How to Make Paddle Wheel Boat

In this project, we will learn how to make a simple electric paddlewheel boat using basic techniques. This project is great for a maker space or mechanical engineering challenge at school, library, or home.

Once you learn the basics, you can experiment with different body styles and designs to make your boat go faster.  You can also set up a competition between friends to see who can build the fastest propeller boat.  Make STEAM education fun!

Materials Needed

The good thing about this project is that you can get most of your “boat” parts from the trash.  You can use recycle bottles, ice cream sticks, and many trash items to create the body of your paddle boat.  Get creative!

For this project, you will also need the following materials:

  • Bottle caps
  • DC gear motor
  • Battery
  • Switch
  • Therma cool sheet
  • Battery connecter
  • Tongue depressors
  • Kabab sticks

  • Required tools:
    • Glue gun
    • Soldering iron
    • Knife cutter
    • White glue
  • Step 1: Boat BodyFirst, you have to cut down the therma cool according to the given dimension as given below

Step 2: Make base of the Body

Take the tongue depressors and paste on the upper side of the therma cool by the help of white glue. Make sure the stick covers the full part of the therma cool sheet

Step 3: Remove extra part

Cut the extra part of the sticks

Attach more stick with the help of glue gun to make strong base

Step 4: Attach battey and Motor

Now attach the motor on the backward side of the boat

Then attach the battery on the center of the boat

Step 5: Wiring

Attach the switch, battery and motor in series connection

Step 6: Paddle Making

Cut the fins from ice cream sticks with the length of 1inch

Make eight cuts in the bottle cap for joining the fins in it. Make sure the distance of cuts are of same length

Fill the bottle cap with glue

Paste all the fins inside the bottle cap

Make one more paddle like this

Step 7: Mount the Paddle

Now attach both paddle with the base of the boat

Step 8: Testing

Now your paddle powerboat is ready to test it in the water

 

Note: Material of this project like gear motor and the wheel can get from PSC inventor box

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