Boat Builders

Boat Builders

Year: 1938

Runtime: 9 mins

Language: English

Director: Ben Sharpsteen

AnimationComedy

Mickey purchases a boat kit and ropes in Goofy and Donald to put it together, following the promise that it’s “so simple a child could do it.” Their enthusiastic but clumsy efforts cause numerous setbacks, yet they finally prepare the ship, the Queen Minnie, for a grand launch—only for the collapsible sections to give way the moment it’s christened.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Boat Builders yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Boat Builders (1938)

Trace every key event in Boat Builders (1938) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Blueprint inspiration

Mickey, Donald, and Goofy study the Ready-Cut Folding Boat blueprints, joking about how simple the instructions seem. They decide to name the vessel Queen Minnie. The moment sets the tone for a goofy, overconfident build.

Quayside workshop
2

Unpacking the keel

They open the box containing the boat keel and prepare to assemble it. Mickey urges them to pull a rope to unfold the keel, but the gag arises as the rope entangles them while they recite lines from the blueprint. The scene shows that the plan is as clumsy as it is optimistic.

Dock
3

Raising the mast

Mickey places the mast box on a slot and opens it. He climbs the mast to pull it up, ignoring the blueprint warning not to stand on the mast. The mast stretches toward the sky as Mickey stands atop it.

Deck
4

Goofy's nail troubles

Goofy hammers boards at the bow, but each nail springs back. The misfires knock him about until he tumbles off the dock onto a barrel of nails. He reads the word on the barrel and realizes it contains nails, yelps, then grabs the boat's stem.

Dock/Front of boat
5

Donald's rudder chaos

Donald sits on a board suspended from the stern to paint the rudder red. Mickey attaches the ship's wheel to the helm and tries to turn the wheel while Donald clings to the rudder to keep it still. The seat tangles around the rudder and the wheel spins, giving Donald a comic moustache from the paint.

Stern
6

Figurehead romance

Goofy places the mermaid figurehead box on the bow and sees what he thinks is a real woman. He flirts with it, kisses it, and becomes lovesick, dancing on a crate. When Mickey moves the figurehead toward the bow, Goofy notices it is missing, foreshadowing trouble.

Bow
7

Figurehead missing and whistle incident

As Mickey carries the figurehead toward the bow, its tailfin catches the whistle cord and sounds the whistle. Goofy mistakes the whistle for the lady calling and rushes to hug the caller. He ends up embracing the funnel, rattling the boat and landing on the anchor.

Deck
8

Maiden voyage ceremony

A ceremony is held to celebrate the Queen Minnie s maiden voyage, with sailors gathered around the ship. A brass band plays Anchors Aweigh as Minnie prepares to christen the boat with a champagne bottle.

Harbor
9

Christening mishap

Minnie hammers the champagne bottle against the hull a little too vigorously during the christening. The boat buckles and begins to fall apart, sending the trio rolling across the broken hull pieces.

Dockside
10

Floating debris and refrain

The three end up floating on the scattered parts of the Queen Minnie. Mickey repeats the line that started the project, while Donald groans Ah phooey at their situation. They drift in the water, clinging to wood scraps as the joke lingers.

Sea
11

Final image

The cartoon ends with the trio stranded on fragments, still trying to piece together anything resembling a boat. The running gag underscores the intention behind the simple blueprint and the inevitable slapstick that accompanies it.

Sea

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:17

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Boat Builders Summary

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Boat Builders Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Boat Builders

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Boat Builders

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