IN modern world DIYers have a lot of inexpensive materials from which you can make a boat with your own hands.
In this article we will look at how to make a homemade boat out of PVC pipes.
The easiest way to make a boat out of PVC pipes is to assemble the frame of a home-made swimming device with adhesive tape and stretch a plastic film on top.
This way of assembling a boat with your own hands is very simple and does not require any tools, except perhaps a knife or a saw for cutting plastic pipes to size.
Watch a video of making a homemade boat from plastic pipes and film.
As you can see, there are practically no difficulties!
But the test of this boat afloat.
I must say that the not too adequate swimming qualities of this home-made boat lie entirely on the assemblers' handiwork.
In fact, all home-made boats using this technology have lawyer Yegorov's kayak in their prototype.
Only he approached the production seriously and the result he got was an order of magnitude better. It all depends on you!
You can not wrap a homemade boat with a film, but use a banner fabric. This will help to avoid leakage, and the strength characteristics with a tight-fitting boat with a banner fabric will increase by an order of magnitude.
Drawings of PVC pipe boats
The easiest way to get a drawing of a homemade PVC pipe boat is to use a 3D editor. So, for example, for AutoCAD there are special libraries with plastic pipes, fittings and fasteners. Using it, you can get a drawing of almost any homemade PVC pipe boat.
The second type of homemade PVC pipe boats is the manufacture using large diameter pipes.
Here is a video of testing such a homemade boat
Here it is already necessary to approach the manufacture with great labor costs.
The video below shows the process of making such a boat in a garage.
To connect PVC pipes, you will have to purchase a special extruder or make it yourself.
However, making such a boat is only half the time. The second part of your time will be spent on equipping a homemade PVC boat made of pipes with fittings, as well as installing a transom and seats.
It is worth talking about the price.
The cost of making a homemade boat made of PVC pipes of large diameter with your own hands depends heavily on the size. So, for example, a home-made boat 2.5 meters long at a cost price will cost 5-7 thousand rubles. And for a boat 5 meters long, it will take from 8 to 9 thousand rubles, while in the store, the cost for boats of this size with a hard bottom starts from 38 thousand for 2.5 meters and from 50 thousand for 5 meters.
As you can see, the economy of making a homemade PVC pipe boat is very justified.
PVC is a modern material with a lot of positive qualities. It is quite inexpensive, light, strong, durable, resistant to different climatic conditions and environments. In addition, plastic pipes are easily and quickly connected, ensuring absolute tightness of the joints.
Due to this, the use of plastic pipes has gained wide popularity not only in the installation of water pipes and sewer systems. Of these, "craftsmen" make many useful "things" with their own hands, ranging from racks and drinking bowls to sledges and boats.
In this article, we will tell you about how you can quickly and inexpensively make a catamaran from plastic (do it yourself.
Article content
Why a catamaran?
There are a lot of options for boats, as well as their purposes. For those who live near water bodies, and especially for those for whom overcoming a water barrier is vital necessity, a catamaran would be perfect. This type of vessel has many advantages. in front of kayaks, boats or yachts.
- for the manufacture of catamarans from plastic pipes, a minimum amount of material is required. In addition, the remnants of a recent installation of a sewer or water supply may well be used;
- the catamaran is light in weight, so it does not cause problems in matters of transportation;
- due to the design features - two cylinders connected by a deck, such a craft has high seaworthiness, strength, reliability and sufficient speed;
- the ability to accommodate the required number of seats;
- any type of engine can be installed on a catamaran.
What is a catamaran made of?
The catamaran has a large number of design features, in comparison with other watercraft.
That is why you need to know in detail its components, before proceeding with the drawings and installation work.
- The first and most important part of a catamaran is the floats. These are two chamber structures located on the sides of the craft. Their immediate task is to keep the ship afloat. Cylinders can be made of different materials, limiting the outer perimeter of the float. To do this, use a film from which inflatable balloons, polystyrene foam or PVC pipes are made.
- Connecting frame. It can be made of any materials, ranging from the same plastic pipes to wood or metal. The lighter the frame of the catamaran, the smaller the floats can be.
- Deck. This part is created to accommodate passengers, luggage and other things that will be transported by water.
- Steering wheel. The rudder function of any watercraft is performed by an underwater blade, which is installed parallel to the movement for direct movement, and is bent in one direction or another with the help of a rotary handle brought to the deck to turn.
- Oars, pedals, motor or any other device that sets the catamaran in motion.
Vessel size calculation
The diameter of the floats, as well as the width and length of the vessel, depend primarily on where and how it will be operated. The larger the crew is supposed to be and the more cargo will be transported, the larger the size of the craft and the diameter of the floats should be.
It is possible to increase the carrying capacity of the vessel by increasing the cross section of the cylinders or their length. The decisive factor in this situation is the volume of air inside the cylinders.
Optimal parameters for calculating floats, based on the crew and carrying capacity are as follows:
- a single catamaran should have a length of 2-3 meters with a cylinder cross-section of 0.3-0.4 meters;
- for the manufacture of a double vessel, cylinders 3.5-4 meters long with a diameter of 0.45-0.5 meters are used;
- three and four-seater boats have a length of up to 6 meters with a float diameter of 0.5-0.6 meters.
A catamaran with a length of more than 6 meters is not recommended, since it will lose its maneuverability almost completely. Although, if you are going to swim mainly in a straight line, there are no restrictions on the size of such a “boat”.
The larger the size of the vessel, the greater its maneuverability and stability, but less maneuverability. This applies to both its length and width.
The width of the catamaran, first of all, is determined by its purpose and the method of actuation. If you are building a catamaran for river rafting using the kayak principle, its width should not exceed 1.2 meters. Otherwise, the capture of water by oars becomes impossible. If it is planned to board rowers on cylinders, the width of the vessel can be increased up to 2 meters.
If the catamaran will be fishing or recreational and it is planned to be equipped with a sail, motor or blades with pedals, its width can be increased even more.
The width of the catamaran must be at least one and a half times less than its length.
Manufacturing procedure
To make a catamaran with your own hands, you need to decide on its purpose and, based on from this, calculate the dimensions. We will consider two options for the vessel: the simplest single-seater and a tourist raft based on a catamaran.
Single catamaran
We begin the manufacture of the simplest single-seat catamaran with the manufacture of floats. We take two pipes of the same diameter and length (based on the calculations above, we need plastic pipes for external sewerage with a diameter of 0.4 meters and a length of 2 meters). We fasten on one side of both pipes. This will be the back of the catamaran.
The front part, for greater patency and maneuverability, needs to be raised. To do this, we use two plastic knees with a bend of 120 degrees. We fasten them to the second end of the pipes and also close them with plugs.
When assembling cylinders, pay special attention to the tightness of the joints. The slightest depressurization can lead to the sinking of the ship in the water.
The floats are ready. You can start assembling.
To connect the floats into one "whole" catamaran, you can use anything. Suitable plastic pipes of small diameter, wooden bars, metal corners and more.
- We make cross-beams 1.2 meters wide from the material of your choice.
- We install the cylinders strictly parallel to each other so that the bends look up and in the same direction.
- We fix cross bars over the balloons. For fastening, both clamps and self-tapping screws can be used, with which the transverse strips can be screwed to the floats for greater strength.
- We install any comfortable seat on the transverse beams, take the oars in our hands and row where we want.
Do-it-yourself single-seat catamaran made of plastic pipes (video)
tourist raft
The basic principles for the manufacture of these two boats with their own hands do not have much difference. The only difference is that the pleasure raft will obviously not be designed for one person. And even better, if it also fits a load in the form of provisions, an umbrella from the sun, clothing, dishes and other things.
- We make floats in the above way. But you should take a pipe with a diameter of 500-600 mm and a length of 6 meters. This will make it possible to make a stable and passable vessel, on which you can take a nap without worrying about the life of the crew.
- We make a solid frame measuring 6 * 2 meters. Since the frame must not only hold the cylinders in the correct position, but also serve as a platform for the deck, it is better to make it from metal corners.
- Clamps are tightened onto the pipes from which the floats are made, to which, in turn, the frame is attached with bolts.
- On the frame, flooring is made of boards.
This design allows you to install any propulsion device on the catamaran, from pedal-driven blades to gasoline engines.
In addition, such a platform allows you to fully sunbathe in the sun, catch fish, in general, have fun and fruitfully relax in a narrow circle of best friends.
Summer is coming and so is swimming season. It would be nice to make a simple boat using plastic pipes. It will take approximately one month to create such a boat, and a school swimming pool is suitable for testing it.
Step 1. Required materials
For boat:
plastic pipes (PVC) - 122.5 cm
plastic pipes (PVC) - 401.3 cm
wooden board - 1 × 0.5 m
plastic clips - 50 pcs.
adhesive tape - 2 rolls
foam block - 2 pcs.
foam rubber - 30 × 30 cm - 2 pcs.
nylon thread
chair - 1 pc.
For supports (optional)
wooden slats - 122 cm × 5 cm
bottles (for water) - 4 pcs.
Super glue
screws (for drywall) - 8 pcs.
For oars
aluminum pipe - 225 cm
acrylic sheet - 40×40 cm
bolts, nuts, washers - any size, 4 pcs.
Manufacturing instructions:
Step 2. Boat frame
For the frame of the boat, it is necessary to cut the plastic pipes into 4 parts: (for the upper part) 2 × 2.5 m, (for the lower part) 2 × 2.7 m. These parts are the supporting frame of the boat. Each pipe must be cut at a 45 degree angle.
For the support part of the frame, you need to cut 1.3 cm of plastic pipe into 2 × 70 cm, 2 × 60 cm, 4 × 35 cm, 2 × 40 cm. The photo shows how to cut the support pipes on each side to secure them.
For the manufacture of the frame, it is necessary to connect the ends of two cut pipes of 2.5 m each with adhesive tape. They are fastened tightly "face to face" so that the boat does not break and drown. You can also use epoxy glue to better hold the frame parts together.
It is necessary to drill holes in the top and bottom of the frame, and then connect them with copper wire.
Frame support tubes need to be added.
Step 3: Attaching the Chair and Foam
The wooden board must be fixed to the bottom of the support frame using plastic ties. To do this, it is necessary to drill several holes in it. Also, several holes must be drilled through the chair and boards, and the chair must be fixed to the frame with zip ties.
Step 4. Sheathing the frame
In order to cover the frame with a plastic awning, it is important to first make sure that it does not let water through. To begin with, the kayak is turned over, and then covered with a tarpaulin diagonally, all the extra, protruding parts are laid inside the boat.
The tarpaulin is fixed with tapes on both sides and fastened with plastic clips to the frame. If the casing is with rings, then they can also be fixed to the frame; for this, holes must be made on the frame.
To avoid unnecessary resistance during swimming, it is important to straighten the folds of the skin as much as possible.
The foam at the bottom is added after fixing the skin, but carefully so as not to spoil it.
Step 5. Making the oar
To make an oar, you need 2 meters of aluminum pipe, in which 2 holes are drilled from both ends, at a distance of 10 cm from each other. Cut out 2 pieces of acrylic measuring 20x40 cm and round off the edges.
Acrylic is fixed with nuts, bolts and washers, having previously drilled the appropriate holes on the pipe and plate. It is necessary to carefully and carefully tighten the nuts on the plate, because. acrylic may crack.
Step 6. Attaching the remote buoys
If the boat is unstable on the water, you can attach 2 bottles to the outriggers on each side. You can limit yourself to one side, also effectively.
A do-it-yourself PVC pipe boat is a simple design. Its manufacture will cost quite inexpensively, but you can get a lot of pleasure in the summer swimming season. You can make such a structure from plastic materials on your own. It's not a difficult job.
PVC pipe is the most convenient option for designing products with your own hands. These products are perfectly fastened with glue or soldering.
Even when the boat is damaged during use, there is no need to be upset. Such a repair on your own will not be difficult. Using the same glue, they simply patch the damaged area.
To the above, it must be added that the construction of such a boat with your own hands is a very interesting job.
It's a good idea to first make patterns of reduced sizes, and glue such a design from ordinary plastic bags. With such work, you can “feel” the material, which means that working with full-scale dimensions will be much easier.
After working out the patterns, they are proportionally increased. Masters advise to check the compatibility of the blanks by completing the design in natural dimensions from polyethylene.
This, of course, will take extra time, but it's worth it. If any errors are made in the calculations, then this will be clear at the initial stage, and you will not have to spoil expensive materials.
Boat made of plastic pipes
A home-made boat made of PVC pipes confidently occupies a leading position among do-it-yourself crafts made from this material.
The home craftsman can turn the most ordinary plumbing blank into an original water craft on his own.
Work sequence:
- Frame. PVC blanks, with a volume of at least 2.7 cm, are cut into four parts. Two two meters and a half each (for the upper part), and two with dimensions of 2.7 m (for the lower part). These pipes will serve as the supporting part of the structure.
- Each end of these blanks should be cut at an angle of 45 degrees.
- Next, cuts are prepared slightly smaller with the following dimensions: 2 by 0.7 m, two by 0.6 m, two by 0.4 m and two by 0.35 m. These parts become supports for the boat frame.
- The support pipes are attached to the frame. The ends of the blanks must be fastened tightly, otherwise everything will fall apart and go to the bottom. For fastening, you can use adhesive tape or epoxy glue. For reliability, you can drill holes in the tubes with a drill and fix the structure with copper wire.
- A wooden board with holes is prepared and fixed on the bottom of the support frame. Plastic ties are used for fastening. The chair is attached to this board with the same fasteners.
- After that, the frame is covered with a tarpaulin. It must be waterproof. It is laid diagonally, and all protruding places are wrapped in the inside. The tarpaulin is attached to the frame with plastic clips. If there are rings on the tarpaulin, then you can attach it to the frame after holes are made in it for this. All folds must be stretched as much as possible. This will prevent unnecessary resistance while moving through the water.
Keel
The keel made of a PVC pipe for a boat is used to endow the watercraft with increased stability. Most often, the keel is on options using an outboard boat engine.
The keel is installed so that its working part is in the bow area of the floating aid. From amidships to the stern, the keel goes to "no".
Another advantage of installing a keel is that it partially raises the bow of the structure. And this, in turn, prevents splashes from entering the boat during a large wave.
Keel making
A homemade keel for a boat made of plastic pipe is simple. All the material that goes into work is durable, light weight and low cost. For a punt, such a keel is ideal.
After detailed development and verification of the drawing, you can begin practical work to create a framework. You can fix the frame with the methods already proposed above, or you can use a soldering iron for plastic products to work.
Working with such tools is not difficult. Even a person who has no experience in this field can cope with these works. .
Buying for a one-time job in order to weld the frame, this tool is not recommended, justifying this with economic unprofitability.
It is better to use a rented device for attaching a frame made of plastic pipes. This service is offered by shops that sell soldering irons.
A frame made of blanks soldered with a soldering iron will last a long time. In addition, each joint of the frame will be characterized by high strength. So with your own hands you can make a very durable structure.
Buying such an awning is not a pleasure cheap, so many fishermen equip their "submarines" with awnings, which are produced with your own hands And.
The simplest design is an awning, which is mounted on a frame mounted on racks. All this can be done from PVC pipes.
The work is done as follows: a tarpaulin or PVC fabric is fixed to the frame at the end. PVC pipes are a lightweight material that won't become bulky.
At the same time, they are strong enough, and the frame will not break in case of accidental engagement with branches or shrubs hanging over the water.
The design of a do-it-yourself PVC tube tent can be very different, it all depends on the size and shape of the product, and on personal preferences.
A boat made of PVC pipes with your own hands will become unique if you decorate it additionally. Many people pay special attention to this moment, for example, they paint with acrylics, sheathe with painted plywood sheets, and more.
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