float your boat

Compete for several awards, including timed races and fun, creative categories. 

• People’s Choice Award - Awarded to the team who raises the most funds to help share food with neighbors!
• Allure of the Sea Award - Awarded to the boat with the best design that most creatively portrays the chosen theme 
• Captain’s Award - Awarded to the team with the most team spirit
• Titanic Award - Awarded to the team of the boat that sinks in the most spectacular fashion
• Short Course Winners - Timed
• Long Course Winners – Timed

1. No boat-building will be permitted on-site at the event.
2. 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.
3. No wood, metal, Styrofoam, or other materials that would aid in flotation or make the hull rigid may be used. This restriction applies to the keel, transom, ribs, hull, seating, etc.
4. No fiber tape or packing tape may be used.
5. 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.
6. Hulls may be painted with any latex paint. No type of polyurethane, varnish or other non-paint coating or finish is allowed. No epoxy glues, fiberglass resins or "multipart" paints may be used. Hulls may not be completely "wrapped" in duct tape or anything else. Tar-based substances like roof coatings are not permitted.
7. Joints and seams may be glued and/or taped. Duct tape, contact cement, rubber cement or construction adhesive may be used. No nails, metal fasteners, wood fasteners or staples may be used in the construction of the boat (small amounts may be used for removable decoration only). NOTE: The duct tape at the seams cannot exceed 4” total width.
8. Design is builder's choice. Let your imagination reign supreme! A minimum of 50% of the boat's volume must remain as part of the boat when raced (after decorations are removed).
9. Decorations may be made from any material but may not be used to reinforce the actual structure of the boat.
10. Boats may not be any larger than 8’ wide, 15’ long and 7’ tall.
11. Boats are subject to inspection and disqualification for violation of the above rules. Disqualified boats will be allowed to race in a Pirate Heat. They will not be eligible for prizes.
12. No boat will be allowed to leave the starting gate unless all persons on board are wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) and shoes. PFDs will be provided at the starting line.
13. Paddles will be provided at the starting line. Race participants must use paddles provided by The Food Bank. 
14. At least two team members and no more than 10 team members must ride in the boat during the race. Race participants must be age 8 or older, with the following two race divisions to choose from:
    • Long Course – designed for adult and high school race participants
    • Short Course – designed for race participants in Grades 3-8 or ages 14 and under (with one "adult," over the age of 14, allowed, but not required, per boat)
15. All entrants must ensure that their portion of the pit area has been cleaned before leaving on race day. It is the responsibility of each boat team to remove their boat from the race site or place their boat in an on-site dumpster at the conclusion of the event.
16. For racing purposes, boats will race in race “heats” (two boats per heat). Each boat will be timed independently, and awards will be given overall.

• Two-part glues (i.e., epoxy or polyester resin)
• Multipart paints
• Styrofoam
• Metal or metal foils
• Plastic
• Fiber tape
• Packing tape
• Pasteboard or chipboard
• Wood
• Any paint other than latex paint
• Polyurethane
• Varnish and other non-paint coating or finish