Boat Built of PVC & Duct Tape Heads For Open Waters

Roy Burke used about 800′ of duct tape and other materials to build a boat that seats four people comfortably. The project cost him about $400.

When Viking shipbuilders went about their craft in the 10th century, duct tape probably wasn’t part of their toolkit. But that didn’t stop Roy Burke from using the industrial tape to place a modern twist on their work.

Burke, a Frederick computer technician, set to work in May to build a duct tape Viking ship. He plans to sail it later this summer for charity. In his converted storage unit on Industry Lane, Burke spent hours each day perfecting his creation. He had no plan, no experience and no shortage of creativity, crafting the vessel as he went and praying it would float.

“I never use plans for anything that I make,” Burke said. “I just take it out of my head and put it into reality.”

He did build a smaller boat last year, but it wasn’t nearly the size, nor did it have the same style constraints his latest project embraced. It also didn’t fare well in the water — the material was too thin, and the boat was too deep for the shallow, rocky Potomac River.

He modeled the boat after an Arby boat, a small-scale rowing boat used by Norse Vikings for fishing and transportation.

“Everyone sees speedboats, normal boats, so I thought I would pick something different,” Burke said. “And I don’t remember the last time I saw a Viking long ship.”

Burke spent about a month and a half working on the project. His first attempt lasted about 3 days before he scrapped it, he said. The design was flawed.

In his second attempt, the keel cracked and he had to start over.

The boat isn’t completely duct tape — it needed a support system to float. Using research he did on Viking boat construction, Burke fitted PVC pipe sections together to form a skeleton for the tape coating and a support for the wooden deck.

Burke also fashioned a sail out of white canvas. Burke used nearly 800′ of duct tape — enough to span two football fields. The bottom of the boat is made from thicker tape, and the sides are thinner.

The final creation is almost 15′ long and seats four people comfortably. And it cost him about $400.

Burke is no stranger to risk. He’s always loved adventure and spontaneity. Once, he had his friends drop him off in Cumberland and he hiked along the C&O Canal into Washington.

Burke tested out his creation June 22 and invited friends to sit in the boat with him on a short trip down the Potomac.

Only Devan Wassum was willing to join him.

“I couldn’t believe he was actually going to build it,” said Wassum. “But I was free and I thought, ‘Why not?’”

Wassum and Burke sailed 7 miles from the Brunswick boat ramp to Point of Rocks.

It was mostly successful, Burke said, although they did lose control and ran head-on into a large boulder toward the end.

“I was excited, but a little worried,” said friend Melissa Thevenot. “It’s really impressive. He just taught himself about shipbuilding.”

But 7 miles is nothing compared to the journey Burke hopes to take later this summer. The successful test run means that he can start planning his 100-mile ride for charity.

Burke is looking for sponsors and hasn’t set a date yet, but he hopes to sail soon.

Duct tape is a material that inspires and draws people in, Burke said.

“People have a thing for duct tape. Everyone’s made something out of it, they use it for everything,” Burke said. “And you tell them you’re making something out of duct tape and their eyes light up.”

One tape manufacturer, ShurTech’s Duck Brand Duct Tape, has a section of their website devoted to customer duct tape projects. Submissions range from the standard duct tape wallet to top hats, prom attire and Halloween decorations, and, yes, even a few boats.

“The top crafts are probably wallets, purses and flowers, but we see everything,” said Mary Kate Rosfelder, a ShurTech spokeswoman, adding that they get thousands of submissions. “It’s appealing because it’s not a super-intimidating medium to work with — you can almost never make a mistake.”

Rosfelder added that the variety of tape available to people today seems to stimulate creativity.

Even Burke said the experience of working with the tape was engrossing.

“It’s really therapeutic,” Burke said. “When I was working on this boat, this was completely out of my skill-set, and I had a lot of fun.”

Source: FrederickNewsPost (Laura Blasey)