Creating an origami boat is a fun task that is easy to complete and doesn’t require many supplies. The best part about making an origami vessel is that it requires a single bit of paper from a printer to finish the job! When you fold the paper using sharp folds, form it with care to create an impressive origami craft in just a few minutes. We’ll show you how to fold your boat using our step-by-step instructions.
Create a paper boat
Explore a stream or a creek by sailing! You can construct your boat to explore water currents with just a few pieces of paper and some fold-up tricks. Text adapted from Nat Geo Kids book Get Outside Guide by Nancy Honovich and Julie Beer.
Step 1. Put one piece of paper on your desk with the shorter side on the top. The paper is folded in half, from top to bottom.
Step 2. Fold from left to right until you locate the center, then open again. The top and bottom corners should be brought towards the middle, creating a point, and then fold.
Step 3. Fold step 3. Fold the flap on the bottom of the sheet, flip it over, and fold the second flap upwards. Fold the tabs of the triangle over each other until you’re left with an equilateral triangle.
Step 4. fold lower the upper corners, leaving some space in the middle. Make sure you grab the two top corners, then fold them inwards to align with the center fold.
Step 5. Take the corner at the bottom and fold the corners in. On one face of your paper, grasp the edges of the rectangle, which hang across the triangular area. Wrap these pieces of the sheet around the edge of the triangle, and fold them up, so they are in place around the edges. Then, fold the top flaps of the paper around the edges of the triangle and back toward you. [5]
The flaps closest to you must be folded to the front of the flaps on the back and not over them. If you fold them over the flaps on the back but not over them, you’ll not be able to fold the flaps behind by themselves.
Step 6. Take the two top points while pushing them out using your fingers to create your boat’s bottom. Reinforce corners using clear tape. You can also tape the bottom of the boat to ensure that your boat is dry. You’re now ready to go out on the water!
Do floating boats made of paper float in water?
Yes! The boats can float in the water. Since they’re constructed of paper, they’ll only be in the water once. The boats are supposed to stay in the water for a minimum of 10 minutes before they become saturated with water. When they’re saturated with water, it’s challenging to hold them upright, and they could sink.
If you wish to make them endure longer on the sea, you can add an extra layer of tape on an area on the side of the boat that makes it waterproof.
Are you able to put things into paper boats?
A little bit. If you’re planning to place your boats in the water, everything you put in the boat must be light, or the boats can slide over. It is possible to cut out paper characters to place in the boats… as well tiny toys. However, I cannot promise the boats will remain upright on the water with toys inside.
If you’re playing on boats on the floor (and away from the lake), You can fill them with all kinds of small, fun toys. Consider Lego figurines, tiny Hatchimals, and even Polly Pockets!