Leonardo da Vinci was a polymath of the Renaissance era known for his contributions to various fields, including art, science, engineering, and anatomy. Leonardo da Vinci's designs were often ahead of his time, it's important to note that many of his inventions, including the paddleboat, were conceptual and might not have been built or tested during his lifetime. His notebooks contain numerous sketches and ideas that provide insights into his creative process and the depth of his curiosity about the natural world and technology.
Leonardo's paddleboat used large wheel-shaped paddles that propelled it through water. In his design, sailors worked foot pedals to rotate the paddles. To increase the power of the rowers, cog-wheels and gears were used to multiply the number of revolutions of the paddles.
The Japanese paper artist M. Kajiwara has created a paper craft inspired by a paddle boat sketched by Leonardo da Vinci. You can play by turning both wheels. It requires three sheets of paper and is distributed at Canon Creative Park.
Download and build your own Leonardo da Vinci Paddle Boat Papercraft (by M. Kajiwara).
