How can you make the heaviest boat using wood?

Question

Our challenge is to make the heaviest boat using wood that floats. the boat cannot be larger than 20(L)x8(W)x17(h) so what kinds of designs will make it float?

Answer 1

I'd suggest that you get hold of Bruce Roberts

www.bruce-roberts.com

Answer 2

find the heaviest wood available build a 20x8x17 rectangle and voila.iron wood would probably float if it was dry.or even an eigt foot circle x 17 inches floats due to displacement.if you need to add weight water-log the wood.dont use glue...........post your decision.I m curious as to your plans

Answer 3

If you did not stipulate the wood must float and the objective is to make the heaviest possible craft; I would suggest using Iron Wood.  Problem is it doesn't float.  There are several varieties.  This site will tell is in Australia. http://www.ironwood.com.au/setup.htm  The most common iron wood in Singapore and Malaysia is called Changi.  Changi, as in the Airport, got it's name from the huge Changi tree located there, http://news.webshots.com/photo/127117930...  It was cut down in the early part of the war so it wouldn't be used as an artillery reference by the Japanese.

If your objective is to create a boat of those dimensions that can carry the greatest weight, then the objective is to create a barge of those dimension of the lightest wood available.  I would suggest plywood on pine frames.

Good Luck

Answer 4

As long as its draught displaces more weight of water than the weight of the wood it will float so you need to make as big a displacement within the constraints you have. A mathematician might argue but if you make a barge shape - a box 20x8x17 - it will displace maximum water and so you can make it as heavy as the water it displaces (less however much freeboard you want). You don't give units so I can't work out how heavy it could be.

Answer 5

Well since wood (apart from iron wood apparently' is less dense than water, it floats, naturally. So you don't need to worry about displacement per se. Think about it a solid mass of wood of any shape and size will float!

So you just want to use a high density wood and build a boat of whatever shape and size you wish, with a very thick hull to add weight. length and width both add similar weight when increased so the shape should be of a normal distribution.

Though it would be extremely expensive and rather pointless, if you want to suceed in your challenge your optimal weight could be achieved with the equivalent of a log (obviously not an actual log, just that shape) with the top cut of and slightly hollowed for a cockpit, and shaped at either end. For optimal weight your transom should be flat and your bow should taper as quickly as possible and be vertical rather than sloped.

Hope that helps.

Oh and the iron wood, if feasible would obviously be ideal but would require a larger cockpit to displace more water with less weight. I would start with a smaller cockpit and enlarge it after testing flotation. If you have knowledge of the appropriate formulae this may be unnecessary.

Edit- the log is a crude example, you would want to elongate the draft of the boat and add a keel where possible dependent on power type in order to add stability.