More Information

• Cool things to make and do
• Fun experiments
• Tasty recipes

You Are: Home > Activities > Cool things to make and do > Jet Boat

To make a jet boat, you will need:

-         1 x plastic pipe elbow, 13mm in diameter.

-         1 x (12.5cm x 15cm) Styrofoam food tray.

-         ½ x (12.5cm square) Styrofoam food tray – for rudder.

-         1 x balloon.

-         1 x rubber band.

-         A pen and scissors.

Instructions:

1. Place the Styrofoam tray flat on the desk in front of you.
2. Using the round end of the plastic pipe elbow, press it onto one end of the Styrofoam and turn it backwards and forwards a few times.
3. Remove the elbow and using a pen, press firmly to outline the circle. The pen should cut through the Styrofoam and a disc should pop out, leaving a hole.
4. Place the elbow underneath the Styrofoam tray and gently push one end of the elbow through the hole.
5. Stretch the balloon over the end of the elbow and secure it with a rubber band.
6. Using a pen and scissors, draw and cut a rudder (a semi-circle shape) from the spare Styrofoam.
7. Using a ruler, measure the widest part of the rudder. Then, using the same ruler and a pen, rule a line of the measured length firmly in the other end of the Styrofoam until you actually cut through it.
8. From the underside of the Styrofoam, carefully push the rudder through until half pokes above the Styrofoam and half pokes below the Styrofoam.
9. Your boat is now ready to test. Inflate the balloon by placing one hand on the end of the balloon (to hold it in place) and blow into the open end of the elbow. Once the balloon is inflated, pinch off the neck of the balloon and turn the elbow so that the open end is pointing towards the back of the boat.

Gently place the bottom of the boat on the surface of the water and release the neck of the balloon.