Have you ever thought about making a boat out of popsicle sticks? Here is your chance to get some great insight into the best ways to do so.
This project requires some basic woodworking skills. The steps are simple enough to follow along with, even if you’ve never built anything before.
Once you get started building your boat, you’ll see why this craft has been increasingly popular.
Easy Boat: Supplies
These are the types of supplies that you will need to create your boat.
Supplies for this project include:
- Popsicle Sticks
- Wood Glue
- Sandpaper
- Screws
- Black paint
- White Primer
- Decals
How To Build A Popsicle Boat – Step By Step
Step 1: Cut And Sand Your Popsicle Sticks
The first thing that we’re going to want to do is cut our popsicle sticks into the shape of a boat.
We can use any size popsicle stick that we like, but I would recommend using 2×4’s or 3×3’s because they are easier to work with. You can also use smaller pieces, but it may be harder to sand them down later on.
Start by cutting each piece in half lengthwise. This will give us two equal sized pieces. Then cut one side of each piece at an angle, creating a V shape.
Finally, cut the other side of each piece at another angle, creating a triangle shape.
Step 2: Sand Your Pieces Down
Now that we have all of our pieces cut out, it’s time to start sanding them down. Start by sanding the bottom edge of each piece down until it’s smooth.
Make sure not to go too deep though, as you don’t want to ruin the look of your finished product.
Once you’ve done that, move up to the sides of the boat. Use a medium grit sandpaper to remove any rough edges from the sides.
If there are still any sharp points left, just take a fine grit sandpaper and gently sand around those areas.
Once you’ve got all of the rough edges sanded off, take a finer grit sand paper and lightly sand the top of the boat. This should help blend everything together nicely.
Step 3: Assemble Your Pieces
Now that all of your pieces are ready, it’s time to assemble them. Take one of the pieces and lay it flat on your bench. Put glue on both ends of the piece, then place the second piece on top of it.
Press down firmly on the pieces while applying pressure evenly across the entire surface. Let sit for 5 minutes, then flip over onto the other side. Repeat this process for all three pieces.
Step 4: Add Details
After letting your pieces dry completely, it’s time to add details to your boat. First, draw lines where you want your windows to be. These should be placed near the middle of the boat. Draw a line down the center of the boat.
Then, use a pencil to mark a few holes in the backside of the boat. Place a screw through these holes and tighten it down. Do this for every hole.
Finally, paint your boat black. This will help protect it during the next part of the project.
Step 5: Paint Your Deck
Next, it’s time to paint your deck. To do this, simply apply a coat of white primer to the entire surface of the boat. Once this has dried, apply several coats of white paint to the entire surface.
Make sure to let each coat dry before adding more. The last coat should only require a couple of hours to dry.
Step 6: Attach Decals
To finish your pop-up boat, attach some decals! Simply peel off the backing from your decal sheet and carefully adhere it to the surface of the boat.
Be careful not to get any adhesive residue on the inside of the boat, as this could cause problems when you try to open it.
If you’d prefer, you can skip this step and just paint your decals directly onto the boat.
Step 7: Open Up Your Boat
To open up your pop-up boat so you can see what’s inside, first push the screws into their holes. You’ll notice that they’re pretty tight, but if you keep pushing them in, they’ll eventually come loose.
When you’re satisfied with how far the screws have pushed into the wood, pull them out. Then, slowly lift up the front panel. It may feel like the whole thing is going to fall apart, but once you give it a little tug, it should hold its shape.
Step 8: Enjoy Your Pop-Up Boat
Your pop-up boat is now complete! To enjoy it, you can either display it on a shelf or table, or you can store it away in a closet. Either way, it looks great and gives anyone who sees it a smile.
Helpful Tips When Building A Popsicle Boat
Although we have been through the step by step process of how to make your boat, here are some extra notes and tips to give you some extra help if needed.
- Make sure to use a sturdy benchtop. If you don’t have one, you can always build it on a sturdy wooden board.
- Use a fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the rough edges of your boat.
- When gluing together two pieces of wood, apply even pressure along the entire surface.
- Don’t forget to include a screwdriver in your toolbox.
Conclusion
Overall, it is not as easy as you might think and there are more aspects to making a boat out of popsicle sticks than first imagined.
Therefore, if you are looking to try and make one yourself, following these easy steps will be an ideal way for you to be creative in a quick and simple way.
The extra notes at the bottom are also there to give you an extra bit of help because if this is your first time trying to build something like this, you may need it!
