Make a model hydraulic boat lift

The Anderton boat lift is a hydraulic boat lift that provides a 50-foot vertical link between two navigable waterways in North West England. It is one of only two working boat lifts in the UK; the other is the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland.

This is one of a series of resources produced in association with Fairfield Control Systems that are designed to allow learners to use the theme of waterways to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology, Engineering and Science. This resource is based on the Anderton boat lift and the use of hydraulic systems.

Activity: Making a model hydraulic boat lift

The teacher will first discuss what is meant by a hydraulic system and how they are used in engineering applications such as cranes and brakes. The teacher will then demonstrate the steps shown in the presentation to make the model boat lift. Learners will then carry out the activity and produce their own models before showing their boat lift models to peers and asking what could be improved.

This activity can be simplified (particularly for less able students) by pre-cutting the templates and corrugated cardboard to size. An exemplar model could be used to illustrate what the final boat life should look like.   

Print out the handout for learners to cut out and use the templates.

As an extension students could investigate how much the boat lift can lift.

This activity is designed to take between 45-70 minutes to complete.

Tools/resources required

• Corrugated cardboard sheets
• 10 ml syringes
• Cable ties (Size: 20 cm length)
• 3 mm clear plastic tube
• Water and measuring jugs
• Food dye
• Pencils
• Sticky tack
• Adhesive
• Masking tape, sticky tape or hot glue gun (optional)
• Craft knife and cutting mat (teacher only)

The engineering context

The waterways (including their protection, maintenance and control) is an excellent context to explore opportunities that working in the engineering industry presents. For example, constructing locks, building narrowboats or making and maintaining boat lifts.

Engineers often make models of working systems to test how they function. For example, a crane designer will make models of different crane designs to see which structures can provide the best support and which designs can lift the heaviest object.

Suggested learning outcomes

By the end of this free resource students will be able to know the difference between pneumatic and hydraulic systems; know that 3D shapes can be constructed using templates; and be able to make a model of a simple boat lift model using syringes.

Download the free Making a model hydraulic boat lift activity sheet below!

All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.

The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

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