Paddle Wheel Boat

This will please any small boy when the bathing season comes.

NO BOAT-BUILDING experience is necesary to construct this juvenile side – wheeler because the bottom is a single panel of waterproof out door plywood. The only calking required, along the chines (lower edges) , is simply a matter of laying cotton binding tape in ma rine glue and screwing on the plywood.

First cut the side members and fasten the chine strips flush with the lower edge of each. Assemble the sides with the cross members at the ends, using marine glue in all joints, With the frame upside down, screw on the bottom panel. Add the keelson or inside keel, which is made in three parts like the chines, and screw on the keel. Finish the remainder of the woodwork as shown.

The crankshafts for the paddles require some forge work, since they must be bent to a right angle in two places to form the crank. The other end of each is drilled and reamed for a taper pin; or a straight pin may be used and peened over to hold it in place. The crank end is threaded for a nut to retain the wooden handle. These shafts turn in short sections of brass tubing, provided with oil holes.

Each paddle is merely a disk of outdoor plywood to which the eight paddles are screwed. The disk is then secured to the shaft with a flange and a taper pin, straight pin, or set screw, as preferred. The seat rests on cleats so that it may be moved for ward or aft to accommodate the "engineer." Light floor boards, laid crosswise, form a false bottom.

Paint in colors of your own selection, but do not use a quick-drying paint or enamel on the outdoor plywood as it may not stand up so well in use.

Steering is accomplished by reversing one paddle and going abead with the other.

The paddle-wheeler is almost 6′ long and will safely hold a boy weighing not more than 100 pound. From “Popular Science” August 1940 Found at modernmechanix.com