boating related science fair ideas

[bassboy1]

I have been chosen to participate in the district science fair. I love boating/fishing and would like to do something with that.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: boating related science fair ideas

Well, what age group is it geared towards?

A few suggestions:

Trim tabs and how they change the boat's ride in water

Loading a boat and how it affects handling

A demostration of what planer boards do for trolling

Water safety would be fun..... Use the Bondo suggestion and let people figure out (by demonstration) how much weight will a 2 liter bottle support, how much will a sealed 1 gallon milk jug support..... etc.

Me bing the sick twisted person I am would demonstrate how to fish with dynomite!!!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: boating related science fair ideas

if you have time, my son and it made some model boats, vhull, jon, tri hull. all weighed the same, using the same rc motor. show the difference in preformance of the different hulls. this was 18 years ago. you could also do as Bob suggested loading one hull in different ways. heavy to one side. stearn heavy, bow heavy. etc.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: boating related science fair ideas

if you have time, my son and it made some model boats, vhull, jon, tri hull. all weighed the same, using the same rc motor. show the difference in preformance of the different hulls. this was 18 years ago. you could also do as Bob suggested loading one hull in different ways. heavy to one side. stearn heavy, bow heavy. etc.

Ya know, Thats exactly what I was thinking. Now that I have a second opinion on it, I might just have to do it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: boating related science fair ideas

if you could get a dealer to sponsor you, it would be interesting to see what different props, do to the performance of and boat also. it would have to be sponsored, as the cost of props would be out of site. just for info how old are you. i'm all for supporting younger boaters. there's Ferrari Man in the north west who loves to mess with 2 stroke outboards, and bacon biscuit, who is just getting his feet wet in boating in central FL. i've always had a boat of one kind or the other. since 14y/o.

 

[xtraham]

Re: boating related science fair ideas

you could also explain and exhibit displacement.......
make a boat from tin foil and and put some weight in it (like pennies) it will float......
take the same foil boat make it long and narrow or tall and skinny add the same weight and it will sink......

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: boating related science fair ideas

back in the day when I was in school I did a similar project on inflatable racing boats ..... was fun to do ....

 

[Frugal Floater]

Re: boating related science fair ideas

It would be interesting to sink a model boat and inject ping pong balls into the cuddy cabin to see how many it would take to get the boat to the surface. Myth Busters on Discovery channel did this and it worked...You could even use soda bottles to make it cheaper.

Energy consumption is always a hot topic...Maybe a solar powered or wind powered battery charger for a trolling motor. Or maybe while anchor is down, have a propellar in the water that turns tides into energy

Give students a given amount of supplies (rope, wood, etc) and see which team can hold you above water in their boat and then add weight to find the winner....Either way your getting wet.