Cheap / fast folding boat by MarkU

Last crawled date: 3 years, 3 months ago

One of my kids wanted a boat. This is the cheapest, fastest design I could come up with. DO NOT ASSUME IT IS SAFE (it probably isn't). I built this and made my own decisions on what conditions to use it under based on a lifetime in and around various boats (most of them pretty beat up) and well into the four digits in paddled kms in a canoe. Sinking rapidly is one possible outcome. It's also got a lot of freeboard and not much grip on the water, so it will blow out to sea very easily. Blowing out to sea and then sinking rapidly is therefore also a possible outcome. Wear lifejackets at all times and do not use where those are not acceptable outcomes for you. Do not cut, burn or otherwise injure yourself when building. Do not run with scissors. Remember to spay or neuter your pets. Don't forget to call your parents. Vote. Etc.
Also, as shown here it has no integral flotation - it definitely should (at the very least strap some life jackets to the frame, and you can use them as seats too, but check local regulations).
The major components are 3/4" PVC electrical conduit, plywood, and a PVC truck tarp from Princess Auto, glued at the seams and gunwales (only) with HH-66.