Home >> Toys >> Bath Toys

How to Build a Toy Flatboat

Although flatboats could be just about any size, they were usually large, rectangular, sturdy tubs built with flat-bottomed hulls. They were used during the early 1800's mainly to transport passengers and freight via inland waterways, and were almost always used for one-way trips. Upon reaching their destinations, having no mechanical means of power, flatboats were usually dismantled for lumber.
You and your child can easily make this fun flatboat project. The real thrill for the youngster will be that the toy flatboat actually floats, so it's bound to quickly find its way into the bath water. Suggest that the flatboat be populated with toy people or animals, and make up a story to tell your child while playing with the boat. You could also pretend that the flatboat is Noah's ark by turning on the shower.

Things You'll Need

Old newspapers
Paper ½ gallon milk carton
Paper ½ pint or pint carton, for cream or Half-and-Half
Scissors
Ruler
Tape
Epoxy or other waterproof glue
Permanent markers
Poster paints
Paintbrushes
Aerosol paint sealer
Toy people or animals
Pipe cleaners
Paper clips

Instructions

- 1
  Spread several layers of newspapers over a flat working surface. Completely open up the end of the milk and cream cartons so that they look like open boxes. Wash and dry them thoroughly so that no dairy residue remains.
- 2
  Lay the milk carton on its side. Use the ruler and a marker to draw a straight horizontal line the length of the carton, dividing it in half. Extend the line across the bottom of the carton, and then along the entire width of the other side. Use scissors to cut along the line you drew, splitting the milk carton in half.
- 3
  Lay the carton with the open end directly in front of you. Use scissors to cut along the corner folds in the top of the milk carton. Cut each of them down to the top of the main part of the carton. You now have three flaps, a wide one in the center on the bottom, and a small one on each of the left and the right sides.
- 4
  Fold both of the small left and right flaps inward at 90-degree angles. Fold the bottom center flap upward at a 90-degree angle. Secure each of the small flaps to the large one with a piece of tape. Seal the edges of the large flap with epoxy so that your flatboat won't leak, and let it dry thoroughly. You now have the hull for your toy flatboat.
- 5
  Repeat Steps 2, 3, and 4, this time with the smaller cream carton. You now have the cabin for your toy flatboat.
- 6
  Use poster paints to decorate the outside of the cabin, and the inside and outside of the hull. Be sure to add windows and a door to the cabin with colorful paints. Allow all the paint to dry. Seal the entire toy flatboat with aerosol paint sealer.
- 7
  Turn the cabin upside down and tape it to the inside of the hull, close to one end of the flatboat. Apply epoxy to the bottom of the cabin all the way around it so that it won't leak. Let it dry.
- 8
  Paper clip a pipe cleaner to each side of the hull so that the crew will have something to propel the toy flatboat through the water with. Populate the flatboat with some small plastic people or animals and float it around in the bathtub.

Bath Toys