Start by cutting the plywood in half to create two 4' x 4' sections. Mark the center of three sides on one section. Use a straight edge to draw lines connecting the marks to form a point for the front of the ship. Cut along the lines.

Cut 8 of the 2" x 2" boards in half to get 16 4' sections. Cut 4 of the 2" x 2" boards into 45" sections, resulting in 8 pieces. Cut 12 of the 2" x 2" boards into 24 pieces of 18" and 24 pieces of 30". Cut 6 30" sections from 2 more boards. Cut 8 24" sections from the last 2 boards.

Begin building the frame for the back section of the boat. Gather 4 48" boards, 4 45" boards, and 16 30" boards. Construct 2 rectangles by joining 2 of the 48" boards with 2 of the 30" boards, screwing through the 48" boards into the ends of the 30" boards. Join the rectangles by attaching 4 of the 45" boards to the top and bottom of each side. Add 3 more 30" boards to each side of the square, spacing them about 1 foot apart. Screw the square piece of plywood onto one side of the frame.

Repeat the process to create the frame for the front of the boat. Make 2 rectangles by joining 2 24" boards with 2 30" boards, keeping the 30" boards on the inside. Join the 2 rectangles together on one side with 2 of the 45" boards. Place the second piece of plywood on top of this rectangle, aligning it around the square edge. For the point, join 2 of the 48" 2" x 2" boards together to form a 90-degree angle. Place it on top of the plywood, align with the angled edge, and draw lines where they meet the rectangular frame to mark where to cut. Make another angled section using the same measurements and angle cut. Join 2 of these V's together with a 30" 2" x 2". Attach the free ends to the rectangular frame. Fill in the sides with more 30" braces, spaced about 12" apart.

Use 18" boards to build the railings. Construct two 48" x 18" rectangles and join them with two 48" boards on one end. Add additional 18" boards between them, spaced 12 inches apart. For the angled railing, make two 24" x 18" rectangles and two V-shaped sections. Join them together and fill in with 18" boards spaced 12 inches apart.

Cut styrofoam pieces to fit the outside of the frame: five pieces at 48" wide x 33" tall, two pieces at 24" wide x 33" tall, and two pieces at 36" wide x 33" tall. Screw the styrofoam onto the frame, aligning it with the top of the plywood. Tape around all the edges with wide tape.

Screw the railings onto the top side of the plywood, ensuring they reach the edge of the plywood but not the styrofoam. Hang rope across the side without railings to prevent kids from climbing on it.

Paint the ship. Use black, light grey, or white for better visibility at night.

Make the mast by cutting a 6-foot piece of 3/4" PVC pipe. Drill two 1-inch holes in a 4" drain pipe, one about 1 foot from the top and the other 3 feet down. Insert the 6-foot PVC pipe through the top hole and an 8-foot PVC pipe through the lower hole. Secure them with picture wire threaded through 1/8" holes drilled on either side of the drain pipe.

Position the front and back parts of the ship 3 to 4 feet apart. Cut holes in the center of the plywood using a 4 3/4" hole saw for the masts. Place an umbrella stand under the hole or hammer two pieces of rebar into the ground. Slide the mast through the hole onto the umbrella stand or over the rebar. Drape creepy cloth over the poles on the mast to create sails, securing with picture wire if needed.

Attach a steering wheel with a pirate captain figure to the back of the ship.

Cut 4-inch holes in the side of the ship and insert painted black 4" PVC pipes. Place a strobe light set on low speed at the bottom of each pipe to simulate firing. Use a fog machine for each cannon to create smoke effects.

Hang a Jack Sparrow flag from the front of the ship by attaching an extra piece of 2" x 2" wood to the railing and stapling the flag to it.

Point green and/or blue flood lights at the sails to make them light up. Place them at the bottom of the mast pointing up or higher up, like on the roof or in a tree.