Ed Sobey - The Motorboat Book: Build & Launch 20 Jet Boats, Paddle-Wheelers, Electric Submarines & More

Copyright 2013 by Ed Sobey
All rights reserved
First edition
Published by Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
814 North Franklin Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
ISBN 978-1-61374-447-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sobey, Edwin J. C., 1948

The motorboat book : build & launch 20 jet boats, paddle-wheelers, electric submarines & more / Ed Sobey. First edition.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-61374-447-5

1. Ship modelsJuvenile literature. 2. MotorboatsJuvenile literature. 3. HandicraftJuvenile literature. I. Title.

VM298.S63 2013

623.8201044dc23

2012046326

Cover design: Andrew Brozyna, AJB Design, Inc.

Interior design: Rattray Design

Printed in the United States of America

5 4 3 2 1

To Aunt Kay

J ohn Weigant suggested the baking soda model that he remembered from his youth. He related that he spent lots of time in his bathtub as a kid using up his mothers vinegar. John also helped with several experimental models. As always, John, thanks for your ideas.

Professor Alejandro Jenkins at Florida State University provided copies of his research papers on the subject of putt-putt boats. His work is shedding new light on the operation of these enigmatic and fun boats. Thank you, professor.

Thanks too to my wife, Barbara, for her suggestions on several projects and for not complaining about our house being cluttered with models, miscellaneous parts, and failed experiments.

Lastly, thanks go to the kids and teachers who applied their creativity and critical thinking skills to build some of the models shown here.

M essing around with boats is great fun and a wonderful way to learn. By making a model watercraft that really works, you can test your engineering talents and learn patienceand a wide variety of skills.

You will learn science and technology while enjoying the process of building and testing the boats, pumps, and other devices shown in this book. You will also learn the same way that inventors, scientists, and artists learn: by having creative ideas, making models of the ideas, and figuring out how to make the models work. It is the natural way to learnand the way that best engages people in the process of learning.

If you are a teacher or home school parent, you will find an incredible amount of solid, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) content and methods wrapped in the feathers of The Motorboat Book. Grab a copy of the STEM standards for your state or country and compare them to the list below. Building these projects leads to understanding of:

• Buoyancy and density
• Chemical reaction
• Design and systems
• Electric circuits
• Energy and energy transformations
• Forces and motion
• Gravity
• Hydraulics
• Investigations and experiments
• Measurement
• Motors
• Nature of matter
• Process of science and engineering investigations
• Solar energy
• Sound
• Use of tools and materials

You have to admit that this is an impressive list of learning topics. It is especially impressive when you consider that anyone making these models will be excited to continue the learning and wont ask, Is this on the test? As readers build models, they will develop skills in using tools and materials and will improve their self-confidence. Once skills and understanding have been achieved, people tend to use them. Builders will continue making things using the skills gained and learn new skills along the way.

Appendix B will tell you how to make connections between the science standards and the projects described in this book.