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October, 2024

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Ideas to help me win $400! (+Karma for legit responses)

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1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
our school is having  a race across a pond and we need to make a boat that can carry 4 people across a pond. the winners get 400 bucks. the race is this weekend so we gotta make it quickly.

any ideas on how to make a quick boat capable of going sort of fast? were probably going to use paddles to move it so no engine or anything can be used.

of course, + karma will be given for good ideas
Sep 17 2008 8:58PM
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Phill.
Posts: 1149 - Karma: 37
a shit load of bottle rockets?????
Sep 17 2008 8:59PM
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Hansel.
Posts: 4583 - Karma: 112
make a raft outa 2x4s
Sep 17 2008 8:59PM
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Mike34113
Posts: 1088 - Karma: 112
get wood then build a raft and strap tons of 2 liter bottles to the bottom of it to make it float. i did that at my lake.
Sep 17 2008 9:00PM
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Bob_Gnarley
Posts: 1583 - Karma: 0
you could use a sail if it is windy outside, or you could get jet turbines. I think you could win the race if you had the jet turbines, but thats just my opinion. lol
Sep 17 2008 9:01PM
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1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
too heavy man
Sep 17 2008 9:04PM
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Goobie
Posts: 615 - Karma: 30
buy like 4 inflatable pool rafts and tie them together
Sep 17 2008 9:05PM
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Mike34113
Posts: 1088 - Karma: 112
what are the rules for this?
Sep 17 2008 9:05PM
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1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
Johnson Pond Regatta Rules


Creating your boat:

∗    No inflatables can be used (actual boat materials)
o    (No reimbursements will be made)
∗    No professional work on the boat is allowed (including sealant)
∗    You must make your own paddles

Regatta Rules:
∗    The boats will be placed in the water and after a signal all four team members can board their boat and start to paddle!
∗    The entire team must make it across the lake afloat where on the other side, one member will get off the boat and grab a designated flag from someone on land while the rest of the team turns the boat around.  Then, everyone races back to where they started to cross the finish line!
∗    There will be multiple heats of teams and the winners of each heat will compete in the finals
∗    All participants will wear life jackets (which will be provided)

Prizes!!:

∗    First Place Team: $400
∗    Spirit Prize: $200



so the inflatable idea is good, but not going to work
Sep 17 2008 9:08PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Get hella noodles, like the ones you use in pools. Make a canoe shaped thing out of them by tying them in bundles, and make an outrigger so you dont flip.
Sep 17 2008 9:08PM
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Mike34113
Posts: 1088 - Karma: 112
if at all possible try and find some of those big water jugs that are at like doctors offices or buisness places. they can make just about anything float. for the paddle ur gonna want something sturdy but light. go with some hard plastic. thats all i got for ya
Sep 17 2008 9:10PM
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4frntfisherman
Posts: 122 - Karma: 20
get two pieces of marine grade styrofoam (docks have this) then glue a piece of plywood over the top (makes a pontoon type boat) sits high and skoots across the water fast. just coordinate the paddling though, cause it's hard to steer
Sep 17 2008 9:12PM
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Goobie
Posts: 615 - Karma: 30
yeah then you should definitely go with the 2x4 and water bottle idea but build it like a catamaran so you dont flip
Sep 17 2008 9:14PM
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1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
+ K given out for good answers

still looking for more ideas though
Sep 17 2008 9:51PM
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creighton
Posts: 3837 - Karma: 3,400
2bi4s and Styrofoam
Sep 17 2008 9:58PM
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JonathonChandler
Posts: 905 - Karma: 423
i have done this before but with cardboard. Make a surf board and paddle your asses as fast as you can. but that would mean you would have to use 4 surf boards, so idk if that would work for the rules. but you could attach them all together with a long string so "it is one boat'
Sep 17 2008 10:20PM
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BeerGoggles
Posts: 712 - Karma: 11
You could possibly add a little pedal boat type rotor/pedal mechanism depending on how you build the boat.
Sep 17 2008 10:24PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
put some fins on the bottom, or rig up something so that you go straight. I'll bet most people will flounder back and forth. if you go straight you're gold, and learn how to paddle. this sounds like a ton of fun actually.
Sep 17 2008 10:25PM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
heres a few pictures of cardboard boats i have made and raced. maybe it will give you some ideas. they both floated really well. the UFO was actually the longest floating out of all the boats there

this year
Click for larger image

last year.
Click for larger image
Sep 17 2008 10:31PM
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4frntfisherman
Posts: 122 - Karma: 20
well, how'd it go?
Sep 21 2008 4:48PM
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natedogg789435
Posts: 1177 - Karma: 9
the best answer was too sabatoge everyone elses boats
Sep 21 2008 4:52PM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10
Ya I'd say bottles are the way to go. Like one of these. http://www.chawater.com/images/bottle.jpg
They can be purchased for a few bucks or you can probably find used ones. I duno the area, but paddles or mabey a sail?
Sep 21 2008 5:25PM
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PhaedeD
Posts: 11498 - Karma: 327
use bikes
Sep 21 2008 7:47PM
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MAC.D
Posts: 5654 - Karma: 344
get some big plastic trash cans and seal them shut with duct  tape. then make like 3 on either side to make two pontoon and make a deck over them.
Sep 21 2008 7:57PM
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ax_murderer
Posts: 3322 - Karma: 30
a bathtub?
Sep 21 2008 7:58PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
big plastic barrels cut in half?   


make a small an outrigger,

paddles make some with a small piece of ply wood (cut in the shape of a paddle)  attached to a 2x2 for a handle...
Sep 21 2008 8:01PM
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gordie.
Posts: 2014 - Karma: 84
i like the barrels idea. just take 2 big plastic barrels, cut them lengthwise, then place them all on the ground so that the open side is facing up, then tie them all together. one little compartment for each person. then just get some paddles and your golden. or just win the spirit award, still get 200 bucks
Sep 21 2008 8:33PM
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St.Steezy
Posts: 4228 - Karma: 20
plus styrofoam.
Sep 21 2008 8:34PM
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