Dragon Boat Craft Materials and Instructions
Here is a detailed list of supplies, materials and instructions for creating your Vietnamese Dragon Boat model.
You may want to read about the Dragon Boat Race craft, before beginning. After you create your Dragonboat, you can start the Dragonboat Races.
Dragon Boat Craft Organizational Tips
Always have enought materials and kits for at least two extra campers.
Place all the materials for this craft in a box with the craft name on the outside.
You can then bring the box to camp and know where everything is.
Dragon Boat Materials
1
Cub Scout Derby Raingutter Regatta kit for each camper
1 Regatta Conversion kit for each camper
(Both kits are available at the Boy Scouts of America Retail store online)
Dragon head and tail patterns (included in this article)
Newspaper
Toothpicks
Pencil for each camper
Pen for each camper
Ruler for each camper
5 ½ x 4 ½ piece of fine grade sandpaper for each camper
2-3 thick and small rubberbands for each camper to use as clamps
One large white Styrofoam plate for each camper
One large paper or Styrofoam plate for each camper
Scissors for each camper
Glossy acrylic enamel paint - red, blue, green yellow, white, black - check
drying times and find paint that dries in 1 hour as time is a factor.
1 larger paint brush and one smaller finer paint brush for each camper
Glue - We used Wood glue and Epoxy glue, but we completed this craft over a
four day time period. You need to check the drying times for your glue. Titebond
Wood Glues bond in 30-60 minutes and can be used for the wood to wood bond and
for the Styrofoam to wood bond.
Zip lock baggie for each camper
Masking tape
NOTE: See additional materials list and time required for the actual race
Instructions for the Dragon Boat Craft
SESSION 1 (45 minutes)
DISCUSSION (15 minutes)
Begin session by showing pictures of Dragon Boat races in Vietnam and discussing
when and how they are held.
CRAFT ( 30 minutes)
1. Open the box of Raingutter Regatta Kit. Dispose of sail and mast piece. Place
rudder and keel pieces in zip lock bag. Write camper's name on piece of masking
tape and put tape on zip lock bag.
2. Lay the boat on table. With the pencil LIGHTLY draw a line down the middle
of the boat from the bow (front) to the center of the stern (back .(See instructions
in kit) This will be the bottom of the boat
3. On the bottom of the boat (the hull) Measure 1 ½ inches along the
line from the hole towards the stern (back of the boat). Press the pencil in
very hard to form a 1 ½ inch long goove for the keel to fit in. ( See
instructions in kit)
4. Measure ¾ of an inch from end of keel groove along the middle line.
Then make deep line from the end of it backwards another ¾ inch. Press
very hard on second ¾ inch line to form groove for rudder to fit in.
( See instructions in kit)
5. Turn the boat over to what will be the top of the boat. Measure 1 inch from
the bow (front) back. Press very hard to make a groove for the dragon head.
6. On the top of the boat, measure 1 inch from the middle of the back (stern)
forward. Press very hard to make a groove for the tail to fit in.
7. Sand the hull of the boat. Sand the bow (front) so that the bottom curves
upwards. Sand the back to that it forms more of a point in the back.
8. Open the Regatta Conversion Kit. Place the rubber band, the propeller assembly,
and the propeller hook in the zip lock bag with camper's name.
9. Sand the wood block cabin (See example and instructions in conversion kit)
10. Using the wood glue, glue the cabin on the top of the boat. Position it
behind the hole.
11. Using the wood glue, glue the motor stick to the bottom of the boat. Face
the boat with the front away from you. The motorstick should be positioned just
to the right of the middle line so that the grooves for the keel and rudder
are to the left of the motor stick. BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET GLUE IN THE KEEL AND
RUDDER GROOVES.
12. Place a small thick rubberband, around the cabin and the motor stick, clamping
them so that they dry in place. (See example) Place boat on a paper plate with
camper's name on it.
13. Trace the dragon head on one side of Styrofoam paper plate. Pen works better
than pencil to trace on Styrofoam. Trace the tail on the paper plate also. (See
example)
14. Cut out head and tail.
15. Using Epoxy Glue , (follow instructions on glue package for mixing it) or
Titebond Wood Glues glue the head and tail into the appropriate grooves on the
top of the boat.
16. Place boat back on paper plate with camper's name on it and allow boat to
dry for time stated on glue package. Titebond Wood Glues dry in approximately
one hour.
SESSION 2 (20 minutes)
1. Lay newspaper on the table.
2. Paint the boats using the large paint brushes and the glossy acrylic enamel
paint. BE CAREFUL NOT TO PAINT THE KEEL AND RUDDER GROOVES.
3. Lay boats back on paper plate with camper's name and allow boat to dry for
time specified on paint label. (If you can, find paint that dries in an hour).
Because we did this craft over a period of four days, we had time to give the
boats a second coat of paint.
SESSION 3 (30 minutes)
1. Lay newspaper on the table
2. Using the smaller paint brushes and /or a toothpick as a brush, paint the
face and tail details on the dragon head and tail
3. Paint decoration on the boat
4. Paint name on boat
5. Put number on boat if desired. (Numbers come with the kits)
Lay boats back on paper plate with camper's name and allow boat to dry for time specified on paint label. (If you can, find paint that dries in an hour)
SESSION 4 (15 minutes)
1. Lay newspaper on the table
2. Check the keel and rudder grooves to be sure they are still deep. If they
have glue or paint in them, make them deep again using edge of scissors or a
knife or any metal object.
3. Using the Epoxy Glue (Follow instructions on glue package for mixing Epoxy)
or Titebond Wood Glue, glue the rudder and keel to the bottom of the boat. Place
boat back on paper plate with camper's name on it and allow glue to dry.
Note: To display boats, place each one in a heavy paper or plastic cup. The cup should be a regular size cup. Position so that the cup rim is between the keel and rudder. The boat will be upright.
