General Rules

 

1. Only corrugated cardboard may be used. It can be of any thickness but must not be bonded to any other material such as vinyl. Non-corrugated material may not be used, especially the kind of resin or wax-type coating found in packing cases. No solid cardboard and no carpet roll tubes may be used to strengthen the hull or boat structure.

 

2. Wood, metal, Styrofoam, or other materials that would aid in flotation or make the hull rigid are prohibited. This restriction applies to the keel, transom, ribs, hull, etc.

 

3. No material such as Styrofoam or rubber inflation devices may be used to provide “buoyancy” or maintain flotation. No sandbags or similar materials may be used for ballast.

 

4. Hulls may be painted with any “one-part” paint. No epoxy glues, fiberglass resins or “multi-part” varnishes or paints may be used. Hulls may not be “wrapped” in plastic, duct tape or anything else. Tar based substances like roof coatings are not permitted.

 

5. Joints and seams may be glued and/or taped. Duct tape, contact cement, rubber cement, or construction adhesive may be used. No nails or metal or wood fasteners or staples may be used in the construction of the boat (small amounts may be used for removable decoration only).

 

6. Design is builder’s choice. Let your “imagination” reign supreme!! However, if any removable pieces are removed for paddling, the part being raced must be recognizable from the original design. If not recognizable, the judges will impose a 5-point penalty, out of 25 possible points, in the Original Design judging. (Modified 10/24/14).

 

7. Decorations may be made from any material but may not be used to reinforce the actual structure of the boat.

 

8. Boats from previous years are welcome back, with the following stipulations:

 

a. If the boat won prizes in any judged category in prior years, they are not eligible to be judged again. This does not apply to the races, which are timed events.

b. If you change the paint scheme and theme of the boat, it is judged as a new boat.

 

9. No boat will be allowed to leave the starting gate unless all persons on board are wearing a Personal Flotation Device (PFD), a wrist band and shoes. (Participants will provide their own PFDs and paddles.)

 

10. Boats are subject to inspection and disqualification for each violation of the above General Rules, with the exception of rule # 6, which results in a 20 second time penalty).

 

11. All entrants must ensure that their portion of the pit area has been cleaned prior to departure on Regatta day. All boats must be removed from the park or cut apart and placed in trash containers.

 

12. Prior to the races, boats will be judged in the following categories: Best Original Design, Best Construction or Construction Technique, Best Decorated, Best Team Effort, & People’s Choice. Corporate/club teams and family/individual teams will be judged separately.

 

13. During the races, each event will be timed, and awards given to the fastest times in each event. There may also be an award for the Most Spectacular Sinking.

 

14. Boat clubs may have multiple teams paddling the same boat in any event/category. You must notify the Race Chairman a week prior to the event with the number of teams you will have and in which event(s) they will be paddling. There will be no additional charge for multiple teams.

 

15. All boats must be paddled in at least one race or risk the loss of any awards given to the boat or team. This does not apply if the event is shortened by rain and the boat did not get a chance to be paddled. (added 3/13/13)

 

Note: Rules are subject to change. Promoter’s decision on rule changes is final.