"Rochester Institute of Technology"
(19th place overall; 15th in paper; 23rd in presentation; 14th in product)

Presentation:

Three male and two team members dressed in casual attire gave the presentation.  The skit was based on a lab tour and the participants asked the hosts a number of questions.  The attributes of the mix were described and the tests used to determine the critical parameters were described.  The changes made in the design were described and the construction techniques were highlighted.  

The interactive format worked well to convey the details and innovative techniques employed by the team.  The team explained how they stained the boat as opposed to painting it.

 During the question and answer session, the team was asked to describe the properties of echo-spheres and how they affected the mix properties.  

Other questions followed:  "How was the volume calculated without knowing the specific gravity of the components?"  "Why was Type II cement used as opposed to other grades?"

The judges asked the team to correlate their calculated and measured mass in view of significant differences found in the density of the concrete.  "What was the rational for determining the factor of safety?"  "How was the weight and shape of the canoe taken into account during the structural and hydrodynamic analyses?"  

"Were any other loading cases considered in addition to the four-person race?"  "What were the main items that were included in the critical path?"

Product:

Name: Pride
Length: 20' 6"
Weight: 124 lb
Color: blue

Vital Stats:

Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, New York.  They have proudly represented the Upstate New York Region four times at the national level.  Their highest finish was tenth in 1998.

Canoe/Materials/Facts:

Rochester's canoe had a symmetrical hull with a round bottom and keel line.  Their 42-pcf concrete was placed over two layers of fiberglass mesh reinforcement.