Get set to get wet! Armed with cardboard, duct tape and a few other odds and ends, junior and senior high school students from across the province use their skill and ingenuity to transform these materials into a vessel for the water. Not only does their "boat" need to be quick, but it must be capable of carrying passengers as well.

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News Coverage from the 2009 Cardboard Boat Races:

Nov 25, 2009 Calgary Metro
Have Board will travel

Nov 2, 2009  Citytv
Sink or swim time

Nov 2, 2009  Edmonton Sun
Cardboard boat race testing skills

Students are up to the challenge and those who participate have a great time! The experience helps develop new skills, in addition to strengthening their leadership, teamwork and problem solving ability.

Objectives

• Design and construct a boat with only the supplied materials in 1½ hours or less.
• The boat should float, carry lots of weight and go fast.

Teachers

This challenge is open ended, problem solving in nature, paralleling the thrust of broad-based curriculum. It involves:

• design, research & presentation
• principles of structure, strength, rigidity
• water permeability
• propulsion
• friction and direction control
• buoyancy and displacement
• adhesives and bonding
• teamwork and FUN

Material Supplied By Skills Canada Alberta:

• One roll of packing tape
• Junior High: Two 4 ft x 8 ft sheets of 1/4 inch cardboard
• NEW! Senior High: four 4 ft x 4 ft sheets of 1/4 inch cardboard
• 3. 25 feet of string (8 meters) 
• One small roll of duct tape (8 meters)
• Two exacto knives
• One laminated sheet with team number 
• Two pencils 
• Surprise item on competition day (must be used in the competition)

Materials Supplied By Each Team:

• 2 straight edges/rulers of any length or size 2 tape measures

RULES & REGULATIONS

1)A design sketch of each team’s boat must be submitted to the judges during construction on the day of the event. Points will be awarded for sketch innovation and how closely construction follows the design.

2) In the speed event, all teams must start on the pool deck, with their boats out of the water. Once the whistle is blown and the time begins, teams will then place their boats into the water. Team members are allowed to stabilize the boat in the pool at the beginning of the race in order to allow the rider to smoothly enter the boat. Team members stabilizing the boat must not be more than one arm’s length from the edge of the pool.

3) No running starts, lying down on the boat, or kicking are allowed (an infraction will result in a three point penalty).

4) Each team must secure the laminated number to the front of the boat.

5)The speed event is completed by having one part of the boat touching the wall.

6) Any devices used to propel the boat during the speed event must be constructed from the provided material during the allotted construction time.

7) In the speed event, teams will race in heats against the clock. Additional points will be awarded to the 10 fastest overall times.

8) In the weight event, the weight of three of the team's members must be supported for 1 minute to receive full points. Judges discretion will be used to determine if the boat is floating and holding the full weight of the competitors.

9) No external help during the competition (i.e. from teachers, parents, advisors, etc.)

10) Only the provided construction materials may be used to build the boat.

11) All cutting must be done on the provided cutting board to prevent floor damage. Judges will deduct points if teams make cuts without the use of the cutting board.

12) Decorations must not aid in the floatation or the structure of the boat. A maximum of $20.00 is allowed to decorate the boat. Decorations that may become dislodged from the boat in the water cannot be used. No paint, sealers, waterproofing agents, string, glue, or additional tape is permitted.

GENERAL INFORMATION IN PREPARATION

Registration information will be posted in the fall of 2010.

Register early! Registration and additional team requests are awarded on a first come, first serve basis! There is a 50 team limit to the Northern and Southern events. Teams should research the design and construction of their boat. Teams prepare a design sketch of their boat in advance. Remember that points are awarded for the sketch! It is helpful for students to build and test a prototype of their boat in preparation. Plan the decoration material for your boat (max. $20 cost limit, and NO paint, sealers, waterproofing agents, glue, string, or tape are permitted). Remember that teams earn points for the visual appeal of their boat!

ON THE DAY

Students should arrive with their swimsuits underneath their clothing and bring an extra set of warm, dry clothing to change into for the trip home. Students should bring a bag lunch. No lunch will be provided. Bring a lock to protect any valuables in the pool change rooms. Bring the boat decorations (decorations cannot exceed $20.00). Schools are encouraged to bring a school or club banner to cheer on their teams! Mascots, cheerleaders, and enthusiastic friends and family welcome!!