Art Armada: Rules and Guidelines
JULY 4, 2008 at 12:00 Noon
OPEN DIVISION GUIDELINES
Structural Materials—What You Can Use to Float Your Boat
ALL BOATS MUST USE A COMBINATION OF AT LEAST TWO OF THE SEVEN KINDS OF STRUCTURAL MATERIALS.
• Expanded polystyrene, such as 4 x 8' sheets of rigid foam insulation (Owens Corning Foamular®, “Pink Foam,” “Dow Bluecor™,” etc.)—generally available at home supply stores. ABSOLUTELY NO WHITE OR “BEADED” STYROFOAM® will be allowed for environmental reasons.
• Foam swimming “noodles” (Funnoodles®, Water Logs, Wacky Noodles, etc.).
• PVC, CPVC, or ABS pipe up to 1 1⁄2" in diameter, or wood no bigger than 1 x 2s. NO MORE than a total of 24 linear feet of such materials combined. All pipe joints, pipe connects, and pipe ends must be capped and thoroughly sealed with heavy-duty or all-weather PVC cement so that they float.
• Homemade or purchased inflatables (use plastic sheeting to create your own inflatable or purchase wacky inflatable toys and balls). NO individual inflatable may be more than 6 x 2 x 2'. No rafts, inner tubes, or other ready-made inflatable boats are allowed.
• Single- and double-layered corrugated cardboard. All types and sizes of cardboard tubes.
• Paper milk or ice cream cartons up to one gallon in size and completely sealed with tape or glue per Fastening Materials guidelines (see below).
• Plastic milk or ice cream cartons up to one gallon in size. The lids must be firmly sealed to the cartons.
Fastening Materials—What You Can Use to Hold It All Together
• Duct tape or clear plastic packing tape.
• Waterproof glue or adhesives. Do not use hotglue.
• NO metal or plastic staples, clamps, nails, screws, etc., are allowed.
• You can use tape materials only on seams and joints; that is, where two pieces of material meet. In other words, you cannot cover your entire boat with tape.
Finishing Materials—What You Can Use To Make Your Boat Even More Spectacular
The structural materials listed above can be utilized to create everything from large-scale extravagant forms to three-dimensional details. Carve or cut intricate designs into polystyrene, or use the milk cartons or cardboard to turn your boat into a work of art—be as creative as possible.
Paint is the only material you can use to embellish your boat other than the structural materials listed above. Be aware that all spray paints, and most other paints other than acrylic paint, will dissolve expanded polystyrene, at least to some extent. Acrylic paint is generally suitable for covering all of the structural materials listed above except PVC, CPVC, and ABS pipe. Most spray paints will cover the pipe. Test your paint on the materials before you begin embellishing your boat to ensure that the paint won’t peel and that your boat won’t dissolve!
Propulsion Methods—What You Can Use to Move Your Boat
You may use only non-motorized, human-powered methods of moving your boat: paddle wheels, a pedaling mechanism, canoe and kayak paddles, oars, sails no more than 6' above the water, etc.
The means of powering your boat may be commercially made, but homemade means receive extra judges points. For example, make a paddle from a found object, or carve it yourself. Material restrictions do not apply to propulsion methods—just make absolutely certain that it floats!
Rules—What You Can and Cannot Do to Win an Award
• All boats must use a combination of at least two of the seven specific kinds of structural materials.
• Your boat may use ONLY the materials on the materials list and must follow all specifications found in these guidelines.
• You must submit a completely new boat design each year. Boats used in previous Art Armada races will not be admitted.
• For safety reasons, the crew compartment cannot be enclosed.
• Your boat must be designed to keep the crew dry for as long as possible. “Raft” style designs are not permissible. Crews must sit in the boat.
• Your boat may not have any sharp edges, pointed components, or heavy objects that could cause injury.
• Your boat must be light enough to be lifted from the boardwalk down onto the floating barge and then into the river.
• Crew costumes are encouraged.
• Inspectors will check all boats prior to competition to make certain they do not violate the rules. Boat builders will have to correct violations to remain in the competition. The judges’ decisions are final. Call the Arts Center at 920-458-6144 if you have concerns about your boat design meeting the rules.
• Each participant (or the participant’s parent/guardian, if a minor) must complete a waiver of liability prior to competition.
• Boats competing in the Open Division may have up to 8 crew members. Everyone that is registered as a crew member must be part of the crew that is actually racing the boat in the water. If you are not actually participating in the races you are not a crew member and therefore will not be admitted into the event area.
• Crew members cannot be switched out or alternated in between heats/race.
• Every crew member must wear a properly fitted and Coast Guard-approved PFD (life jacket) and athletic or other footwear with soles (no loafers, slides, or other shoes that may fall off in the water).
• No alcohol or impairing drugs are permitted. Crews under the influence of alcohol or impairing drugs will be disqualified.
• To win, your boat must complete the entire course under its designed form of propulsion. It cannot be pulled or pushed by swimmers at any time.
• Boat crews must salvage everything from their boats, leaving nothing in the river.
• After the competition, you must take your boat home or dispose of it in the provided dumpster.
Download Entry Form Here
Questions?
Contact Missy Keegan or Amy Horst at the Arts Center, 920-458-6144.
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