, would be cheaper and more eco friendly.

Aug 10, 2010. 1:50 PMducktape.mac says:

maybe you could like get strips of aluminum foil and tape it on. it wouldn't be that strong against stick though.

Aug 30, 2009. 3:48 PMhappylue (author) says:

Thanks, plastic bags aren't allowed in the races we do :/ only paint, cardboard, and duct tape. It is a lot of tape, i am lucky that i get free defect rolls of tape though

Aug 10, 2010. 1:52 PMducktape.mac says:

:0 oh my god. i would love to get free duck tape!!!!!! where do you get it free? i mean getting free tape would save me around 200-300 dollars a year!!

Sep 1, 2009. 3:57 PMbounty1012 says:

rofl how can duct tape be defective?

Sep 1, 2009. 4:52 PMhappylue (author) says:

i know right? they just roll the tape unevenly or the thickness is off by like a half inch so its perfectly fine tape, just not good enough to sell apparently

Sep 1, 2009. 6:19 PMbounty1012 says:

awesome boat btw.

Sep 1, 2009. 6:19 PMbounty1012 says:

Yeah I guess people would freak, its like "HEY WTF? THIS ISNT THE RIGHT THICKNESS! THIS ISNT WHAT I PAYED FOR! IM GONNA SUE!" rofl

Nov 15, 2009. 1:28 PMDms12444 says:

Actually, in the past people have. Ridiculous what people sue for.

Nov 15, 2009. 9:28 PMbounty1012 says:

yea, like the kid who tried to sue Jagex cause he bought gold from a 3rd party. Which is against the rules, then got his account stolen. After this happened his account got banned.

Aug 30, 2009. 4:11 PMcodongolev says:

WHERE?!?!?!? I need free duct tape!

Aug 30, 2009. 4:40 PM

bowmaster says:

Me too!! WHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aug 31, 2009. 5:01 AMhappylue (author) says:

My dad just works at a tape company that gives away defect rolls

Sep 1, 2009. 12:00 AM

bowmaster says:

Lucky!!!!

Aug 31, 2009. 10:35 AMmeanbean says:

I need to get a job there...

Aug 31, 2009. 9:52 AMthepelton says:

I don't know about FREE duct tape, but you can get cheap duct tape at www.sciplus.com. It may have some problems, but you get what you pay for.

Mar 8, 2010. 12:39 PMstephenniall says:

Wow I thought this was a miniature boat! great work ! how do you propel this thing oars?

Dec 27, 2009. 1:34 PMwatermelonhead says:

Awesome instructable! I'm building a cardboard Japanese Ninja-sled for a contest much like the one you mentioned, and this came as a big help. Thank you!

Oct 28, 2009. 6:00 PMMrRodrigez says:

OMFG did you get that from the adam bots team 245??? I'm on it!

Sep 11, 2009. 10:16 PM

ANDY! says:

how bigs the boat?

Sep 17, 2009. 3:37 PMhappylue (author) says:

it was about 6-7' x 4' enough to fit 2 people

Aug 31, 2009. 9:25 AMwenpherd says:

we have a cardboard boat race at the tn river

Aug 30, 2009. 1:02 PMLuminousObject says:

Was this for a Venitian night also?

Aug 30, 2009. 3:50 PMhappylue (author) says:

wow... they screwed up my replies, anyway it was just for the race, but they do give a creativity award.

Aug 30, 2009. 12:24 PMLuminousObject says:

Awesome. I'll have to keep this in mind for next year at the marina. They have these races at the marina. Once for kids, and once for adults. It was a crappy day for the adults race, so it wasn't as funny as it could have been. The idea was that they would build the boat in the morning, then hang around and drink a lot of beer until about four when they would race them.