Pirate Ship

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The pirate ship uses the same hull, mast, rudder and sails as our Rainspout Sailboat. There are just more of these great little parts!!

You get two pieces of sail cloth. Yes, our boats use real sailcloth. The material is called tyvek. It has actually been used to make sails for smaller sailboats. Each piece of sail material has four holes so you can cut it into your four sails.

There is a full size sail pattern included with every 20 kits. Just have the kids trace the pattern on their sail and then cut it out.

You will get two masts. Your Ship will look like an old "Square Rigger". You could even cut one of the masts a little shorter than the other mast. The tall mast in front or the tall mast in back. Both ways work and look great.

Note: Just use some pliers to cut the masts.

Note: Use a pencil sharpener to sharpen one end of the mast. It will stay in the hull better that way.

We include enough two sided tape so the "ballast" can be added to the rudder. The kids supply their own 2 nickels for the ballast.

There is a "Pirate" sticker included with each Ship.

Shape the hull with some sandpaper.

The top left picture shows our shaping stick [a 1"x8" stick with #50 grit sandpaper]. It is perfect for shaping the hull, and they will last for many years.

Use felt tip pens to decorate.

Attach the toothpick for the bow spar.

You are ready to sail.

The Ships can be finished in as little as 30 minutes.

We recommend having the kids make the Ships the same day that they will be raced.

Many youth groups already have some raingutters to race boats in.

Check out "Square Lake Sailing". It works much better than two raingutters.

*Shaping stick & nickels are not included

BUILDING A PIRATE SHIP**

1. Cut out the cardboard pattern for the sail. Do not cut the center the curve on the pattern. Trace the pattern onto your sail. Use the top of the pattern to draw the center curve. This will make two sails from each piece of sail material.
2. Shape the hull with sandpaper. Our shaping sticks work very well for this.
3. Sharpen one end of the masts, a pencil sharpener works well.
4. Attach pirate sticker to one sail.
5. Attach a small piece two sided tape to both sides of the bottom of the rudder. Attach a nickel to both sides of the bottom of the rudder for ballast. This will keep the Ship from tipping over. A little clear "Scotch" tape around the nickels will help make the ballast more streamlined in the water and the tape will help keep the ballast in place.
6. Felt tip pens work well to decorate the Ship.
7. Use the toothpick for the bow spar.
8. Check out "Square Lake Sailing" on our website.

**An order of Pirate Ships will come with one of these instructions.

This is a suggested way of shaping your Ship.

A little contest!!  When ordering your Pirate Ships, we will include some extra stickers if you can identify what part of the sail is shown in the background of the top left  picture.