Ayrton Oneill
Balloon boats are a fun craft project for kids and adults alike. They are simple to make, requiring only a few household items such as a balloon, a straw or plastic tube, a boat-shaped container, and some blu tack or plasticine. The balloon is threaded through a hole in the boat and secured with blu tack or plasticine, then blown up and released, propelling the boat forward with the force of the escaping air.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Propulsion | Air from a balloon |
| Air release | Through a straw or tube |
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What You'll Learn
How to make a balloon boat
To make a balloon boat, you will need a balloon, a straw or plastic tube, a boat (made from a recycled mushroom container or similar), a hole punch, blu tack or Plasticine, and a sponge.
First, use a hole punch to make a hole in one of the short sides of the boat. Thread the straw or plastic tube through the hole, with the balloon end on the inside. Secure the straw on each side with blu tack or Plasticine to make it watertight. Blow up the balloon through the straw, then kink or put your finger over the end so the air doesn't escape.
When you release the boat into the water, position the straw or tube towards the rear of the boat so that it doesn't start jetting off sideways. The pressure of the sponge will pinch the balloon so it doesn't release the air too quickly, and the boat should power along by itself using its own balloon motor.
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How to blow up a balloon boat
To blow up a balloon boat, you'll need a balloon, a straw or plastic tube, a boat (you can use a recycled mushroom container or something similar), a hole punch, and some blu tack or Plasticine.
First, use the hole punch to make a hole in one of the short sides of the boat. Thread the straw or plastic tube through the hole, with the balloon end on the inside of the boat. Secure the straw or tube on each side with blu tack or Plasticine to make it watertight.
Now, blow up the balloon through the straw or tube, then quickly cover the end of the straw or tube with your finger or kink it to prevent the air from escaping.
Your balloon boat is now ready to be set into a body of water, such as a sink, bathtub, or swimming pool. Angle the straw or tube towards the back of the boat and let go. The pressure of the water will pinch the balloon, preventing the air from escaping too quickly, and the boat will power along by itself using its balloon motor.
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How to set a balloon boat into water
To set a balloon boat into water, you first need to make sure your balloon is securely attached to your boat. Thread the straw through the hole in your boat, with the balloon end on the inside, and use blu tack or Plasticine to secure the straw on each side so it is watertight. You could also rubber band the balloon into place. Blow the balloon up through the straw, then kink or put your finger over the end so the air doesn't escape.
Next, place the boat into a body of water. This could be anything from a sink to a bathtub to a swimming pool. Position the straw towards the rear of the boat so that it doesn't start jetting off sideways. Keep your finger over the straw; you're not ready to release the boat just yet! Angle the straw back and let go. The pressure of the sponge will pinch the balloon so it doesn't release the air too quickly and your boat should now power along by itself using its own balloon motor.
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How to angle a balloon boat
To angle a balloon boat, you need to position the plastic tube or straw towards the rear of the boat. This will prevent the boat from jetting off sideways. You can do this by holding the balloon boat steady with one hand and angling the tube towards the back of the boat with the other. You can also use blu tack or Plasticine to secure the straw on each side of the boat so that it is watertight.
To make a balloon boat, you need a balloon, a straw or plastic tube, a boat made from a recycled container, and blu tack or Plasticine. First, blow up the balloon through the straw or tube, then quickly cover the end of the straw or tube with your finger or kink the straw to prevent the air from escaping. Next, thread the straw through the hole in the boat, making sure the balloon end is on the inside. Secure the straw on each side with blu tack or Plasticine to make it watertight. Finally, set the boat into a body of water and angle the tube towards the back of the boat to prevent it from jetting off sideways.
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How to secure a balloon to a boat
To secure a balloon to a boat, you will need a balloon, a straw or plastic tube, and blu tack or plasticine. You may also want to use a rubber band.
First, blow up the balloon. Hold the balloon firmly by the tail and tube. Blow into the balloon through the tube, then quickly cover the opening of the tube with your finger. Keep holding the tail end of the balloon.
Next, thread the straw or tube through the hole in the boat, making sure the balloon end is on the inside. Secure the straw or tube on each side with blu tack or plasticine. You could also use a rubber band to secure the balloon in place.
Now your boat is ready to go! When you release it into the water, position the straw or tube towards the rear of the boat so that it doesn't start jetting off sideways. The pressure of the water will pinch the balloon so it doesn't release the air too quickly, and your boat should power along by itself using its own balloon motor.
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Frequently asked questions
The balloon is blown up and attached to the boat. The boat is then placed in water and the balloon is released, propelling the boat forward.
You can blow the balloon up yourself or use a straw to blow it up.
You can use a straw or a plastic tube to attach the balloon to the boat. The straw or tube is threaded through a hole in the boat and the balloon is secured on the inside.
Any type of boat will work as long as it is watertight and has a hole for the straw or tube to go through.
If the balloon pops, the boat will no longer be propelled forward and will stop moving.
