Waterbug
Pedal paddle-wheel boat that won't flip frontwards, backwards or sideways
- Category
- Paddle Boats
- Designer
- Robert Woolson
- Published
- Popular Mechanics, May 1964
A safe little pedal paddle-wheeler that won't flip and can launch in any water over ankle deep. Nearly every part comes from the lumberyard or hardware store, plus bike-pedal cranks and handlebar grips. The original had a clear 'glass bottom' for watching crawfish and minnows.
Specifications
- Length
- About 4 ft 7 in
- Beam
- 28 in
- Construction
- Clear white pine side planks, tempered hardboard deck and bottom, optional clear glass-bottom window
- Power
- Bike-pedal cranks driving twin paddle wheels
Downloads
Plan sheets 6
Tap a sheet to open the full-size scan. On a computer, right-click it and choose “Save image as” to keep a copy; on a phone, press and hold.





