Help build boat

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Cant figure out how to build a boat that does not flip over on the side.

Avaliavle parts: 4 pantoons 2 prop/rudders 2 fins

Attempt #1: just slapped pantoons and props onto my existing vehicle (with wheels and guns and all) and it worked. The thing was floating correctly but the speed and steering was extremely painful. So i figured ineed to drop some weight.

Attemt #2 -> Attempt #999: Nothing works. Not any lighter configuration i try floats. It just tilts sideways even though the builds are absolutely symmetrical.

What am i doing wrong? do i need more pantoons? more fins? plaes halp!

[DrJenkins]

Here's what I did:

My tech is on a small frame, so I took the wheels off and put the 4 pontoons on the 4 corners underneath the frame. I built it so that it's not too top heavy, which means I stored a few blocks along with the wheels. I put the 2 prop/rudder things in the back on the bottom of the pontoons with a single keel between them. This at least works, although turning can be rough. I later added 2 more props on the front pontoons which makes it go much faster.

I have toyed with moving the props around and adding more pontoons, but I think it's meant to be challenging when using a small frame. The boat frames will obviously be better. But with the layout above, I was able to get to the other biomes pretty easily.

[Zortarg]

its not that easy with the first few start blocks.
build as light as possible for the first boat.

i used a kestrel frame with a few extra hull parts to get a good and stable base form.
you want a as good as possible wide square to put your 4 pontoon on each end.
with the rudder/prop. i had best results when they are on the middle line of the boat. you have to try around. will always depend on your build. i had best rudder results when they are at the front.

for guns i used 4 hailstorms. they are nice dmg. but ammo is too expensive for permanent use. so i only used it at the first ship before you get a few kills and have better options then.

always check the reactor costs of the hull/armor/pontoon parts. there are better and there are worse options for your bucks...

later i used the 2 wide pontoons. 8 in total and spaced by 2. to fit the forager cap in between.
used 2 lightning guns and 3 vindurs.
can handle most boats with ease. lightning guns are nice because boats are always wet for the extra damage.

[jamesowens50]

My first boat only used my cab and the boat parts I got from the Forrest trader. After I went to the ocean trader and bought more ports I was able to make a larger boat with guns. I believe using land vehicle parts causes a balancing problem, but I’m still figuring the boats out

[Tachrayonic]

You can visit the Forest Trader to buy more of those 3 basic parts.

The Rudders are most effective when placed as far forward or backwards as possible from the Centre of Mass.
However, the deeper your rudders are into the water (The further below the Centre of Mass), they will make your boat roll over.

Rudders placed at the rear of your boat will cause it to lean into a turn.
Rudders placed at the front of your boat will make it lean away from a turn.
Rudders placed at both the front and back will cancel this Roll out.

Props will also induce a rotation to your Boat, particularly the deeper your Props are into the water the more your Boat will Pitch up.
(Left+Right props will cancel out if they're symmetrical)

By pitching up (from a deep prop) while leaning into a turn (rear rudder), you can get more turning power, however this is very unstable and difficult to control.

Keels/Fins are heavy and will tend to keep your boat upright. They are most effective when placed deep below the Centre of Mass.


For a basic boat, I recommend placing the Pontoons as far out as possible in a square.
Place the Prop+Rudders towards the back of your Boat, shallow in the water.
Place the keel/fin just in front of the centre of mass, ideally off of the deepest part of your boat.

Once you get more boat parts, you can place a strong rudder at both the front and back, but I've found success continuing to use the weakest rudder+prop at the back only.
With rudderless Props, you can place them nearly anywhere on your boat. If you go too deep, they'll pitch your boat up.
Pontoons/Hulls are too expensive in reactor cost, so I find it's best to stick to the 4 in the corners as before.
Keels/Fins are useful, but often too expensive. I just keep the rudders shallow to avoid needing one.

All that said though, it is not the most straightforward to drive a boat with a rear rudder at the best of times. It can be challenging to drive to a specific spot (to dock or collect loot).

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Thank you guys very much for all the shared knowlege, it helped. I made something that kind of floats, has acceptable speed and is semi-controllable. Basically i limped my way to ocean trader and realised the amount of water blocks avaliable. I can work with that.

[Armitage Shanks]

Why don't you use some strategy, or tactics, or optimzation, or problemsolving...

[Tachrayonic]

Originally posted by Armitage Shanks:

Why don't you use some strategy, or tactics, or optimzation, or problemsolving...

I think you'll find that strategy, tactics and optimisation have little to do with this engineering/prototyping challenge, and OP absolutely used their problem-solving skills to find a solution.
There's no harm in asking for advice, not everyone is skilled in the general physics of boats, or how they translate to this game.