FWPS Cardboard Boat Regretta

General Rules for Building Cardboard Boats

The intent of these rules is to establish guidelines for an equitable and Corinthian event loaded with fun for everyone! The materials are common and low tech. The design can be as high-tech as you wish or as wild and crazy as you can imagine.

1. Only corrugated cardboard may be used in boat construction. It may be any thickness. The cardboard must not be of the commercially coated or bonded type with vinyl or any other waterproof substance (except see rule 2). Non-corrugated material must not be used, such as solid or compressed cardboard or racing with resin-type coating. Styrofoam or rubber inflatable devices must not be used.

2. "One-part" paint and varnish, or water sealers like "Thompson's" may be used on the entire boat. Duct tape, contact cement, or rubber cement may be used on joints and seams. Hulls must not be "wrapped" in plastic, duct tape or anything else. Tar-based substances, like roof coating, epoxy glues, fiberglass, resins, or "two-part" paint and varnish, must not be used.

3. Two means of propulsion are allowed:

   1. Manual - such as canoe or kayak paddles, oars or poles. No swimming like on a surfboard, or in-water pulling or pushing of the boat is allowed.
      

   2. Mechanical - such as paddle wheels or propellers, powered by arm or leg muscle only. No motors of any type and no sails may be used.

   A rudder may be used and can only be of the outboard type that hangs from the transom. The propulsion and rudder devices are defined as being: paddle, oar, pole, prop, shaft, handle, rudder, oarlocks, control lines, and rudder gudgeons and pintles.

4. Reinforcements, cemented in place (rubber or contact cement), such as mounting or support brackets or plates may be made of wood with a contact surface area no larger than 36 sq. inches and a maximum thickness of 1 inch per attachment. These reinforcements can ONLY be used for attaching items like oarlock sockets, rudder gudgeons or supports for shafts for mechanical propulsion. These reinforcements can NOT be used in any way to provide integrity or strengthening to the hull.

5. A participant may "captain" only one boat, but may serve as a crewmember on any other boat. There is no limit to the size of the boat or number of crewmembers.

6. All participants must wear PFDs and shoes. Rules of the road for inland waters will govern right-of-way. Proper sportsmanship and USPS conduct is requested at all times.

7. No boat or other debris shall be left in the water or on the grounds and must be disposed of as instructed by the Regretta Officials.

8. Build-on-Spot (BOS) boat builders must use only material provided and follow instructions for BOS. You may use your own knife.