How Buoyant Is a Plastic Bottle Kayak?

Overview

Objectives/Goals Problem - Safebottles.co.nz has reported that more than 100 million plastic water bottles end up in landfills and waterways worldwide each day # that is approximately 1500 every second. There is a need to find ways to reuse these bottles. (http://www.safebottles.co.nz/News/Plastics+and+the+Environment.html ). Objective/goal # My object was to determine is plastic bottles would be buoyant enough to be reused for the construction of a kayak. Methods/Materials Methods - researched plastic bottles and the effects on our environment; researched plastic bottle boat and kayak designs; calculated Archimedes Principle; determine which bottles to use; collected materials; designed and built initial prototype for the kayak construction; tested and modified design; final test with person in the boat Materials - Scale, tub with overflow valve, fresh water, measuring cup, 1# weight, calculator , plastic bottles, glue, caulk, tape, scissors, rope, camera, lifejacket, paddle, wetsuit, bathing suit Results The experiment was a success. It produced a kayak that was water tight, floated, and could bear the weight of the experimenter. There was a need to adjust the design three times and there is still room for improvement. Conclusions/Discussion Conclusions/discussion - One 24-ounce empty plastic bottle can support 16 ounces or 1 pound of person weight; the lightweight boat was comfortable and sea worthy for a person weighing 100 pounds or less using the 60% rule (www.sansa.org.sa/content/buoyancy-small-vessels); the stern of the boat needs to be expanded to increase stability and change the center of gravity; consider a second row of bottles under the deck or around the gunwales, or redesign the keel and stabilizers to increase stability; the lightweight boat was comfortable and sea worthy for a person weighing 100 pounds or less; the stern of the boat needs to be expanded to increase stability and change the center of gravity; consider a second row of bottles under the deck or around the gunwales, or redesign the keel and stabilizers to increase stability Recommendations - Although the project was a success, there is a need to adjust the design and construction of the boat.

Competition history

• CSEF 2013 Aerodynamics/ Hydrodynamics (Junior Division Only) · Entry J0128

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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