Air Propulsion Motor Boats

This kit combines a simple electric circuit with a motor-driven propeller boat. It can also be adapted into a land vehicle, making it a useful science and engineering project for classroom demonstrations and student experiments.

Please verify and compare the contents of your kit with the list below. This kit was updated as of March 1st, 2008.

The new content includes:

• Simple switch, knife style
• Electric motor
• Insulated wire
• Plastic propeller 4 inches
• Plastic propeller 5 inches
• Battery holder for 2 AA batteries
• Screws, 6 pieces
• 4 wheels
• 2 wooden axle rods, 6 inches
• 2 plastic straws
• Design grid

If anything is missing, call (973) 777-3113 immediately and email info@MiniScience.com.

• Styrofoam board from a hardware store
• Utility knife for cutting the foam board
• Acrylic or water-based paint
• Wood glue or white glue
• Nails with a diameter smaller than the wheel hole
• Wood block, optional

Combine the excitement of mechanical toys with your science project by constructing an air propelled motor boat. This is also a good way to learn about simple electric circuits. The main structure is made of Styrofoam board, which is light, easy to shape, and floats on water.

The project can be used as an activity related to electricity, force, or flotation. It works well as a display project, an engineering project, or an investigatory science project.

Sketch your ideal design before cutting the foam. The boat can be as simple as a rectangle or as complex as you want. A design about 5 inches wide or narrower makes it easier to attach the wheels if you want to convert it into a car-boat hybrid.

Reserve a space for the motor and secure it with tape. Keep the battery centered so the boat stays balanced on water. If you want a land-and-water version, attach wheels to the sides and use plastic straws to reduce friction between the axles and the Styrofoam.

Start by cutting the foam. You can cut the Styrofoam easily with a utility knife. Practice for a few minutes and you will get the grip on it. Hold the knife at a sharp angle and do not push too hard. You may need to go over the same line a few times until you get a clean cut.

Styrofoam boards can be glued using white glue or wood glue, and they can be painted with any latex or water-based paint.

This method is not restricted to a boat. You can also make a car that drives by pushing the air backward. You just need four wheels and four nails, and the wheels must be large enough to spin freely.

To hide the battery and switch, use some cardboard to build a small cabin and place it over those parts. The boat shown in the picture has no steering mechanism, so you can experiment with different ways to add steering to your design.