Bodega Bay Wooden Boat Challenge

Okay the following is a bit of an advertisement for an event coming up in Bodega Bay that is probably right up the alley of all you kayak pimpers, pvc cart builders, and drift boat style anchor fabricators (except is this case you actually have to make the whole boat).   

As some of you know I work at the Bodega Marine Lab and a group of us here at the lab plan on entering this race.  Until this year this has always been just a "bath tub" race where we would bring in a pre-made raft to race.  This year however, the format has been changed and we have to make our boat on the premises in less than 3 hours out of some plywood, a plastic sheet, a few screws, some 1' x 1' s and some caulking (see full list of materials below).   If any of you are interested in participating great, you should try and can get a NCKA team together.  The entry cost is $200, but maybe you can get some sponsers to kick in.  Think about it a nice big NCKA logo on one side and a GWKC logo on the other or something.

However, if you don't plan on participating and have some good design ideas on how to make a fast sea worthy boat out of these materials in less than 3 hours I would love to hear from you.   Feel free to either post ideas here on this thread or PM me.

Thanks,
Brian

34TH ANNUAL 
BODEGA BAY FISHERMAN’S FESTIVAL
APRIL 21ST AND 22ND  2007
 
WOODEN BOAT CHALLENGE
Does your team have what it takes to build a boat in three hours (with materials provided), race it around a short, marked course (without sinking) and do it faster than any other team?  If so, be at:
 
WESTSIDE PARK, Saturday, April 21st
CONSTRUCTION between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. RACE starts at 1:45 pm.
 
Each team gets a complete materials package and a Tee-shirt for each member.
Multiple prizes and trophies will be awarded.
Entry fee $200.00, Juniors (15 and under) $100.00. Sponsorships encouraged.
100% of fees support local charities
 
RULES:

   1. Teams will consist of a maximum of 4 members, pre-registered
   2. Building time is 3 hours, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
   3. Only the provided materials may be incorporated into the boat, with the exception of decorations-these may not be structural. Sawhorses, tarps and poles may be used, but must remain ashore during the race.
   4. The Boat must be built using ONLY non-power tools, with the exception of battery-powered drills/screw guns.
   5. Team members (minimum one) must power the boat.  No motors permitted. Paddles or oars must be made from materials provided.
   6. Racers must wear Personal Flotation Devices (limited loaners available). A bailing device must be carried in the boat during the race (provided).

 
Boat Building Materials (Provided):
2 sheets of 3/8” x 4’ x 8’ plywood
12 pieces of 1” x 2” x 8’ lumber
2 pieces of 2” x 2” x 8’ lumber
2 lbs of 1 ¼” deck screws
½ lb of 1 ½” nails
1 roll of duct tape, 3 tubes of caulking
25’ of poly rope, 1 piece of poly sheeting (9’ x 10’)
 
e-mail : [email protected]
 
PRIZES AND TROPHIES
Race winners
1st  Prize,: Ultimate Bragging Rights:  Donated gifts (to be determined) plus Trophy
                 Team Name engraved on the Wooden Boat Challenge Perpetual Trophy
2nd Prize:  Great Bragging Rights: Gift plus Trophy
3rd Prize:   Bragging Rights: Gift plus Trophy
 
SPIFFY SKIFFY AWARD  for best decorated boat and crew
MASTER SHIP’S CARPENTER AWARD for superior workmanship
CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS AWARD  for perseverance in the face of adversity
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD  for the boat/team voted the favorite by Festival Visitors
Participant Awards for all boat-builders.

Wooden Boat Challenge Application
Complete registration forms and information packet will be mailed to applicants
 
TEAM NAME:___________________________________________________________
Team Sponsor: ___________________________________________________________
 
Team Contact person: _____________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Telephone: _______________________E-mail_________________________________
 
Team Members:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Entries limited by available space, so apply early, but no later than April 6.
Make check payable to Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival
 (an IRS-registered Non-Profit)
 
Mail To:
Wooden Boat Challenge
P.O. Box 576
Bodega Bay, Ca 94923
email:  [email protected]
 
Sponsors
Burgess Lumber, Diekmanns Bay Store, Fastenal Company, Lucas Wharf, Northern Light Surf Shop, Sonoma County Parks, West Marine, Western Fiberglass, Will’s Bait & Tackle, Woodcraft

Sounds very cool. I've got some ideas, and am fairly handy with tools. Might even have the WAF to participate.

Scott

Scott,

I hope you can get a team together, I'm sure the organizers would like to see as much participation as they can get.  If however you find yourself teamless, I could really use a few design ideas.

Brian

Wow, right up my alley.
The secret weapon tools include lots of various clamps, a jig to build the structure on top of using these clamps for very fast, waterproof sealing along the panel seams. 15 % of the small wood would be retention jams pressing the panels really tight. Like this, go to middle of page 2 on this post:
http://jemwatercraft.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1692&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
Then a mitre box will make faster, cleaner cuts. The hard part is how to cut the plywood in long straight strips and a few with curves. Clamping a sacrificial straight edge (2x4) to the plywood would work good enough, maybe bring some tree trunk sections to position the person sawing higher for leverage.
Oars are probably an advantage vs paddles if the one member practices some beforehand. A rope operated rudder made from ply would be important too. If a small child is able to control the rudder, then the paddler can concentrate on speed.
Three caulk guns, coarse sand paper, files, wood plane, shaver, scrapper, drill bits, bailing wire, 20 minutes epoxy (if allowed), medium CA (if allowed), CA kicker if allowed.
No nails, screws below the waterline would help to assure no sinking.
The artistic part would be to make a black stencil NCKF on the sides and some name like "Bodega Bay I"  on the stern.
Craig

Craig,

I figured this might get your attention.  The structural jig is one thing I've already decided is a must.  However, I haven't made up my mind between a plywood panelled boat as you seem to suggest.

Jmairey once called said of me "bsteves, you are the resident whiz with google I have to say"  I'd hate to dissapoint him so I did some searching and here is what I found...

I'm guessing the plywood boat you have in mind would look something like this....



This seems to be the model for a contest run at the "wooden boat show" in South Carolina.

Another option would be a skin on kayak design using the plastic sheeting over a wooden frame like this...

.

This seems to be what everyone does at the "April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge" up in British Columbia (where this photo was taken).  The rules of the Bodega Bay boat building challenge seem to be loosely based on this "April Tools" race so I'm guessing the kayak is the way to go. 

Okay, I've now given up my secret plans.  Any ideas on how to best implement them in less than 3 hours would be greatly appreciated.  My idea so far is to prebuild a jig to help create the frame.  Then use the polysheeting, duct tape, and a stable gun or the nails to stretch the skin on.  The plywood would be used in creating a seat a foot rest within the kayak as well as some structural elements in the bow and stern.  Oh and I guess I'd have to use some of the plywood for a paddle or sorts.

Brian

Yep, exactly.
The 1st pic is my exact concept in mind. The only thing to change is have one crude seat about 60% back from the bow to position the person oaring, it has room for a small kid controlling the rudder too.
The skin-on-frame didn't come to mind because of the plywood the only mat'l holding water out, but that is quite an idea to really think about and decide at the last minute minute to go that approach.
I've never done a SOF project so I can't offer anything other than this website for materials, etc.:
http://shamankayaks.com/shaman/kayaks.asp
This page is showing skin info:
http://shamankayaks.com/shaman/kayaks_2.asp
Craig

Here's a link to the a Canadian Coast Guard photo journal after they competed in the Canadian version of this competetion the "April Tools Boat Building Challenge"

http://www.ccga12.org/gallery/?action=album&gaid=26

Seems that most of the entrants used the skin-on-frame kayak or canoe design.

My Hobie drive could be the propulsion for the plywood rowboat design. They make a larger sail blade kit now so it could prove quite intimadating to the others teams!
A trunk made from the plywood is easily made, the draft (water) is contained inside.

Given that you have to make your own paddle or oar out of the materials provided, I'm guessing that wouldn't allow a hobie drive.  Unless of course there was a way of concealling it from the judges.. it is mostly underwater after all.  Hmm...
And it is often windy in Bodega Harbor in April... a sail of some sort might also help with speed... at least in the down wind direction.

Brian

Brian,

If it is a race, then the kayak design will be faster hands down.  I like the sail idea especially if the course is not just a straight line, you will have a good advantage down wind, unless it is just a straight line down wind then that is denfniatly the way to go.

Brian,
I read this rule to say no motors,  the paddles, oars are perhaps leading others off the winning approach:
 5. Team members (minimum one) must power the boat.  No motors permitted. Paddles or oars must be made from materials provided.

Here is link to a post showing how a trunk is made:
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/05/articles/mirage/free.cfm

I see that loop hole.  Will the judges think the same way?

I'm guessing that the judges would see the mirage drive as a form of paddle and therefore it would have had to been made with the materials provided.  But, I could be wrong.

As for the race itself, previous bathtub races have always been of the basic ...out, around the bouy and back type.  I can't imagine them doing anything different this year.

Brian,
Another thing to ask the judges is if epoxy is allowed, not only for attachment, but to "engine wash" the plywood panels so that water doesn't soak into the wood.
The engine wash is adding reducer or rubbing alcohol to the 1-1 hardener/epoxy thinning to a syrup consistancy.
When Cascade Designs ended the SeaLine product line, I bought all the remaining Trim Tab kits so I have them to use for controlling the rudder with stainless steel braided cable/housing.
Craig

I'd not want to wager on the judges allowing any materials to build or propel the craft, that weren't supplied by the contest.

No mirage drive. No epoxy. No staples

I'd get real good at scarf joints


Scott