Motorboat Book: Build & Launch 20 Jet Boats, Paddle-Wheelers, Electric Submarines & More
Start with an Ocean f you are going to make these models you will need a place to test them and show them off You need an Ocean If you have a swimming pool or pond available you can use either provided you first give it a suit able name Since Atlantic Pacific and Indian are already taken come up with a new name for your Ocean Safety When you create or use any open body of water take care that people especially young children cannot get into them unsupervised Even a few inches of water is a hazard for a small child If a body aquatic isn't available build your own Here are several size
Large Oceans How big would you like to make your ocean The limitations are the size of level ground you have and the depth of the ocean you need For most purposes I find that a good size for an outdoor ocean is 4 feet by 8 feet Conveniently hard ware stores sell waterproof tarps and sheets of plastic large enough for an ocean of this size They also carry larger size materials or you can duct tape several tarps together if you really need to A shallow ocean requires less support and is a safer option than a deeper ocean As water depth increases the pressure pushing your ocean apart will increase and require stronger construction An ocean with a depth of 4 to 6 inches works well but you may need more water if your models hit bottom Adult supervision required Materials 4 folding tables or similar flat surfaces Waterproof tarp with grommets at least 6 feet by 10 feet larger would be better Nylon string Hose and water supply 3 wooden boards 1 inch by 8 inches and 8 feet long optional Adult helper for optional
Saw optional 4 hinges with removable pins or other connectors optional Grid wall 2 feet by 8 feet optional Plastic cable ties optional Build It 1 Any four vertical surfaces that won't move will support your ocean For a shallow ocean four folding tables work well Lay the tables on edge in a square or rectangle with the legs extended to hold them up 2 Lay a waterproof tarp over the sides of the tables and secure it with nylon string through its grommets Then use the hose to fill the tarp with no more than 4 inches of water This model takes seconds to set up but will support only a shallow ocean As the number of people using this ocean increases the num ber of random bumps increases think earth quakes and tsunamis and soon the ocean will fall
3 A more user friendly model uses wood planks set on edge to form the four sea cliffs sur rounding the ocean waters Get three 8 foot long 1 inch by 8 inch boards and ask an adult to saw one board in half to create two shorter end pieces 4 There are many ways to hold the boards together One is to install hinges that have removable pins at the corners where the boards meet To take down the ocean remove the pin from the hinge at one of the short ends and let the water swirl out hopefully into a drain or thirsty grass Or you can take a trip through a hardware store to find other ideas of how to fasten the boards together Screws or nails will work if you won't need to take the ocean apart for a while and a clever builder could devise a system of pegs nails or dowels that fit into holes in adjoining boards to hold them in place Once it's assembled use the hose to fill your ocean with water just enough to float your
