How to Build Your Own Foldable Boat

Design your folding boat. For the sake of simplicity, use a basic rowboat design. Ensure your design is waterproof and includes a spot to brace the oars when rowing. If this is the first folding boat you've designed, keep it small. Make the boat five feet in length. Remember to plan exactly where you want your boat to fold so you know where to place the hinges and latches. In most cases, you'll want to use hinges and latches wherever you join wood to wood to facilitate folding, though there will be some places where screws and glue will be a better idea, such as on the keel. Don't worry about water seeping in around the hinges. The canvas, which is the only part of the boat that will have any contact with water, will take care of any waterproofing.

Using the 1x1s and plywood, begin constructing the frame of your folding boat. Start with the keel by using plywood to construct something suitably strong according to your design. Consider using a glue-up with your plywood for added strength. The exact design of the keel will depend on the plans you've drawn up.

Place several 1x1s as braces parallel to the keel for added stability and strength. Attach these to the keel using hinges and latches so that they can be folded when the boat is in storage but latched in place when the boat is in use. The latches should be the best quality you can afford for safety and strength. Consult your design for exact placement of the braces.

Continue constructing the frame of your boat according to your design. You will do this using 1x1s, plywood, hinges, latches and waterproof wood glue. When you use the wood glue, make sure you clamp the pieces together and allow to dry according to the manufacturer's directions before exposing the glue to water. This is a good time to reevaluate your design, if necessary. You want the boat to fold small enough to store easily, but still have the structural integrity to keep you safe when you're on the water. Add as many braces as you feel necessary to make the boat as safe as possible, but remember to leave room for the seat and foot rest.

Add a seat and a foot rest, constructed out of single pieces of plywood, to the frame of your boat. These should be in approximately the middle of the boat to allow for easier rowing. Unless you've designed a folding seat and foot rest, these two pieces can usually be installed with screws instead of hinges. Just make sure that you screw the seat and foot rest into a location with enough bracing to support your weight. Add additional bracing if necessary. At the same time add the braces for oars. When finished, invert the frame so that the bottom of the boat is facing upwards.

Using the sailboat canvas, create a fabric skin for your boat. The skin will need to be of a single piece, so make sure your canvas is large enough. Secure the canvas to one long side of the boat. The easiest way to do this is to add grommets on one side of the fabric and secure some strong hooks to the frame of your boat. Simply hook the grommets onto the fabric.

Stretch the fabric over the boat and pull tight. Make it as tight as possible. Have a friend mark exactly where the grommets should be installed. Install the grommets and hooks and strech the fabric over the boat once more. Secure it in place by hooking the grommets over the hook.

Repeat this process for the front and rear of the boat. You will likely find that you have to gather the canvas in certain areas. You can use a needle and thread designed for sailboat canvas to do this.

Waterproof the canvas. You can do this by removing it from the frame and using a paintbrush to apply a coat of hot wax to both sides of the canvas. Work this wax into the fabric and allow to dry completely. Once dry, place the canvas back on the frame of the boat.

Before using your boat, test it in shallow body of water. Add weight approximately equal to your own to the seat and foot rest and check for any leaks. Repair the leaks or adjust the design to compensate for any problems. If there are no leaks, remove the weights and get in the boat yourself. Stay near the shore until you are certain that the boat is safe.

When finished, you may disassemble, fold, and store your boat. Do this by removing the canvas and folding it and the frame. The exact size of the folded boat will depend on the size of the assembled boat and how many hinges you've used.