The Concrete Canoe Project begins in early fall and continues through spring and summer. There are many areas in the project, the major ones being design, construction, and training.

Design

The design stage includes hull design and concrete mixture design.  In hull design, students utilize two and three dimensional computer-modeling software to determine stress concentrations and critical shear and bending moments. Students also perform scale modeling testing to create a fast and maneuverable hull.  In concrete mixture design, students experiment with different lightweight aggregates, admixtures, and reinforcement to produce a light yet strong composite for the canoe.

Construction

Based on the hull design, a male form is first constructed.  Concrete is then placed on the form to create the actual canoe.  The canoe is carefully sanded and finished. Each year, students use innovative stain and finishing techniques to improve the final product.

Training

Yes, our paddlers are all civil engineering students.  They train year-round for the race portion of the competition.  While the design of the hull shape is important, paddlers' skills are also critical during the races.  Team members practice paddling as often as possible in addition to strength training and conditioning.

Academics

Remember that 50 percent of the competition score is allocated to the design paper and oral presentation.  So while the actual construction of the canoe and paddling practice is important, students also have to demonstrate their technical writing, public speaking, and marketing skills.  The academic portion of the competition is a critical but often overlooked aspect in the competition.

So, if you are an civil engineering student here at the home of the Gators and any of the above sounds interesting to you, contact us for more information on how you can be a part of this fun and exciting project.