How was a conestoga wagon turned into a boat

Removing the wheels and axles.

Marshal Dillon and Ward Bond called up Lucas McCain who came over with a wrench. Then the three of them took the wheels off and got a hold of Chester and Festus who helped them push it into the water.

Inside sealed with tar or pitch.

They are made of wood. Given a chance they will float across a stream.

Regards,
Dan

The original Conestoga wagons were built by German immigrants who in fact were boat builders. often referred to as the ''inland ship of commerce'' because of its capacity to haul large amounts of goods over land - the standard Conestoga wagon was built like a small boat.
The smaller version of the Conestoga was often referred to as the ''Prairie Schooner''. But, other than their builders, their shapes, & their ''nick names''. there is no history of them actually being ''turned into boats'' on any mass scale or regular basis. It would have been cheaper & more practical to build a boat & or sell the wagon & buy a boat & have plenty of change left over; as these wagons were about the most valued assest (aside from ones land or home) that one could own.
The Conestoga wagons were very large, heavy, & had beds shaped like boats, with angled ends & a floor that sloped to the middle so barrels would not roll out.
The ''Prairie Schooner,'' was a half-sized version of the Conestoga that typically measured 4' wide & 10' to 12' in length & were manufactured by the ''Studebaker'' brothers (remember their cars?). Comments from historic documents have said that the Prairie Schooner offered shelter almost as good as a house. The wagon box, or bed, was made of hardwoods to resist shrinking in the dry air of the plains & deserts the emigrants had to cross. It was 2' to 3' deep, rendered watertight & floated across slow-moving rivers. The side boards were beveled outwards to keep rain from coming in under the edges of the bonnet, & to help keep out river water from splashing over the sides.
Drivers rode on the left side of the wagon, allowing them to ''steer'' the team with their right hand while braking with the left. This early configuration is believed to have established the practice of driving on the right side of the road in America.

So. did anyone actually ever turn a Conestoga into an actual boat? They could have easily enough by simply taking off the wheels. but did they as a matter of practice? Probably not if they could avoid it, as the wagon was much too valuable.