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A few years ago, I stumbled upon a video of a man making a small boat from recycled plastic bottles. Intrigued but unable to find any detailed instructions, I decided to embark on this creative project myself. It’s a fun and eco-friendly way to repurpose those nuisance plastic bottles, and it sure turns a lot of heads on the lake! Plus, it’s entirely recyclable.

Here’s a video to get you inspired:

How to Make a Boat from Plastic Bottles

The boat I constructed resembles an open-topped kayak, approximately 3 x 7.5 feet and weighing around 50 lbs. Thanks to the tightly secured bottle caps, the boat stays afloat even if it takes on some water, making it somewhat self-bailing. It’s perfect for calm waters and remarkably sturdy, but I wouldn’t recommend testing it in rapids.

Step 1: Materials

You will need just three things:

Step 2: The Deck

The deck design looks like a simple flat-bottomed boat. Start by gluing bottles side by side in neat sections. Ensure you’re working in a well-ventilated area. I used a non-strongly scented adhesive, but safety first! A line of adhesive about 3/16” – 1/4″ wide works well. For the deck, you need 12 horizontal sections of these sizes:

Step 3: The Hull

Once these sections are glued, let the adhesive cure. While they cure, you can start the hull, which is slightly smaller than the first layer but assembled similarly. You need 11 horizontal sections for this second layer, sized as follows:

Step 4: Assembly

After curing, start gluing the sections end to end. Put a big glob of adhesive in the bottom of each bottle and press the caps of adjoining sections into it. Arrange the sections so that the smallest are at the ends and the largest sections are in the middle, creating an elliptical shape.

Keep bottle caps facing towards the ends of the boat until reaching the 6th section. From the 6th section onwards, glue the sections with caps facing the opposite end. This means the caps in the back half face the “stern” and in the front half face the “bow.” Allow this layer to cure.

Step 5: More Assembly

With the base layer cured, start gluing the second layer on top. Glue these bottles into the shallow “V” between bottles of the base layer. Offset each section of the second layer so they touch two sections of the base layer, forming a rudimentary hull shape.

Press these sections together using heavy books, weights, or patient family members and let them cure.

Step 6: The Seat

Now, make the seat. Construct a 2 x 11 section of bottles and glue it on top of the larger layer of bottles. Position it in the center or just behind center, based on your size. Note that this seat isn’t the most comfortable, so adding a foam cushion or towel is recommended.

Step 7: The Final Step!

Next, construct the gunwales, which are railings around the boat’s edge for carrying and reducing splashes. Glue two rows of bottles side by side around the edge of the largest layer, curving them to points at the bow and stern. Add one more row on top for added height and splash protection.

Step 8: Completion

Your boat is now ready for water! Using a kayak paddle works best. I once used a canoe paddle, but it’s trickier to steer. I weigh about 180 pounds, and the “deck” sits barely above water level. If you weigh more, consider adding a third layer for extra buoyancy. Remember, it’s more a fun bath toy than a serious vessel, so expect to get a little wet!

I hope this guide helps you build your very own boat from recycled bottles. Feel free to get creative with your design, perhaps a Viking longboat? Have fun and good luck!

A Note on Repair and Recycling

If a bottle gets damaged, it’s easy to replace. Cut it out carefully using a utility knife, peel off the old glue, and glue a new bottle in place. For recycling, disassemble the boat, remove the glue, and take the bottles to your local recycling facility. A courteous gesture for the workers and necessary for proper recycling.