The Howard County Boat Float

Building a cardboard boat is all about trying to meet “The Challenge.”

Build a Person-Powered Cardboard Boat That is Capable of
Completing a 200-Yard Course Round Trip.

Along the way, you will enjoy encountering and dealing with many small details. Being able to look ahead to the satisfaction of knowing you accomplished something that most people won’t even try – building a boat made of corrugated cardboard.

First things first…start with some objective in mind. Maybe you want to build the fastest boat at the Boat Float. Perhaps you are more interested in one of the Judges Awards for design or eye appeal. Maybe you want to win the Best Dressed Team Award or the Team Spirit Award. Perhaps you want to get on television or be the featured photo in the newspaper. Or just maybe you want to take home the Titanic Award for the most spectacular sinking.

Next… start with a design idea, a vision of what you want your cardboard creation to look like. But consider this first—it doesn’t have to be a boat at all! It can be any design you like or want to try out. We’ve had jeeps, exotic cars, full-scale pick up trucks, school busses, fire trucks, and other vehicles. We’ve seen space shuttles, Elvis on his guitar, beds, foldout soft drink cans, personal computers (with a mouse that trailed in the water), a raft with a trailing shark fin, a floating outhouse, a taco, a bratwurst, a giant Tootsie Roll, Tessie the Loch Ness Monster, Deidra the Dragonfly, the Statue of Liberty hand (from “Planet of the Apes”), and so much more. Oh, sure, we’ve had lots of boats too: submarines, aircraft carriers, PT boats, lake freighters, pirate ships, the Exxon Valdez (with simulated oil slick), and so on.

Try this to save time…build a model using a manila folder or other heavy paper or lightweight cardboard. That way, you can fold, re-fold, and fold again to your heart’s content. You can cut it up, glue it together, and try out your design idea in a small scale before working on a full-sized creation. Or you can throw out an idea that sounded great, but just won’t work, then try something else before you have wasted any cardboard.

How about a little science? If you want, you can toss in a little physics or other sciences. Maybe you will choose to calculate the displacement of your design idea so that you will have some certainty about the buoyancy of your design. Here is the basic number: a cubic foot of water weighs about 62 pounds. That means that an 180-pound person will float in a boat that is 1 ft. x 1 ft. x 3 ft. – of course, that could be a bit uncomfortable! But at least you would know just how much boat you will need for you (and your crew) so you don’t over-design it and add unnecessary weight.

Then again, how about some art? Perhaps you have a really creative idea, maybe something that nobody has done before. Unless you get your kicks from putting lots of hours and making discoveries along the way -- hey, sometimes that can be great fun -- you may want to at least try out that unique or innovative idea in model form. If you want to put a palm tree in the middle of your "desert island," be sure you won't make the whole thing top-heavy -- unless, of course, you are trying for the Titanic Award.

Now, go full-scale . . . but first, think about this: make sure your creation will be able to get out the door of wherever you choose to build it. We have many tales of woe about boats that had to be dismantled -- or even trashed and rebuilt -- just because no one thought about the size of the boat and the size of the door.

Hmmm, where to get cardboard? Check our list of local suppliers. You might get cardboard from appliance stores. The shipping boxes for refrigerators and big freezers can be good possibilities. Maybe you can get boxes for TVs, bedding, bookcases, or other furniture. Of course, you can also use smaller sheets and glue them or fasten them together.

Creative problem solving is the name of the game. Whether you get your creative insights from methodical effort or from wide-ranging trail-and-error, building a cardboard boat can be -- no, make that, will be -- both fun and challenging.

FYI -- there are no plans, no pre-set designs, no step-by-step instructions here . . . no recipe cards, no fill-in-the-blank formats. The first ingredient in cardboard boat building is creativity. The second important ingredient is problem solving. Then there is cardboard, of course -- and it has to be corrugated.

Hey, maybe you are more the "wing it" type -- okay, get some cardboard, fold it a little, cut out any excess here and there, add a little glue or duct tape, maybe some paint or water sealant, and presto-chango, you have a boat for the event.

Let's see, other materials . . . you can use duct tape. You can use decorative paint and water sealant and other stuff. But first, take a look at "The Rules" to find a short list of substances that are not to be used. We're not trying to make it tough on you, but we are steering you away from stuff that is toxic, either for you or for the environment. There is also a difference in the materials that are allowed in the Class II cardboard creations, so be sure to check out that section of "The Rules."

Handling cardboard -- you will find it easier and more fun if you keep in mind a few tips.

Have fun! Be creative! If you can dream it, you can do it!
Grande Parade of Boat Teams

All of the boating teams will march into the boat launch area from the registration area. They should assemble by 12:15 PM and be ready to strut their stuff by 12:30 PM.

Clothing should be theme oriented “obviously the outfits should not contribute to your being a human anchor”.

Banners are encouraged for each teams march at the opening ceremony-if you really have that much time after constructing a boat from scratch.

Cheering by your supporters is a way to sway the judges-so if you don’t have a life, friends, or family bring loud team members.

Pomp and ceremony for this event will be greater than any Olympic Games (as far as we know). We look forward to your team helping us kick off a great day of fun and community spirit. THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS EVENT!