DIY Boats: Friends and Family Competitive Races for All Ages

Yesterday, we had a wonderful time celebrating Memorial Day with friends and family. We decided to embark on a creative adventure by building DIY boats using a variety of craft supplies and recycled materials. The highlight of the day was the suspenseful river race, where our uniquely crafted boats competed against each other. 

This project was incredible because it was something that all ages could enjoy. From the youngest member of our group, a two-year-old, to those who were ”almost 40,” everyone joined in crafting their boat for the race. Even though our two-year-old lacked the expertise of a seasoned boat builder, only having the attention span to quickly color a single jumbo stick as her boat, she still made the cut and qualified to compete in the race. 🤣All boats, regardless of their simplicity or complexity successfully finished the race. Well done sailors!

To construct our boats, we utilized an assortment of craft materials, including foam craft paper, paint sticks, popsicle sticks, and recycled materials like empty egg cartons, cardboard, and wine corks. The possibilities for materials are endless! I must mention my favorite addition to this boat project: the ingenious face cupcake toppers skillfully made by our amazing sister-in-law from the birthday cupcakes the night before. These toppers featured a delightful variety of hilarious expressions that perfectly captured my husband’s mannerisms, adding an extra layer of amusement to the race. The moment I saw those creative cake toppers, I knew they had to be used once again in this fun-filled event.

For those interested and read for a river adventure, here’s a list of possible craft materials and recycled items you can consider:

DIY Boat Project Steps:

1. Lay a plastic tablecloth on the table to make clean up easier.
2. Set up the craft and recycled items of your choice on the table.
3. Allow participants to unleash their creativity and use any materials they desire to construct their boats.
4. Monitor the use of hot glue and assist younger children with this part.
5. Ensure that the boat is sturdy and complete before the competition begins in the water. 

Crafter’s Tips:

• Try not to give specific instructions beyond the goal of constructing a boat capable of racing in the river. It’s fascinating to witness the diverse ideas that emerge with freedom and without strict guidelines.
• Have extra glue sticks available for the glue gun, as this project may require a good amount, depending on the number of participants. 
• For younger children, encourage them to team up with someone older to enhance their crafting experience.
• Use yarn to tie between two trees, creating a start line and finish line along the river. This way, there won’t be any argument over close finishes. 

Fun Boat Extension Ideas:

• Organize this project for a family reunion, kids’ summer camp, or church small group activity. Design and build boats together as teams, and give your boat a unique name.
• Introduce scientific elements by conducting experiments related to buoyancy, weight distribution, or water resistance. For example, participants can explore how adding weight affects the boat’s performance or how changing the shape impacts speed.
• Utilize a stopwatch to time how long it takes each boat to travel from start to finish. Record the times in a science journal. Run the race at least five times and calculate the average time by adding up all the race times and dividing by the number of trials.
• After the initial boat race, encourage participants to modify and improve their boats for better performance. They can experiment with different materials, shapes, or additions to enhance speed, stability, or aesthetics.
• Read books or stories about boats, maritime adventures, or famous boat journeys. Participants can discuss the stories, share their favorite parts, or even write their own boat-related stories or poems.

Other Contest Race Ideas:

1. Fastest Boat: Start all boats at the same time along the start line, and the first boat to cross the finish line wins. If all boats survive the race, you can set up another heat with the top three boats for a championship race.
2. Strongest Structure: The boat that lasts the longest in the water without falling apart or getting waterlogged wins!
3. Boat of Endurance: Change the finish line to a further downstream location to test which boat finishes first on a longer course.
4. Best Looking: Award the “best looking” boat based on its appearance out of the water before any races.
5. Most Creative Design: Recognize the most unique and interesting boat design.
6. Coolest Boat Name: Give recognition to the boat with the most creative and catchy name. 
7. Strongest Cargo Ship: Use rocks along the creek or river to see which boat can carry the heaviest load without sinking. 

⛵To witness the exhilarating DIY boat races, don’t miss the short video on my Instagram and Facebook reel! Get a glimpse of the thrilling action and join in on the excitement. Head over to my profiles and enjoy the race!⛵

☀️If you love everything DIY and have babies and/or toddlers check out DIY Knee Pads Using Old, Lonely Socks to protect their precious little knees this summer!🧦