May 4 -- Stacey,
To fold the cardboard (strong, thick
corrugated), you must first "score" the line
on which you will fold. Use a thin, but not
sharp cornered tool to make the "score"
(or crease). It's kinda tough to do at
right angles to the corrugations.
Possibly the button you press on the
top end of a retractible ball point pen
would work. (I can't think of anything else
at this time.)
When you have the score (the crease) made,
use a ridged straight edge -- maybe a board --
and fold the cardboard against the straight
edge. The cardboard will "break" along the
straight edge. When it does, further folding
should be easy. Try this on some small pieces
first.
Also try folding by "bending" over the edge of
a table (after first scoring on the "in" side of
the fold.)
Your height doesn't make much difference.
Your "CG" is about at your belly button and
for maximum stability, you want the CG as
low in the boat as possible. (So don't stand up
in your boat!)
Your weight will displace an equal weight of
water. Water weighs about 62 pounds per
cubic foot (or 1728 cu. inches).
Forget the light weight of your boat. Your weight
of 120 pounds will displace about two cubic
feet, or 3456 cu. inches. That's what you'll need
to displace to float.
Your boat's size of 15 x 32 is 480 square inches.
- 1 inch high sides will displace 480 cu. inches
- 2 inch high sides will displace 960 cu. inches
- 3 inch high sides will displace 1440 cu. inches
- 4 inch high sides will displace 1920 cu. inches
- 5 inch high sides will displace 2400 cu. inches
- 6 inch high sides will displace 2889 cu. inches
- 7 inch high sides will displace 3360 cu. inches
(about what you need to be able to displace)
- 8 inch high sides will displace 3840 cu. inches
Seated, your belly button should be about 8 inches
or less from the bottom of the boat, so it will
be at, or below the water line. That's good for
stability.
So I think your 12 inch high sides should work OK.
Again, I suggest you get a piece of plastic to cover
the outside of your cardboard, fold it as discussed,
and go for a test ride.
-=Grant=-
PS -- also see these two websites for possible
interest (but of little relationship to your project):
http://www.grantmaclaren.com/zac
http://www.grantmaclaren.com/twilight
