free floating boat design
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:02 am
This is not a Raingutter Regatta project but...
My son wants to build a boat for a friendly race among classmates. The rules are rather loose, but the basic intent is free floating no metal, plastic, glue, screws, nails, etc. the boat will be powered by the flow of water only in a small creek. Must be at least 16 inches, not more than 36 inches long. Nothing on width or height. If there is a tail wind it would help but no guarantee on that. Since I know nothing about boat design, weight, buoyancy, etc.....I'm wondering if someone might be able to point me in the right direction with the right search terms for here or google. All I can find is sailing a boat faster than the wind or upwind. At this point all I got for ideas is staying light weight and to accomplish that by some sticks together and calling it good.
My son wants to build a boat for a friendly race among classmates. The rules are rather loose, but the basic intent is free floating no metal, plastic, glue, screws, nails, etc. the boat will be powered by the flow of water only in a small creek. Must be at least 16 inches, not more than 36 inches long. Nothing on width or height. If there is a tail wind it would help but no guarantee on that. Since I know nothing about boat design, weight, buoyancy, etc.....I'm wondering if someone might be able to point me in the right direction with the right search terms for here or google. All I can find is sailing a boat faster than the wind or upwind. At this point all I got for ideas is staying light weight and to accomplish that by some sticks together and calling it good.