Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has participated in the concrete canoe competition since 1977. The competition is a well-known event drawing much interest from alumni and community members. This year's competition is April 24 at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

The purpose of the competition is for students to design and construct a canoe made primarily of concrete that will achieve the right balance for optimum speed, maneuverability, and strength, for racing on the water.

The competition is comprised of both academic and race events. Teams must submit a design paper, and prepare and deliver a business presentation describing their project.

Seventy percent of the scoring for the competition is based on aesthetics and durability of the final product, and engineering design and construction principles. Also included in that 70 percent is the written report and oratory skills. The other 30 percent of scoring is based on five race events--women's endurance, men's endurance, women's sprint, men's sprint, and co-ed sprint.

Team members began the building process by using computer software to design the canoe. Construction began with making cross sections to make the mold. While the mold was being constructed the team tested several different concrete mix designs to achieve the highest strength concrete with the lowest density. This year's mix weighs less than the water, and is twice as strong as the mix used last year. The mix was then chosen and the concrete is placed, dried, taken out of the mold and sanded. The end result of there efforts is a canoe 19 feet long, and three feet wide that weights 200 lbs. and floats.

Not only did the team build the canoe, but also members of the paddling team, coached by a member of the Olympic Dragon Boat Team in Dubuque, practiced their technique. The dedicated members practiced in fall until ice appeared, and began practicing as soon as there was open water this spring.

Team captain John Kevern commented about the 20 students on the concrete canoe team and this year's canoe saying, "I am very proud of this year's team. This year is the year Platteville will dominate the competition, leaving everyone else to fight for second."

Kevern also said, "This year's canoe is a modified version of last year's which was successful. The concrete is much lighter and stronger so the canoe should be faster. Our paper is one of the best ever to come out of Platteville and the presentation will also follow. All parts of the competition have turned out better then expected."

For more information on this year's competition or to join the team visit http://www.uwplatt.edu/asce.