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#1
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Single person boat built out of two liter bottles
I want to build a boat out of two liter soda bottles.
Why? Why not? I can make the time and the space to do it and it's something I've wanted to do for a while. I've looked on the web, but haven't found any sites on doing something like this or any people who have done anything like this. So, my question, does anyone know of any web sites that talk about something like this or people who have an idea of how to go about something like this? I'm an engineer, so I've got some ideas on how to start, but would like to see what others have done and have someone to bounce ideas off. Thanks Ruth Ann |
#2
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Single person boat built out of two liter bottles
Minneapolis used to (and may still have) the "Milk Carton Boat Race" during its
summer Aquatenial each year. Some very highly creative uses of milk cartons to make things float. Maybe a search on that? Maybe some Minneapolitans might know? I want to build a boat out of two liter soda bottles. Why? Why not? I can make the time and the space to do it and it's something I've wanted to do for a while. I've looked on the web, but haven't found any sites on doing something like this or any people who have done anything like this. So, my question, does anyone know of any web sites that talk about something like this or people who have an idea of how to go about something like this? I'm an engineer, so I've got some ideas on how to start, but would like to see what others have done and have someone to bounce ideas off. Thanks Ruth Ann |
#3
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Single person boat built out of two liter bottles
Ruth Ann says:
I want to build a boat out of two liter soda bottles. I would think you'd need more than two..... sorry - couldn't resist Steve |
#4
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Single person boat built out of two liter bottles
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#5
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Single person boat built out of two liter bottles
I'll bite! Where do you want to build this venture?
Don Dando "Backyard Renegade" wrote in message m... (Ruth Ann) wrote in message . com... I want to build a boat out of two liter soda bottles. Why? Why not? I can make the time and the space to do it and it's something I've wanted to do for a while. I've looked on the web, but haven't found any sites on doing something like this or any people who have done anything like this. So, my question, does anyone know of any web sites that talk about something like this or people who have an idea of how to go about something like this? I'm an engineer, so I've got some ideas on how to start, but would like to see what others have done and have someone to bounce ideas off. Thanks Ruth Ann Well, we could start by asking what kind of boat do you want? That is to ask, what do you need your boat to do, in what conditions, how big, how many people, how will it be powered, transported? Sometimes folks don't understand why we ask these things, but trust me, it makes a difference. Anyway, consider a female mold, skinned over with pourable foam then stick on a bunch of bottles, fill in around the bottles with more foam, skin the inside of the hull. The biggest problem I see is attaching them in and creating stiffness in the whole structure, assuming you are thinking a hard hull. I don't know of any adhesive that would work so you will have to use a mechanical bond of some sort, either sewing, tying, or surrounding and encapsulating them somehow. Maybe you should consider smaller bottles, thinner sides. Again, a lot depends on how big your boat needs to be, and what it needs to do for you. Scotty from SmallBoats.com |
#6
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Single person boat built out of two liter bottles
the bottles will provide bouyancy if they can be tightly sealed, but you'll
need a framework something to give the boat its shape. maybe you could figure out some way to fasten the bottles together end-to-end and use them as "planks". one way to tell if a plastic bottle is watertight is to put some water in it, put the cap on, turn it upside down, and squeeze. if water comes out its not watertight. that's a Bill Mason canoe camping test which I've used on plastic containers to carry things like food and camera. Ruth Ann ) writes: I want to build a boat out of two liter soda bottles. Why? Why not? I can make the time and the space to do it and it's something I've wanted to do for a while. I've looked on the web, but haven't found any sites on doing something like this or any people who have done anything like this. So, my question, does anyone know of any web sites that talk about something like this or people who have an idea of how to go about something like this? I'm an engineer, so I've got some ideas on how to start, but would like to see what others have done and have someone to bounce ideas off. Thanks Ruth Ann -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned |
#7
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Single person boat built out of two liter bottles
Some more information.
I want this to be a boat (something that has definite sides, as opposed to a raft that is more flat) that will carry at least one person (that would be me). I'm thinking something with a vaguely canoe type shape. Power provided by the occupant via either a canoe or kayak paddle. I want to build this in my garage and it needs to be of a size and weight that one person can move it around and transport it in the bed of a small pick-up truck (I have a Ford Ranger with a bed that's roughly 4 feet wide and 6 feet long with the tailgate up, but securing it for transport with the tailgate down shouldn't be too much of a problem.) I forsee using this boat in calm water conditions on a still river or small lake. (Places that are within easy driving distance of southwest Fort Worth, Texas, if you're familiar with the area.) What I've figured out so far is that I can secure two bottle together at the caps by drilling a hole through each cap, bolting the caps together, screwing the caps back on and sealing them with something (I'm thinking silicone caulk or possible liquid nails or something). One of the main things I'm trying to figure out now is how to connect more than two bottles. I don't see an easy way to connect bottles by means other than the cap, without compromising the structural integrity of the bottles. One of my cubemates suggested cutting off the bottom of some of the bottles and putting another bottle inside and then gluing (or caulking) the seams. While this would probably solve the issue of connecting more bottles end to end, it doesn't help me connect bottles on the sides (which I will need to do to get more than just a long string of bottles). So, I'm still thinking about that one. I'm looking for something a bit more sophisticated and more durable than duct tape or rubber bands to hold the bottles together. Also, I don't want something that has a shell and then uses bottles for floation. I want people to look at this boat and be able to instantly understand that this is a boat that is completly made out of two liter bottles (and something that holds them together and something that seals the bottles). |
#9
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Single person boat built out of two liter bottles
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#10
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Single person boat built out of two liter bottles
Fastening the bottles together by using a bolt type fastener
would be risky because it requires piercing the bottle. The constant flexing would cause a leak regardless of what you seal it with. The solution is to shift your thinking from the obvious to the opposite of the obvious. Instead of thinking of the bottles as flotation, think of them as NOT flotation. What else could they be? Well they are primarily designed as containers, not floaters, so let's think of them as containers. Here is my solution. Drill a hole through the top cap and bottom of each bottle so you can fasten them end to end with bolts, nuts, and washers. Don't worry about them leaking because they will. Each string of bottles is a hull plank and you will need to play around with how these will be assembled to suit your needs. I imagine a Kon Tiki type raft but you can shape it any way you want depending in your desires and ingenuity. The basic unit is a string of bottles "X" bottles long. The planks should be lashed together with plastic twine, as natural jute twine would clash with the aesthetics qualities of the other materials. Assemble, or tie them into a canoe like shape. Now, go to your local Planned Parenhood organization and ask them if they will underwrite your project. Ask them to donate a condom for each bottle. Possibly solicit area businesses to purchase a condom from planned Parenthood and donate it to the project reminding them that charitable donations are tax deductable and it is for a good cause.(Preferably only new condoms should be used.) Disassemble each "plank" and fill each bottle with an inflated condom which you blow up .....uh....inflate inside the bottle and tie, thus creating "individually protected flotation bladders" within each bottle. Colored condoms could be used tastefully to add additional aesthetic quality to the hull. Float your boat proudly while displaying the Planned Parenthood banner and solicit other area businesses to offer suggested names for the vessel...."Wet Dream, etc." Monetary proceeds could be distributed to local family planning services and recycling efforts. Above all...have fun! SteveJ Ruth Ann wrote: I want to build a boat out of two liter soda bottles. Why? Why not? I can make the time and the space to do it and it's something I've wanted to do for a while. I've looked on the web, but haven't found any sites on doing something like this or any people who have done anything like this. So, my question, does anyone know of any web sites that talk about something like this or people who have an idea of how to go about something like this? I'm an engineer, so I've got some ideas on how to start, but would like to see what others have done and have someone to bounce ideas off. Thanks Ruth Ann |
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