Cork Sailboats

If you are looking for a unique summer activity to do with your kids, you came to the right place! Building cork sailboats doubles as a STEM activity and a craft. Additionally, it offers many hours of playtime!

We are always looking for fun activities to do on our lake trips. Especially a fun activity that we can use in the water.

Our kids absolutely loved creating their own boats, and playing with them! It is also pretty simple to put together.

We brought the stuff to build our own cork sailboats on our family trip to Lake Powell. One afternoon, we set up a craft table on the houseboat. We spread the materials on the table and instructed our kids.

After showing them the process, we turned them loose. They were able (with help for some) to build their very own boats! This was the perfect craft for our trip.

Our kids thought sailing their boats was the best. They had races in the lake and built rivers for them on the shore. The sailboats were played with for the rest of the week. We only wished we made them earlier!

So, what do you need for these cork sailboats? The list is short and you can get all of it on Amazon or at your local craft store.

• Corks
• Foam Sticker Sheets
• Rubber Bands
• Craft Dowel

The assembly of these cork sailboats is quick and simple enough that our kids could do it by themselves.

First, you will want to cut your foam sheets into 4 x 6-sized rectangles. It doesn’t have to be exact, You want it big enough to fold in half, but small enough that the sail doesn’t outweigh your boat.

Next, line up your corks. We used 3 corks per boat. Strap your corks together using rubber bands on each side.

In the center cork, add the dowel. We were able to twist the dowel into place but you may need to make a small hole in your cork first. You want your dowel to be deep enough into the cork that it won’t come out easily. But you also don’t want it to go all the way through.

Next, you are going to fold your foam sticker over the top of the dowel. We covered the top of the dowel completely. Make sure you match the sides up completely.

There you have it! cork sailboats. This easy craft will entertain your kids for hours! You can play with them in a tub full of water, a water table, or even a bucket. Float them in the lake like we did or even build a river for them in your sandbox. Whatever you choose to use these boats for, they are perfect!

If you are looking for other lake activities, check out our sand art tutorial or our pirate treasure hunt!

Want something more educational? Check out our Over and Under the Canyon Book Club.