Sink or Sail

Boats have been around for thousands of years and there are many different models of ships and boats within the Museum's collection. They come in all different shapes and sizes and each design element makes a ship suited to a different purpose. That might be to be the fastest ship, like the Cutty Sark was designed to be, or to hold huge cargos of grain, coal or shipping containers. 

In this activity you will need to be creative and clever to create a ship using household materials that holds as much weight as possible, without sinking! Challenge someone else to give it a go too and see which cargo ship will beat the sink or sail challenge. 

Find out more about cargo vessels

Find out more about the 'Albatross' cargo ship

(Source of a red and black cargo ship Image)

Who can make the strongest cargo boat out of foil?

You will need:

-Tin foil

-Scissors

-Ruler

-Pen

-Selection of coins

(Source of foil ruler pen scissors and coins picture)

Step 1

Measure out a 20 cm square of kitchen foil.

 

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Step 2

Cut out your square and enough for each member of the challenge.

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Step 3

Each person can fashion their square of foil in to a simple cargo boat and give it a name.

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Step 4

Assemble your boats and see the difference in design.

Now it's time to test out whose boat can carry the most coins.

 

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Step 5

Run about 10cm of water into the bottom of your bath or sink and float your boats.

Slowly add coins one by one to each boat. Think about how and where you put the coins.

The aim is to carry as many as possible.

 

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Step 6

You will know when you have got your maximum number of coins as one more will make your boat sink!

Rescue your boat and cargo and count up your cargo.

The boat who carried the most wins!

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Congratulations!

If you enjoyed the sink or sail challenge, why not share a picture of your cargo ship with us on social media!