Paper boats are toys that have been made by children since paper was invented. These toys are very easy to make and can be played in shallow water surfaces such as bathtubs, puddles, ponds, or even small sewers. Although it won't last very long, once you know how to make it, you can rebuild a paper boat very easily!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making a Paper Boat
Step 1. Fold the paper in half
Take a rectangular sheet of paper, and place it in front of you lengthwise--with the longer sides on the right and left. Fold it in half the same length from top to bottom, so that the crease is at the "top" of the paper.
Step 2. Fold the paper in half and unfold it
This time, bring the right and left sides of the paper together, not from top to bottom like in the first step, then unfold them. You will use the crease line as a center line marker. Now, you return to step 1, with the paper folded in half from top to bottom, but with a crease line in the middle. Make the folds as straight and neat as possible.
Step 3. Fold the top corner of the paper down
Grasp the top corner of the paper and fold the edges down toward the center. The top edge of the paper should be parallel to the center line of the fold.
Step 4. Turn the paper over
Repeat. Fold the other corners in the same way, i.e. align them with the center line. The paper shape will resemble a "house" with a "wide" roofline over a 2.5 cm wide rectangle.
Step 5. Fold the bottom corner up
Take the bottom corner of the rectangular sheet of paper and fold it up. Fold it to the height of the roof of the house, without folding the paper underneath.
Step 6. Turn the paper over
Repeat the last fold. Fold lengthwise the rectangular sheet on the contrary under the roof of the "house". Make sure the two sheets are parallel, by folding them symmetrically. The shape will resemble a paper hat.
Step 7. Hold the center of the paper hat
Hold it at the point where the diagonal crease lines meet. Open the paper cap slightly. Keep both ends in the diagonal crease line.
Step 8. Pull the edge of the paper outwards
Gently pull the end of the paper, and flatten the paper cap. You should now get a diamond-shaped piece of paper.
Step 9. Fold the base of the diamond up
Take the bottom corner of the diamond and fold it up. Leave a gap of about 0.65 cm between the top edge and the crease. When finished, turn the paper over.
Step 10. Repeat again
Fold the base up until it is parallel to the reverse side. Make the same folds as the previous step.
Step 11. Hold the paper boat in the middle of the bottom
Pull in the opposite direction and flatten. Similar to step 8.
Step 12. Hold the right and left sides of the triangle shape
Pull in the opposite direction slowly. The bottom of the paper will flip on its own.
Step 13. Play with your paper boat
Your paper boat is now done! You can take it sailing out into the wide ocean… or maybe just a pool behind your house!
Method 2 of 2: Making Paper Boats More Durable
Step 1. Strengthen the paper boat
There are many ways you can make your paper boat last longer. Applying a layer of tape on the bottom and around it is great for increasing the boat's resistance to water.
- Make two paper boats and put one inside the other. This will make your paper boat more water resistant and stronger.
- Color the paper boat with crayons. The wax on the crayon will help prevent the paper from being damaged by water.
- An alternative to masking tape is plastic wrap that can cover the paper boat so it doesn't get in the water.
- If you want to play it again, dry the paper boat after use. Then wrap it in plastic to protect it.
Step 2. Choose the right paper
Lightweight paper, such as regular rectangular printing paper, is the best choice. You can use heavier paper, such as construction paper, but you will have a harder time folding it straight and neatly.
- Remember, basically paper boats are made with the origami technique. Traditional origami usually uses light but durable paper. Printed paper or plain blank paper is a good choice for making simple folds like paper boats.
- You can also buy origami paper, or "kami" which is paper developed in Japan in the early 20th century. This paper is often decorated and available at craft supply stores. This paper is lighter, but is actually quite similar to printing paper.
- You can also use old newspaper paper, but the result will be more easily damaged and more easily torn.
Step 3. Make your paper boat float better
Widen the base by pulling the diagonal corners outward. The wider bottom of the paper boat will help the paper boat float longer. The bottom surface area of the paper boat will also be greater so that your boat is more stable.
Step 4. Make your paper boat more stable on the water
Use two paper boats, placing one inside the other, so that your paper boat floats better, while being more resistant to water. Try putting some pebbles around the triangular center of the boat. This gravel will be a ballast and keep the boat upright. You can also adjust the placement of the gravel weights to allow the paper boat to move in a straight line.
Tips
- To make a paper boat, it is recommended that you use rectangular paper, rather than square paper.
- Don't try to attach the mast and sails of the ship to make it look like a ship. This will only make your paper boat unbalanced by its weight.
- If you are using loose leaf paper, make sure that the holes are not in areas where water can enter. If this happens, cover the hole with tape.
- You can also make drawings on some marbles or fine gravel as a passenger or crew member.
- Origami skills are very useful for this craft.
- Paper boats are made based on paper hat designs.
Warning
- Do not litter. Take the paper boat back after playing outside.
- Be careful when playing near water. Do not play paper boats in deep water, strong currents, or dirty water.
- Do not play near a strong current. If you fall, you can be carried away by the current of the river.
