Answers.Body: <p>In addition of the various boat hulls, you can use <a href="http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/67c01">pneumatic tanks</a> for extra buoyancy.</p>
  
  <p>If you want to motorize your boat, keep in mind that means extra weight, which has to be countered in some way.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-27T08:56:37.303Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-27T08:56:37.303Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.Body: <p>My kids had Captain Redbeard's Pirate Ship - it certainly floated in the bathtub!</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AFvTM.jpg" alt="Captain Redbeard&#39;s Pirate Ship"></p>
  
  <p>I believe many of the other Lego pirate ships could float, particularly if they had molded single piece hulls - see this <a href="http://www.brickset.com/brickLists/?257" rel="noreferrer">list</a>.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-02T19:47:51.890Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-02T19:47:51.890Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: JW8
Answers.Body: <p>My children play with the lego fishing boat (see picture) in our bath tube. This design does have a serious flaw (imo). Even if there are very small water waves in our bath tube, water enters the boat which then becomes to heavy and sinks. So if you are planning to built your own lego boat i would make sure the sides are high enough to prevent water from entering the boat. Or if you are really clever make a water drainage system like normal boats have.</p>
  
  <p><em>Lego fishing boat 4642</em></p>
  
  <h2><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6DCqS.png" alt="Lego fishing boat 4642"></h2>
  
  <p>You also asked for some examples. Found this simple but effective example online.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rUTnl.jpg" alt="Simple but effective design"></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-04-04T12:29:16.717Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-04-04T12:29:16.717Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nebu
Answers.Body: <p>Yes, if built carefully.  When I was a kid I made a number of lego boats to play with in the tub, and later in the pool. The main thing I remember was to make the hull upside down and out of at least two interlocking layers. Lining the inside with plate also helped.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-12-09T07:18:06.553Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-12-09T07:18:06.553Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: cabbey
Answers.Body: <p>Already a correct answer accepted, but... the original question seems to be "do Lego bricks float by themselves?"</p>
  
  <p>Most Lego bricks are made of ABS plastic which has a specific gravity greater than 1 (but only slightly).  So, they are heavier than water and will not float naturally.  You can get small bricks to float initially since small bubbles cling to their surface, but they will all sink eventually.</p>
  
  <p>Since ABS isn't affected by salt water - it <em>might</em> be possible to increase the salinity of the water to a point where the bricks naturally float (would need to be higher concentration than sea water...)</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-12-09T09:05:36.467Z
Answers.Text: Whilst a solid block of ABS would sink, LEGO bricks are hollow. The issue of floating is displacement - this is how steel and iron ships float - they displace as much water than they weigh, and so are buoyant.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-19T15:46:20.507Z
Answers.Text: Yup.  But I'm not sure the brick connections are water tight.  I can imagine lots of designs using plates that will still let water into the "hull" I am more pointing out that you don't need to be all that water tight for the boat to actually float.  Sebastian Wahl's answer nailed it tho! :-)
Answers.UserDisplayName: albiglan
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-01-19T16:09:23.590Z
Answers.Text: True - the fact that they aren't water tight was demonstrated very well by James May when he built his LEGO house, complete with wine glasses that leaked red wine everywhere ;)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-04T16:45:00.717Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-04T16:45:00.717Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: albiglan
Answers.Body: <p>For a very small "boat" - something like a 4x8 plate with 1x8 and 1x2 brick sides it might stay afloat for a short amount of time before the leakage takes it down. For larger stuff, LEGO is just too heavy when you get in to building the necessary structure for a real boat.</p>
  
  <p>There were some sealed-hull boat sets I remember from childhood that were designed to float, so using the special parts from them would make it possible.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:03:42.350Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-25T21:03:42.350Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Raleigh Buckner
Answers.Body: <p>A few years back there was this solid single-piece hulled police boat which would float. <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/joFa5.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>There was also a small red boat (pre-2000) that came with part of a pirate set (I believe, anyway) <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/r2Gju.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>As for building a boat from scratch...no. It tended to capsise then sink (somewhat impressively). Place 2x 4x2 bricks on another and place in water, they only float on their side. I expect this is down to a center of gravity but I'm not a sciencey type so I can't confirm for sure.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-04T18:39:42.610Z
Answers.Text: There are several other floating boat hulls (or small boat, inflatable boat, canoe...). Maybe it's worth mentioning that some  of them are are in many pieces (http://www.peeron.com/cgi-bin/invcgis/psearch?query=boat+section&limit=parts).
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joel Cohen
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-10-05T06:07:57.137Z
Answers.Text: Yup, I have one red and one brown of the boat shown above and they came with a 1990's pirate set. Don't remember which one though.
Answers.UserDisplayName: PaulG
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:14:11.903Z
Answers.Text: There is also a brown variant of this red boat.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Paŭlo Ebermann
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:28:13.777Z
Answers.Text: In fact, it comes in more than just two colors. Probably four or so (blue and black?).
Answers.UserDisplayName: LegoSonicBoy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-26T00:13:17.780Z
Answers.Text: @PaŭloEbermann: The brown variant is actually more popular.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JavaAndCSharp
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:04:17.357Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-25T21:10:23.933Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2011-10-25T21:10:23.933Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: tombull89
Answers.Body: <p>I had a <a href="https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?id=5475#T=S&amp;O=%7B%22iconly%22:0%7D" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Police-Boat</a> when I was a child that had a one-piece-body, so it was watertight and able to float:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ErOLG.jpg" alt="lego police boat"></p>
  
  <p>There are some other LEGO-boats with similar bodies (even some bigger ones) that should also be able to float.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-13T01:14:59.280Z
Answers.Text: My brother had that set as well. The body was actually three pieces, not one -- front third, middle third, back third. But each third was watertight and buoyant.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joe White
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-30T19:45:55.427Z
Answers.Text: It's actually a three-piece hull: bow, stern, and.. uh.. middle. My brother and I had two of these and one fire boat. Made a great trimaran.
Answers.UserDisplayName: gev
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T20:59:37.113Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-04-07T00:17:37.440Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-04-07T00:17:37.440Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: oezi
Answers.Body: <p>There is another not mentioned way to achieve flotation. My kid discovered it today with his "water bat": <strong>surface tension</strong>. The long flat wings did the trick : ) It is not exactly <em>due to the buoyancy of the bricks themselves</em> as wanted in the question, but might help as a complement. </p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Yimjt.jpg" alt="Water bat"></p>
  
  <p>For more on the Physics underlying: 
  <a href="http://higheredbcs.wiley.com/legacy/college/cutnell/0471713988/ste/ste.pdf" rel="noreferrer">Surface tension</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-08-18T14:42:36.203Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-08-19T09:31:59.857Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2013-08-19T09:31:59.857Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Rober
Answers.Body: <p>Yeah they float but make the hull wide not narrow as it will stay up right if you make the hull wide. Narrow means top heavy. I first started making LEGO boats now I make home built boats. And no need to be water tight for LEGO just get more surface area. Who knows you might even be able to make a cruise ship that floats.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-07-28T03:02:52.190Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-07-28T14:36:56.527Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-07-28T14:36:56.527Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: joshua
Answers.Body: <p>Styrofoam bits trapped in brick-built chambers might work Ok to keep structures afloat.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-07-06T21:18:18.743Z
Answers.Text: That would certainly work, but I don't think that there are any LEGO Styrofoam parts. The purist in me tells me that I must use LEGO only.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Metalbeard
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-23T21:49:29.543Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-12-23T21:49:29.543Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Niels
Answers.Body: <p>I'd have to say that in general, only the parts that are designed to float will do so reliably.  You may be able to make some sort of raft by inverting several large bricks (studs down).</p>
  
  <p>I haven't tried Lego bricks in water (other than a <a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=314-1" rel="nofollow">police boat set</a>), however, when using Duplo's in the bath tub we were only able to make submerged structures.  The water easily seeps into the bottoms of the bricks and causes them to sink.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-03T14:21:30.007Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-03T17:51:25.660Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2011-11-03T17:51:25.660Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Friend Of George
Answers.Body: <p>Yes, just as long as the bottom is able to displace the boats weight onto the water.. Just like how a Polar Bear can walk on thin ice; displacement.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-02T22:27:58.533Z
Answers.Text: I think you don't mean 'thin ice' (Polar bears can't walk on thin ice, they fall through because they are heavy), but 'iceberg', where the buoyancy required to keep the iceberg afloat is provided by displacing an equivalent mass of water. Still: *Wha??* That's the weirdest analogy ever.
Answers.UserDisplayName: fredley
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-02T22:24:19.443Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-02T22:24:19.443Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: James Litewski
Answers.Body: <p>The plastic is a bit heavier than water and should sink, however in practice I have experienced that 2x4 bricks (and the like) have a tendency to trap air inside them and actually float rather well.
  It probably isn't failsafe, however for shorter periods of time (like a half to a full hour) would probably work fine.
  (I haven't actually tested the time it could stay afloat, I'm trying it out now. When my small mini-boat has sunk, I will add the time here.)</p>
  
  <p><strong>Update:</strong></p>
  
  <p>24 hours have passed, it is still floating.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/u0FuN.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>It sunk about 1mm compared to the beginning, but nothing of importance. However while I did push it around from time to time, it was still in still water and stationary most of the time. How it will perform during play is unknown.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/NBGpw.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>Notice how the internal structure of the bricks causes the air to be trapped inside them.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-07T19:30:37.503Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-08T21:59:12.470Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2011-11-08T21:59:12.470Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Sebastian Wahl
Body: <p>Is it possible to build a boat out of LEGO bricks? I appreciate you couldn't make it watertight but would a LEGO boat float by itself due to the buoyancy of the bricks themselves?</p>
  
  <p>Pictures of any home-made floating constructions would be really interesting.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-11-02T20:35:44.060Z
Comments.Text: Lego boats like the ones shown below float, not because the bricks are buoyant, but [because the model displaces water.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes%27_principle)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Robert Harvey
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:00:32.730Z
Comments.Text: The rowboat from many Pirate sets is known to float, along with a couple of minifigs, treasure and other elements on board.
Comments.UserDisplayName: LegoSonicBoy
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:08:02.263Z
Comments.Text: Could you use cling film (plastic wrap in the US?) as a seal between the bottom layer of bricks?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Umber Ferrule
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:10:52.477Z
Comments.Text: Also, what about glue? (I realise this might not be so practical).
Comments.UserDisplayName: Umber Ferrule
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:11:53.227Z
Comments.Text: @UmberFerrule ***Gluing Lego?!?!***
Comments.UserDisplayName: fredley
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-25T21:16:03.610Z
Comments.Text: Oh dear! Have I blasphemed?! ;)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Umber Ferrule
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-26T03:20:00.947Z
Comments.Text: @fredley Sure, if you want to put 'angry eyebrows' on your giant LEGO robot of doom.  .\ _ /.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Mateen Ulhaq
Tags: <boat><water>
Title: Do LEGO bricks float?
UserDisplayName: fredley
ThreadText: # Do LEGO bricks float?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-25)
  
  Is it possible to build a boat out of LEGO bricks? I appreciate you couldn't make it watertight but would a LEGO boat float by itself due to the buoyancy of the bricks themselves?
  
  Pictures of any home-made floating constructions would be really interesting.
  
  **Tags:** boat, water
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: The rowboat from many Pirate sets is known to float, along with a couple of minifigs, treasure and other elements on board.  
  > **username_3**: Could you use cling film (plastic wrap in the US?) as a seal between the bottom layer of bricks?  
  > **username_3**: Also, what about glue? (I realise this might not be so practical).  
  > **username_0**: @username_3 ***Gluing Lego?!?!***  
  > **username_3**: Oh dear! Have I blasphemed?! ;)  
  > **username_4**: @username_0 Sure, if you want to put 'angry eyebrows' on your giant LEGO robot of doom.  .\ _ /.  
  > **username_1**: Lego boats like the ones shown below float, not because the bricks are buoyant, but [because the model displaces water.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes%27_principle)  
  
  ---
  
  ## 14 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_26 on 2011-11-07. Score: 62 | Accepted answer
  
  The plastic is a bit heavier than water and should sink, however in practice I have experienced that 2x4 bricks (and the like) have a tendency to trap air inside them and actually float rather well.
  It probably isn't failsafe, however for shorter periods of time (like a half to a full hour) would probably work fine.
  (I haven't actually tested the time it could stay afloat, I'm trying it out now. When my small mini-boat has sunk, I will add the time here.)
  
  **Update:**
  
  24 hours have passed, it is still floating.
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/u0FuN.jpg)
  
  It sunk about 1mm compared to the beginning, but nothing of importance. However while I did push it around from time to time, it was still in still water and stationary most of the time. How it will perform during play is unknown.
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/NBGpw.jpg)
  
  Notice how the internal structure of the bricks causes the air to be trapped inside them.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_12 on 2011-10-25. Score: 27
  
  A few years back there was this solid single-piece hulled police boat which would float. ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/joFa5.jpg)
  
  There was also a small red boat (pre-2000) that came with part of a pirate set (I believe, anyway) ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/r2Gju.jpg)
  
  As for building a boat from scratch...no. It tended to capsise then sink (somewhat impressively). Place 2x 4x2 bricks on another and place in water, they only float on their side. I expect this is down to a center of gravity but I'm not a sciencey type so I can't confirm for sure.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_15**: There is also a brown variant of this red boat.  
  > **username_2**: In fact, it comes in more than just two colors. Probably four or so (blue and black?).  
  > **username_16**: @username_15: The brown variant is actually more popular.  
  > **username_13**: There are several other floating boat hulls (or small boat, inflatable boat, canoe...). Maybe it's worth mentioning that some  of them are are in many pieces (http://www.peeron.com/cgi-bin/invcgis/psearch?query=boat+section&limit=parts).  
  > **username_14**: Yup, I have one red and one brown of the boat shown above and they came with a 1990's pirate set. Don't remember which one though.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_17 on 2011-10-25. Score: 23
  
  I had a [Police-Boat](https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?id=5475#T=S&O=%7B%22iconly%22:0%7D) when I was a child that had a one-piece-body, so it was watertight and able to float:
  
  ![lego police boat](https://i.sstatic.net/ErOLG.jpg)
  
  There are some other LEGO-boats with similar bodies (even some bigger ones) that should also be able to float.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_18**: My brother had that set as well. The body was actually three pieces, not one -- front third, middle third, back third. But each third was watertight and buoyant.  
  > **username_19**: It's actually a three-piece hull: bow, stern, and.. uh.. middle. My brother and I had two of these and one fire boat. Made a great trimaran.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_20 on 2013-08-18. Score: 18
  
  There is another not mentioned way to achieve flotation. My kid discovered it today with his "water bat": **surface tension**. The long flat wings did the trick : ) It is not exactly *due to the buoyancy of the bricks themselves* as wanted in the question, but might help as a complement.
  
  ![Water bat](https://i.sstatic.net/Yimjt.jpg)
  
  For more on the Physics underlying:
  [Surface tension](http://higheredbcs.wiley.com/legacy/college/cutnell/0471713988/ste/ste.pdf)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2011-10-27. Score: 14
  
  In addition of the various boat hulls, you can use [pneumatic tanks](http://www.peeron.com/inv/parts/67c01) for extra buoyancy.
  
  If you want to motorize your boat, keep in mind that means extra weight, which has to be countered in some way.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2011-11-02. Score: 12
  
  My kids had Captain Redbeard's Pirate Ship - it certainly floated in the bathtub!
  
  ![Captain Redbeard's Pirate Ship](https://i.sstatic.net/AFvTM.jpg)
  
  I believe many of the other Lego pirate ships could float, particularly if they had molded single piece hulls - see this [list](http://www.brickset.com/brickLists/?257).
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2014-04-04. Score: 10
  
  My children play with the lego fishing boat (see picture) in our bath tube. This design does have a serious flaw (imo). Even if there are very small water waves in our bath tube, water enters the boat which then becomes to heavy and sinks. So if you are planning to built your own lego boat i would make sure the sides are high enough to prevent water from entering the boat. Or if you are really clever make a water drainage system like normal boats have.
  
  *Lego fishing boat 4642*
  
  ## Lego fishing boat 4642
  
  You also asked for some examples. Found this simple but effective example online.
  
  ![Simple but effective design](https://i.sstatic.net/rUTnl.jpg)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2011-12-09. Score: 7
  
  Yes, if built carefully. When I was a kid I made a number of lego boats to play with in the tub, and later in the pool. The main thing I remember was to make the hull upside down and out of at least two interlocking layers. Lining the inside with plate also helped.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_9 on 2011-11-04. Score: 7
  
  Already a correct answer accepted, but... the original question seems to be "do Lego bricks float by themselves?"
  
  Most Lego bricks are made of ABS plastic which has a specific gravity greater than 1 (but only slightly). So, they are heavier than water and will not float naturally. You can get small bricks to float initially since small bubbles cling to their surface, but they will all sink eventually.
  
  Since ABS isn't affected by salt water - it *might* be possible to increase the salinity of the water to a point where the bricks naturally float (would need to be higher concentration than sea water...)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_10**: Whilst a solid block of ABS would sink, LEGO bricks are hollow. The issue of floating is displacement - this is how steel and iron ships float - they displace as much water than they weigh, and so are buoyant.  
  > **username_9**: Yup.  But I'm not sure the brick connections are water tight.  I can imagine lots of designs using plates that will still let water into the "hull" I am more pointing out that you don't need to be all that water tight for the boat to actually float.  username_26 username_26's answer nailed it tho! :-)  
  > **username_10**: True - the fact that they aren't water tight was demonstrated very well by username_25 May when he built his LEGO house, complete with wine glasses that leaked red wine everywhere ;)  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_11 on 2011-10-25. Score: 7
  
  For a very small "boat" - something like a 4x8 plate with 1x8 and 1x2 brick sides it might stay afloat for a short amount of time before the leakage takes it down. For larger stuff, LEGO is just too heavy when you get in to building the necessary structure for a real boat.
  
  There were some sealed-hull boat sets I remember from childhood that were designed to float, so using the special parts from them would make it possible.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_21 on 2014-07-28. Score: 1
  
  Yeah they float but make the hull wide not narrow as it will stay up right if you make the hull wide. Narrow means top heavy. I first started making LEGO boats now I make home built boats. And no need to be water tight for LEGO just get more surface area. Who knows you might even be able to make a cruise ship that floats.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_22 on 2014-12-23. Score: 1
  
  Styrofoam bits trapped in brick-built chambers might work Ok to keep structures afloat.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_23**: That would certainly work, but I don't think that there are any LEGO Styrofoam parts. The purist in me tells me that I must use LEGO only.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_24 on 2011-11-03. Score: 1
  
  I'd have to say that in general, only the parts that are designed to float will do so reliably. You may be able to make some sort of raft by inverting several large bricks (studs down).
  
  I haven't tried Lego bricks in water (other than a [police boat set](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=314-1)), however, when using Duplo's in the bath tub we were only able to make submerged structures. The water easily seeps into the bottoms of the bricks and causes them to sink.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_25 on 2011-11-02. Score: -1
  
  Yes, just as long as the bottom is able to displace the boats weight onto the water.. Just like how a Polar Bear can walk on thin ice; displacement.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: I think you don't mean 'thin ice' (Polar bears can't walk on thin ice, they fall through because they are heavy), but 'iceberg', where the buoyancy required to keep the iceberg afloat is provided by displacing an equivalent mass of water. Still: *Wha??* That's the weirdest analogy ever.  
  
  ---
  
  