Alex wrote:
There was a query like this about a year ago. The consensus was, "use LOTS
of duct tape, and paddle fast!"
The guy did the race, and later reported that the organizers provided a
specific quantity of cardboard and of duct tape -- not enough tape to
waterproof both the outside and inside of his hull.
He rowed like crazy, water came over the gunwales, the cardboard got soaked,
and -- voila -- folding boat. But he had a ball!

We're iced in and I have nothing better to do...

So it seems that it's not necessarily the fastest boat, but the one that
stays afloat the longest, would win this kind of race... So unless this
has to be a "one design" category, the shortest possible vessel with the
highest gunwales would be the ideal design. Divide the tape equally to
cover as much of both the outside and inside of the hull from the keel
up to "waterproof" it as high as possible...if the gunwales get wet and
melt, so what? At least you're still afloat--albeit a bit soggy--and
moving toward the finish a lot longer than if the boat folds up.

Does that make sense...or should I forget boat design and stick to
trouble shooting potty problems?

I don't suppose they'd let you use a foot pump bailer...?
--
Peggie
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Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books...ku=90&cat=1304