Speedboat
Students design and vacuum-form a hydrodynamic RC speedboat hull to a real offshore-racing brief — engineering buoyancy, density and stability — then time-trial it on water to prove their design.
8 hours of PD · student course notes & videos · full materials list — all in the one purchase.
Watch the project in action
One price. Everything to run it.
You are not just buying student worksheets. You get the full professional development so you can teach it with confidence — and every resource your students need to build it.
- ✓8 hours of step-by-step professional development — you learn the whole project before you teach it
- ✓Student course notes with the engineering principles, activities and linked videos
- ✓Instructional videos for every stage of the build
- ✓A teacher guide with the program, tips and how to troubleshoot when kids get stuck
- ✓A full materials list with links to where you buy each part
About this project
What students build
Students design and vacuum-form a hydrodynamic RC speedboat hull to a real offshore-racing brief, working within strict size constraints, then time-trial it on the water for speed, manoeuvrability and stability. Getting there means grappling with real naval architecture — buoyancy, density, hydrostatic pressure and hull stability — not just “does it float.”
Why it works in a real classroom
Before students touch any foam, they use a free, purpose-built hull-stability simulator to design a cross-section, test it, and graph the righting moment — so the physics is real and immediate, not abstract. Testing on water is where it all lands: hulls that look great on paper roll over or plough through the water, and students see exactly why, then iterate. Every student ends up with a hull that floats, runs and holds its line — not a room of half-finished shapes.
How the unit is sequenced
Fully sequenced across the whole engineering process: history of boats and propulsion → buoyancy and Archimedes’ principle → density, hydrostatic pressure and buoyant force calculations → hull types and planing hulls → boat stability (metacentre, centre of buoyancy, righting moments) → the stability simulator → sketching → 2D and 3D hull design in Fusion 360 → vacuum-forming and building → testing and evaluation. You get the student course notes with every activity and linked video, access to the stability simulator, and a teacher guide that walks you through the whole build before you teach it.
Materials required — and where to buy them
Here is exactly what your students need to build it. We have done the sourcing for you — buy the parts yourself from the links below, or order them through us if you would rather not chase them down.
| Item | Where to buy |
|---|---|
| Modelling foam (for the vacuum-formed hull) | Local supplier / hobby store |
| RC motor, propeller and speed controller | Online (AliExpress / Temu) |
| Waterproofing / sealant | Local hardware |
| Battery holder and batteries | Local supplier |
See it built
Real builds from real classrooms.
What teachers say
“The kids were engaged the whole way through, and for once I wasn’t running around fixing everyone’s build. It just worked.”
“I’d never taught anything like this before. The PD meant I knew exactly what was coming and how to handle it. Genuinely saved me weeks of prep.”
Placeholder testimonials — replace with real teacher quotes.
Questions teachers ask
Where do students test the speedboats?+
Any still-water course works — a school dam, pool or trough. The teacher guide includes a simple time-trial format for scoring speed, manoeuvrability and stability.
Can students test hull stability before they build?+
Yes. The project includes a free, purpose-built hull stability simulator — students design a cross-section, test it, and graph the righting moment before they ever touch the modelling foam.
Do I need to be an expert to teach this?+
No. Every project includes 8 hours of professional development that walks you through the whole build from start to finish — including how to help students when something goes wrong. If you have never built with resistant materials before, this is designed for you.
What exactly do I get for the price?+
Everything you need to run the project: the professional development for you, the course notes and videos for your students, the teacher guide, and a materials list with links to buy the parts. One price, no add-ons required.
Is the professional development really included?+
Yes. The project and the PD are the same purchase — you are not buying them separately. Buy the project and the training comes with it.
What do I still need to buy on top?+
The student materials for the build. We give you the exact list and links to where you can buy each part (often cheaper online) — or, if you would rather not chase parts, you can order them through us.
How do my students and I get access after I buy?+
As soon as you check out you get access to the download pack and the professional development, so you can start planning straight away.
Can I use it with more than one class?+
Yes — one purchase covers you to run the project with your classes at your school.
What if it is not right for my classroom?+
If it is not a fit, get in touch and we will make it right. See our refund policy for the details.
Run Speedboat without the overwhelm
One purchase gives you the training, the student resources and the materials list — everything you need to teach it with confidence.