How to Make a Paper Sailboat

A step-by-step guide to folding a classic paper boat that actually floats. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Fold the paper in half. Lay your paper flat. Fold the top edge down to the bottom edge. Make sure the corners line up perfectly and crease the fold firmly with your fingernail.
2. Create the peak. Fold the paper in half again, side to side, just to make a center crease, then unfold it. Take the top corners and fold them down to meet the center crease, forming a triangle shape at the top.
3. Fold up the flaps. Take the bottom rectangular flaps and fold them upward on both sides. Fold the little corner bits over the edges so it looks like a hat.
4. Open and flatten. Gently pull the center of your hat apart until it turns into a diamond shape. Flatten it down so the edges overlap.
5. Shape your boat. Fold the bottom points up to the top point on both sides. Open the center again to form a smaller diamond. Finally, gently pull the top corners outward to reveal your boat shape.