Students construct cardboard boats for race

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Some are doing it for a required assignment, some for extra credit and others just for fun.

All it takes is duct tape, cardboard and some basic industrial knowledge.

The School of Engineering and Technology will be sponsoring its 13th annual Cardboard Boat Race at the Rose Ponds near the Student Activity Center this Homecoming. The race begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Participants will include all EGR 120: Introduction to Engineering students and any other interested student groups. The race is timed and expected to have 200 or more participants with about 40 boats.

“I think it’s fun, you get to build something with your hands,” said Brian DeJong, assistant professor of engineering and technology and an overseer of the event.

The groups that participate are typically the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, Society of Physics Students and other engineering-related groups on campus.

Teams of three or four entering the contest are allowed to use only cardboard, duct tape and liquid nails to create a boat and paddles that will race the length of approximately three football fields. They are also allowed creativity with boat design, decoration and team spirit options.

A new element to the competition will allow students to buy their own materials with 100 “boat bucks,” DeJong said. It will allow students to vary the amount of cardboard, duct tape, and liquid nails they use.

“It makes the students realize that there’s some economics involved and adds more diversity to the boats,” said Terence Lerch, chairman and associate professor of engineering and technology.

Prizes have not yet been finalized, but in previous years, winners received gift certificates and plaques. Teams also hope to beat the record time of five minutes and 43 seconds set in 2004.

Last year’s winning team, “Friends of Craig,” came close with a time of 5 minutes and 49 seconds.

“Its during homecoming so there’s a crowd to cheer you on and laugh if you sink,” DeJong said.