Cardboard Viking Longship and Cardboard Boat Regatta

by KentsOkay

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Intro: Cardboard Viking Longship and Cardboard Boat Regatta

A while back I built a Viking Longship for a cardboard boat race, with my local library. Here are some pics of the construction and the race. I'll get around to an ible eventually...

When complete it was 3 ft wide, 16 inches deep and 17 feet long, and carried four people.

I built a cardboard frame on top of a wood mold, and then glued and taped 3inch strips of card board to form the hull. Then a layer of brown paper was glued down, and a final layer of strips went on top. Seams were caulked, then the entire thing was covered with spar urethane.

Once we got the boat in the water, we discovered a big problem: 1 semi experienced and 3 inexperienced rowers don't get anywhere in a strait line. The boat was much to maneuverable for our naive rowers - we did a few 360's in the pond. We finally finished the first heat, and on the second we were doing really well... until we started filling with water. The good ship Skidbladner went under, and I the captain went down with my ship... but my life jacket got in the way. We wound up winning the Big Bertha award, longest ship finishing.

See more pics here:

http://www.roundrocktexas.gov/home/index.asp?page=1413

27 Comments

allindsay 9 years ago

We had cardboard boat races in college. Typically it was the Engineering Dept Vs the Architecture Dept. One year, some of us in the Theatre Dept decided to participate, after being told no at first they let us in. First year we made a Davinci Tank inspired boast but he second we made a Viking Long Boat, we made viking armor and weapons out of cardboard too and didnt just race but boarded the other teams boats and sank them. We were disqualified and asked to never participate again, it was awesome.

l8nite 14 years ago

This seems like a fairly easy and inexpensive way to construct a boat. A layer or 2 of fiberglass inside and out would make it usable for those NOT in a cardboard regatta... nicely done ! !

KentsOkay 14 years ago

Thanks! I missed the deadline to post this year's boat, which is far superior, but I'll get around to it eventually

ClemensY290 15 years ago

one thing that helps is painting it with weather proof paint then using a water proof clear coat

KentsOkay 15 years ago

I'm pretty happy with the way the poly gets it.

WyngedLyon 15 years ago

I wonder if coating the bottom with a few layers of latex would have been a better waterproof solution. I would love to build a sustainable boat out of cardboard. Seems like a lightweight alternative.

Mr. Green 15 years ago

love it! sounds to me like the inside is what needed some water proofing-water got over the top(i assume) and removed the rigidity(?)

Wasagi 15 years ago

I was in a carboard boat race once, we came in second, everyone else sunk.... We used carpet tubes...

woofboy111 15 years ago

Very Cool!!! I wonder how using thin strips of wood instead of cardboard would work for the longevity of the boat?

uguy 15 years ago

Were the plywood ribs cheating for a cardboard boat?

KentsOkay 15 years ago

No, they aren't part of the boat, they just gave it shape while it was being built.

HotPinkBulb 15 years ago

Hey! sounds great, but the pics aint loading for me - could be my end, but you should check yours!

bumpus 15 years ago

Same here.. RS f'ed up this whole slideshow!!! :D
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