Marty the Paddle Duck: A Pedal Paddle Boat Plan for Fun
A duck-shaped pedal paddle boat on twin pontoons with foam flotation rated to support 1,000 lb.
Marty is pure summer fun with a beak. This pedal-powered paddle boat sits on twin pontoons and wears a duck-shaped superstructure that turns heads on any lake. The pontoons can be built from pine or fir, or from 10 ft AC exterior plywood, and Styrofoam flotation inside them supports 1,000 lb. Pedals drive the paddle wheels, so there is no engine to fuel or maintain. It is a happy weekend project for families with a dock and a sense of humour.
Marty the Paddle Duck at a glance
| Detail | Marty the Paddle Duck |
|---|---|
| Type | Paddle boat |
| Construction | Twin pine or fir pontoons (or 10 ft AC exterior plywood) with Styrofoam flotation supporting 1,000 lb; duck-shaped superstructure |
| Power | Pedal-operated paddle wheels |
| Designer | Ed Hamilton |
| First published | Boat Builder's Handbook, p. 74 |
| Craft Print | No. 322 |
| Plan sheets | 7 |
Why kids love it
Pedalling is easy to learn, quiet and gives children a real feeling of control without any motor noise. The twin-pontoon layout spreads the weight widely, which makes for a steady ride when people shift around. Two pontoons also give you a natural place to sit, dangle your feet and take a break mid-lake before pedalling home.
The duck body is where you can let creativity loose with paint and details. Underneath the fun, the 1,000 lb flotation figure gives a reassuring margin, and the choice of solid lumber or plywood pontoons lets you build with whatever is easiest to find locally.
The original plan sheets
These are the 7 original sheets, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Who designed it
Ed Hamilton designed Marty the Paddle Duck, which appeared in the Boat Builder's Handbook on page 74 as Craft Print 322. It is one of the more playful entries in the Craft Print series, aimed squarely at family fun on calm water.
Before you build
- Fit the Styrofoam flotation into the pontoons as the plan shows before closing them up, so the 1,000 lb support is really there.
- Check that the paddle-wheel bearings turn freely and grease them, because stiff pedals tire young legs fast.
- Keep Marty on calm, sheltered water near shore, where a pedal boat feels safe and fun.
Download the plan
All seven original sheets for Marty the Paddle Duck are bundled in one file, ready to print or use on a tablet in the garage.
Download the complete plan (PDF, 7 sheets, 5.5 MB)
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