Candle Boats - Safe or Hazard?

[schoonerdog]

Our son has told me more than a few times that he'd really like to make some candle boats like THESE to float out on the water. We saw it in a book about festivals around the world I think. I remember doing this at overnight camp when I was a kid on to a lake.

But now as a boat dweller, this seems like a really BAD idea. An accident waiting to happen. Clearly we could not do it anywhere near our marina. But I am even hesitant to tell me we can launch off the beach on to the Chesapeake. Am I being paranoid about this being (1) an accident waiting to happen (what if it bumps dry grass or a boat) and (2) not so great for the earth (floating out something that will end up as pollution.

can anyone offer any ideas/ experience/ points of view on this?

Thanks!
Schoonerdog's wife again

[Bill Burgette]

We've done it but in retrospect it doesn't seem like such a good idea. Well....maybe it would help to locate the boats that are leaking fuel/oil from their bilge. Just look for the flaming bay. Cool, go for it.

[Bash]

Society finally comes up with a non-violent alternative to PlayStation, and selfish Mr. Boat Owner complains just because we're teaching children how to commit arson.

Okay, Kids, back to your joysticks.

[Celestialsailor]

The two words which come to mind are..."Murphy's Law".

[MarkJ]

You would hope this world embraces small pleasures! Let him do it! Under supervision of course.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

You would hope this world embraces small pleasures! Let him do it! Under supervision of course.

With a fire hose ready!

[skipmac]

With a little thought I think this could be done in a safe and green manner.

First of course carefully consider the locale and potential fire risk. For example if launched off the beach on the gulf coast of S FL with prevailing east winds the candle boat would be directed off shore which at night would be pretty much deserted. Also as the boat drifts away from the beach the waves would soon pick up, swamping the boat and eliminating any risk. Launched on a lake or pond I would make sure I had a bucket handy and the ability to track the boat to any part of the shoreline. The presence of boat docks I think should eliminate the idea at all.

Make the boat out of some degradable material and use a bee's wax candle and let the fun begin.