I Need Corrugated Cardboard: Houston (West?)

[Cajungaltx]

My 12 year old's school is having their first annual cardboard boat race.

This is not a 'little' cardboard boat race - it's a 'gotta fit a 12 year old or two' cardboard boat race.

My husband and her built the 'model boat' - and he promptly deployed without building the full scale boat.



If I build the full sized scale boat, based off the model boat, this freaking boat is going to be 15 freaking feet wide.

He's using the pontoon concept - boat in the middle, with bars out/floaters to provide extra stability.

I'm going to help my daughter drown someone else's kids... you just watch.

I can use Cardboard (corrugated boxes or carpet tubes)
Tape (duct, masking, package sealing)
Glue (wood, Construction adhesive "liquid nails")
Paint (latex, look for 'soap and water clean-up")

Anyone have any experience with this? I'm currently sporting a nasty head cold, thanks to the little one in my house... but figure finding corrugated cardboard is the first step.

[studiocygnet]

Check at your nearest local bicycle shops, as bike boxes are about as big as you can ship without some serious freight charges. Call ahead, and if they've built any bikes that day, have them save the boxes for you.

[kenw]

Folks that sell refrigerators/freezers/appliances have big boxes.

you're going to paint the water-side of the cardboard to make it waterproof. That's what the latex paint is for: prepaint the large sheets ahead of time. then a final coat after it is finished just for good measure...it is hard to waterproof cardboard too much...

more later; for now try a Conn's, Best Buy, Lowe's, Home Depot. Talk to the manager, they often crush this stuff immediately so ask if they can save you some. And get about 3 times the amount you think you'll need.

Some relatives drove all the way from Allen to our house so I could build a trebuche for their daughter (ok, "help" her build a trebuche...) for a class assignment.

It only cost them dinner....

[toverman]

I have experience *watching* cardboard boat regattas. It's usually sink or swim!

Never seen one with "pontoons." Usually they are simple, like a cross between a canoe and small fishing scow (squared off ... not like a pointy bow is going to matter at that speed). Most important things seem to be painting them well to seal as much water out of the cardboard as possible, and doing a stupendous job at taping the seams. I have some photos I can try to find from the last time I watched one (middle school kids were "racing").

[S-Man]

There's a box-making shop somewhere around 290 and Hempstead Rd. area...They make custom boxes and have tons of cardboard there. I can't remember the name of them...

[crazeazn]

I'm going to help my daughter drown someone else's kids... you just watch.

*subscribed to this thread.

[CaptainTom]

I've built many cardboard boats, but they were all BOS (build on site).

The key thing is to keep the hull structure as seamless as possible.
The seams will leak, the seems will fall apart. A pontoon design will be too complicated.
The idea is a race. A slim, narrow hull with a pointed bow (kayak design) will be the fastest and most secure.

It takes a bit of skill to operate and not tip over, but once you get it, you will win the race.

Unless you can seal the entire hull, your boat will likely only survive three or four "heats". Keep it out of the water when at all possible.

Again, keep the seams to the absolute minimum. Refrigerator boxes work very well. Duct tape is NOT waterproof. Get plastic tape, which doesn't stick nearly as well.


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[DeannaD]

omg.. and I thought the AP Physics projects were bad! I have a friend who may be able to help with your cardboard needs. If so, I'll get back to you.

[madf1man]

I'm off wilcrest and katy freeway and modify vehicles with wheelchair lifts and other what nots. We frequently have very large strong boxes. Mobility Plus Trey

[studiocygnet]

For sealing seams, look for polyurethane tape. It's clear plastic like packing tape, but much stronger.

[carrbowl]

Just goes to prove...this is more than a photography forum!!! Crack me up!!!

[Cajungaltx]

I may have been saved by the bell.... the other girl that is partnering with Tori - her dad is an engineer who has done this kind of thing previously. Because I have a house of sick people (me and the baby) they are going to come pick Tori up Saturday afternoon, along with the boat making gear - and he's gonna help them do it.

I think we'll need more cardboard than we have still - this was the design concept that my husband saw that he thought would be good:



This is the size difference between the two girls:



Tori is 5'6" at 12... Olivia is not quite that tall... lol. So the boat design is going to have to be something that will balance out the drastic size difference between the two.

[J Eddington]

Don't you love it when schools come up with projects like this! The parents are more stressed than the kids. BECAUSE it is a parent project NOT a kids project.

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by J Eddington

Don't you love it when schools come up with projects like this! The parents are more stressed than the kids. BECAUSE it is a parent project NOT a kids project.

This was something the kids had to sign up for - it's not a 'required' project - she actually had to figure out the minimum size of the boat to float her and Olivia's combined weight... all that kind of stuff.

So it's been a learning process for both the girls.

The kids have to register, plus they have to get $50 in sponsorship PER person in the boat crew. That conversation went something like this: "Mom, will your photography business sponsor our cardboard boat?"

Me: "Ummm.... sure.... I guess"

Tori is actually one of my 'best' marketing tools - she tells everyone to get their senior photos done with me.... she's involved with high school kids... so she tells them 'oh, my mom is an awesome photographer!'... so $50... it's well spent. ;-)

The boat race is going to happen during the school day - and if the 'other' kids want to go watch - they have to pay $20 ticket.

It's a fund raiser for the school - they've done 'walk a thons' in the past (*yuck*) so this was something new and different.

[crazeazn]

or you could put CAJUNGALTX PHOTOGRAPHY on the side of the boat.....

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