April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge
by Rick Crook

Hello Chuck,

Thought your readers might be interested in our "April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge" up here in Pender Harbour, British Columbia. Held on the last weekend in April, teams of four are given 3 hours to build a boat out of a fixed set of materials, using only hand tools and cordless drills and then race them around a 10 minute course. Until this year, the bill of materials was:

  • 3 sheets 3/8 sheathing ply
  • 12 - 8 foot 1X2
  • 2 - 8 foot 2X2
  • 1 pound 1 1/4" screws
  • 1/2 pound nails
  • 3 tubes acrylic fast dry caulking
  • 10' X 10' poly sheet
  • 25 feet 1/4" poly rope

It is absolutely amazing how many different boats were designed to these rules, canoes predominate, but a nice skiff, a small catamaran, and a plywood 4 man skull were also built.

This year, we have raised the stakes by removing one of the sheets of plywood from the materials, and the course will involve a bit of a slalom to test maneuverability.

I have enclosed a few photos from years past, and I would challenge your readers to come out to Pender Harbour and enter this years event. Also attached is a copy of the poster (see above - click to enlarge).

thanks

Rick Crook

(click images to enlarge)