Ken's Paper Boat Page

(Which is slowly morphing into Ken's 19th Century paper technology page)

Paper Boats? Is this for real?

This web page is devoted to an obscure subject in the history of technology: the manufacture of full size boats from paper during the later half of the 19th century. Not toy boats, but boats people could ride around in; racing shells, canoes and rowboats. There was even at least one steam launch built. This may seem like an extremely odd thing to be doing, but it made sense at the time. (Trust me!) If you read elsewhere on these pages you'll discover why. Start with the "Short History" below.

Today, amateur boat builders occasionally take a stab at making a paper boat for their own and other's amusement. For several years there was even a quarterly newsletter for paper boat enthusiasts, appropriately named, "The Paper Boater".

Waters Boat Factory c. 1875

Waters Factory c. 1875

So, what's on this page?

XShort History of Paper Boats
(well... not that short, but very scholarly)

XPeople still build these things?
(i.e. A review of what modern paper boat builders have done & some tricks of the trade,
but no guarantee they work!)

XSelected Articles from the quarterly newsletter, The Paper Boater
(This is a "best of...." compilation.)

X A Few Words from the World's Leading Authority on Cellulose-Based Naval Architecture
(I guess that's me, he modestly admits.)

X Links? For paper boats? Are you kidding?
Well, take a look anyway. There might be something interesting lurking hereabouts.

XAnd if paper boats seem odd, consider paper railroad car wheels,
Another 19th century accomplishment.

X Or... Paper Observatory Domes!

XFold a sheet of paper; make a boat
OK... This is all nice, but I really came here because I wanted to fold a sheet of paper into
one of those little paper boats. Can you help? YOU BET!

XSo.... Anything New on the Subject?
Actually, there is....... every so often. Click here and find out if this is one of those times.

XWe've got some questions ourselves
Perhaps you can help us with some answers?

X Comments and Questions? I'm always happy to hear from a reader. Drop a note!
You'll find me at "cuperyz" at the service "netacc (you know what) net" (and you know to use "." for "you know what"?)
Sorry for the inconvenience, but this is a probably futile attempt at decreasing spam by trying to outwit address harvesting software.

Everything here is © Ken Cupery 1997

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