Row Row Row Your Boat, Across the High School Pool...

Ashton and his friend Kaiser constructed a boat for a physics class assignment and competition. This boat was to be designed to successfully hold at minimum two rowing partners and be constructed out of only cardboard and duct tape.  This project took Ash and Kaiser 3 weeks to finish, taking over the spare room upstairs in our house.  On Nov 13th, the boys competed with their boat against the physics and engineering classes of both Flag High and Coconino High Schools.  The object was to row the boat across the pool with a maximum of 6 laps and also hold the most weight.  Ash and Kaiser started off strong.  They were able to get most of the way across the pool before being rammed by an out-of-control boat from another team, and they sank.  It was really fun to watch the event and see all of the different boat designs.  The kids were great about helping one another and cheering each other on. Everyone especially loved overloading those boats that did not sink during the initial 6 laps.  

The boys learned a lot about construction, quality of materials, etc.  They also got to use math skills to calculate boat volume and water line.  (Derek even got into the action!) 

Pre-launch!

The boat goes in! 

And they are off! 

And they are sunk! 

The event was very well organized with a lifeguard on duty, teachers and students keeping boat heats going, and tarps ready to carry soaked cardboard boats out to the dumpster.  It crack me up as is looks like they are toting a body around.  ha!