The Plastic Bin Boat

This tutorial will show you how to build a functional boat mostly out of recycled material that most people would call trash. But as you have probably heard, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." The most important material, the plastic barrels, were used by a car business for cleaning chemicals. You can find wood/pallets, almost anywhere, on the side of the road, thrown out by businesses such as, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, and many more. The screws, bolts, and sealant are very cheap and allows you to build an entire boat with a price total of under $10.

Supplies

WHAT YOU NEED

-Two large plastic barrels.

-One thrown out pallet.

-At least 32 bolts and screws. 16, 3 inch screws, and 16, 1 inch screws, and 28 bolts.

-One large tube of Marine sealant.

-Pool noodles.

-Metal Brackets.

-Milk Cartons

-PVC pipe, must fit the milk carton.

Tools

-Heat gun.

-Drill with screw attachment.

-Bolt tightener, or pliers.

-Screwdriver.

-Saw.

-Clamps.

Step 1: First Step - Cut the Barrels

Cut the Barrels in Half

- Having the barrels cut directly in half is very important. If they are not evenly cut then the boat will be uneven and when it floats it will be tilted in the water. I suggest using a marker to draw a line to cut along with the saw.

- After cut the edges will be uneven with many sharp edges that could cut you. To prevent this you can use sand paper to smooth out the edges.

Step 2: Second Step - Clamp the Barrels Together

After the barrels are cut in half, lay them down in a 2 times 2 formation. Then use 4 clamps to attach each barrel together. This will keep the boat together and make it easier to drill the peices together.

Step 3: Third Step - Drill Holes

- Next use a centimeter thick drill bit to make eight holes along the along the middle of the boat.

- Then in the semicircles in the middle of the boat, drill three holes through to the other side.

- Make sure that the drill goes all the way through to the other side each time. This makes it so the screw can go all the way through cleanly.

Step 4: Fourth Step - Screw and Bolt

- After drilling the holes screw each screw through.

- Then use drill to tighten the bolts on.

- Make sure it is tight as possible so they don't come loose.

Step 5: Fifth Step - Seal All Holes!

- This is one of the most important steps, sealing the boat.

- Use the sealant to cover the entire hole, including the bolt and screw on both sides.

- Make sure every hole is covered so the boat doesn't sink.

Step 6: Sixth Step - Drill the Wood On

- First off you will need to carefully detatch the three planks from the rest of the pallet.

- Then put a plank along the middle of the boat and carefully screw into the edge of the barrel. This is tricky so be very careful.

- Next drill the second plank onto the back of the boat, make sure that it is level with the top of the boat. You can use the clamps to hold the plank before screwing.

- Now with this plank place it on top of the other screwed onto the back, then screw it into the other plank so it is more secure.

- Finally cut off all screw tips that stick out. This prevents any injuries from happening.

Step 7: Seventh Step - Pool Noddles/ Insulation Tubes

- This is an optional step to make the boat more comfortable. These pool noodles will make the edges soft and give you a good armrest inside the boat.

- Cut down the middle of the pool noodle until you get to the hole in the middle.

- Then slide it onto the edge of the boat.

- You can also glue the pool noodle on but it is not needed.

- Using colored pool noodles will add pop and style to your boat.

Step 8: Eighth Step - Making the Paddles

- First slide the milk carton onto the PVC pipe, then use the heat gun to soften the milk carton.

- Then use your shoe or another object to flatten the milk carton.

- To finish it off use a bracket to tighten the carton on the pipe.

- You can also use duct tape to make a grip area for more efficient paddling.

Step 9: Finished Product

Now you have built a working boat with paddles. This is a stable boat that is great for fishing.

Step 10: Why Recycle?

WHY RECYCLE?

Now I will show you why you should recycle. This picture from, plasticoceans.org, shows how much plastic is thrown away, how many marine animals are killed by plastic, and how much plastic we get from food. It also tells us how much of that plastic gets recycled.

HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

First off you can start recycling yourself. tell your friends and family to recycle, But these are just standard. You can also participate in beach cleanups, normal plastic clean ups and more. More simple things you can do are, ride a bike instead of driving, be careful of water usage, unplug wires from wall when device is fully charged, and many more. Please help save our oceans.

Thank you for reading my instructable.

Credit: plasticoceans.org