This type of boat is a simple electric circuit. You will need a simple switch, an electric motor, a battery holder, propeller, Styrofoam and wire. Cut the Styrofoam into boards. These will be the floaters on the boat. You can paint them or color them. Center the battery, simple switch and battery holder so that your boat achieves balance in the water. Attach the propeller, motor and switch to the back of the boat. Use the wire to attach the battery pack to the propeller and the switch. This makes an electrical circuit with the power source being a battery, the switch and a resister, which is the motor.
For this experiment, instead of the boat being powered by an electric motor, it will be powered by a wooden generator. You will need two wooden dowels, one rod magnet, copper wire, propeller, sandpaper, wood glue and balsa wood. To prepare, cut two square pieces from the balsa wood. Make a hole in the center of each square. Also cut holes in the center of each wood dowel. Insert the magnet into the hole of the dowel. Make a box out of the balsa wood pieces. Insert a wooden dowel in the center of box. Use the other piece of wood to complete the square. Wrap 20 turns of wire around the box and use tape to secure it. Remove the insulation from the end of the wire and connect to the base of the motor. Insert the motor. Spin the wood dowel fast to propel the boat.
Energy can be extracted by ocean tides because tides have a current. Currents emanate from the gravitational force of the moon, sun and inertia. You can use this gravitational force to power a boat. Grab a bucket and drill three holes in the bottom. Slide a propeller into one end of a brass rod. Place the bucket on top of bricks or another structure and have another container underneath it. Plug the holes in the bucket. Fill the bucket with the holes half-full with water. Hold the propeller with one hole and remove the stopper from the other holes. Count for 10 seconds the number of rotations that the propeller made. Experiment with this using different combination of holes being covered. Attach this propeller to a model boat to use it to generate power for your boat.
This solar boat uses energy harnessed from the sun to produce electricity. Light from the sun will reach the solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells. When this happens, electrons are released through the cells into an electrical circuit. This electricity will power your boat. If you decide to go this route, be sure to talk about how solar panels can reduce fossil fuels and how it is an environmentally friendly option for a boat design.