Beer Can Boat

A nine-metre boat made entirely from empty beer cans has completed its maiden voyage from Ipswich to Brisbane.

Army reservists Brad Gillam, Rob Meharg and Chris Taylor used an estimated 8000 FourX Gold "tinnies", glued together with more than a dozen cartons of silicone, to build the boat after lamenting the lack of fishing spots near their hometown of Toowoomba 12 months ago.

But the project took on a special significance when Mr Gillam and wife Belinda lost their 12 week-old daughter Saraya to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in January.

The three day journey along the Brisbane River from Karalee was held in the little girl's memory and has helped raise nearly $60,000 for the SIDS and Kids foundation.

The crew made several stops before docking at Bulimba naval barracks for a mock naval ceremony this morning.

Despite suffering a few dented cans along the way, skipper Mr Gillam, 29, said the vessel had held up well against the rain and strong wash from passing City Cats.

"We did a lot of testing and trial and error with the boat to make sure it was sound," Mr Gillam said.

"Quite a bit of research went into it, and while it doesn't go a million miles an hour, it is relaxing when you're sailing along."

He said friends and neighbours had helped to provide - and empty - about 90 boxes of beer over several months.

"There was never a shortage of people wanting to come and have a beer with us, so getting the cans wasn't a problem," Mr Gillam said.

"Our neighbours have been very patient as well, especially when we were out testing the cannon at 10 o'clock at night."

Mr Meharg and Mr Taylor had been on a deployment mission in the Solomon Islands when they learnt of Saraya's death. It was immediately decided that they would try to raise money for the charity which had come to the aid of the Gillams.

Mrs Gillam, 29, said the project had helped her husband to keep busy and cope with the grief of losing their only child.

"You go through the shock and the numbness and then back to the shock again," Mrs Gillam told brisbanetimes.com.au.

"The stages of grief go back and forth and it is still really raw.

"We have a lot more counselling and support ahead of us to get through it but this has been a way for Brad to use his grief for something positive."