Pop-pop or put-put steamboat made easy for children

Step 8 Preparing to sail

Fill the coil engine with water at one end, untill it comes out the other end. You can use a syringe, but you can also do it under the tap (of course only with no fuel in the boat). Put the boat in the water. Charge the little cup with an esbit tablet. Light a match and simply drop it in the cup. It is not necessary to hold the match. I is better to try again if needed, than to hold the match to long and burn your fingers. You can remove the rests of the match once everything has burned and has cooled down.

Allow a little time for the esbit tablet to ignite fully. After a while the prolusion will start. Always keep the two tube ends in the water or it will stop. You can charge a second esbit tablet once the first is almost completely burned. Do this with metal pliers or tweezers to avoid burning your fingers. Do note the esbit tablets can become partly liquid when burning, so be careful with the boat.

Try bending the rudder until the boat follows the path desired.

Enjoy!