How can i power a boat without self powering it myself or using electric or gas.?

Question

the boat only has to be at the most 3 feet long and i cant use a sail.

Answer 1

put it in a river and only go down stream

Answer 2

bicycle attached to paddle wheels

Answer 3

have kids and give them oars

Answer 4

This group is for Newport sailboats. I assume you would rig a mast and a sail for your 3 foot wonder. You did not say it had to be efficient.

Answer 5

solar power, magnets?

Answer 6

sails

Answer 7

Figure some way out to use a big rubber band and wind it up and make it paddle it's self

Answer 8

throw a light dingy anchor with a light line attached as far as you can,then pull the line quickly,that way the boat will go further than 40ft

Answer 9

when i was kid i used to put tree sap on the end of twig and set in the water. as the sap (diffused) it propelled the twig foward.  I don't know if this can scaled up or not but its an idea.

Answer 10

I would attach something to the back of the boat and fill it with dissolving tablets, like alkaselzer.  It will thrust it, but I have no idea how you can steer it.

Animals could be used in theory, but may not be too humane.  A mouse wheel could work, where the mouse is in or on the boat, running on a wheel, that can be fixed to propel the boat.

Also, a net attached to the bottom of the boat, filled with some small fish may work.

Added: I like this question, and thought of 2 more.  I love how many other people don't really READ the question before they answer, and tell you to put kids on there with oars and put a sail on there, anyway:

1) use a (small) rocket: at a hobby store, you can find many different sized rockets.  This will definitely move the boat, just use an appropriate size, the owner will help you pick the right one.

2) A wind-up device.  Get something that winds up, like from a toy.  You'll have to figure out a way to attach a paddle wheel, but it should work just like a full-size paddle boat.

Answer 11

You could just take an anchor, throw it as far as you can, pull your self by it.. oh wait that would be self powering.. hmm.

Actually, the laws of physics mean that if you throw heavy objects from the stern it will move you forward, may be self powering too though..

hmm..

I like this question...

I have it! Catch a nice big striper, and have him pull you along.

or...  you could use compressed air?

or... the fishing rod, bone and dog...

I'm fresh out!

Answer 12

How about the Alkaseltzer method? A bottle with a hole in the cap filled 2/3 of the way up with water, then crush up a couple of alkaseltzer tabs and throw them in, cap it up and set it in the water.

Also, the same principle is diet coke and a couple of mentos, but this reaction is fast and short lived.