"Michigan Technological University"
(3rd place overall; 5th in paper; 2nd in presentation; 6th in product)

Presentation:

Michigan Tech promoted their strong hockey heritage by christening their boat, “The MacInnes.”  Four team members gave the presentation.  The team was dressed in business attire and had a well-balanced look.

After introducing the team members, the rationale behind the project was given.  Safety was emphasized.  Then the team explained how they used VACANT I hull design software to establish their hull design.  They mentioned that IDEAS was used to evaluate dynamic loads and said that they found that the critical load occurred during the male sprint race.

Mix design came next.  The team outlined the constituents and explained how the mix interfaced with the graphite used to reinforce the canoe.  The construction scenario was outlined along with the curing procedure.  The finishing techniques were highlighted and the methods used for quality control described.

Finishing techniques were explained next along with the methods used to apply graphics.  The techniques used to train the crew team were highlighted and after pinpointing the attributes of their boat, the team brought the presentation to a very strong conclusion.

 Judges Questions/Comments:

 Then, the team honed in on the following questions: 

• How many years has Michigan Tech been using carbon fiber reinforcement?
• What is the purpose of an engineering drawing?
• Do you think that a competitor could build a canoe from your drawings?
• You reported that 823 labor hours were spent on the project.  How does this compare with your initial estimate and what would you do next year to make these values closer?
• How did you develop your projections?
• Did you take the wet cure cycle of your concrete in account when doing so?
• You were the only team to use rice husk ash.  How did you come up with this idea?
• What are the advantages of using this constituent?
• Can you justify the paddlers' weights and dynamic safety factor used during your analyses?
• What is the safety factor in your design?

 Commentary:

The presentation was very strong and the team addressed the questions nicely… despite the intense pressure placed on them when the completeness of the engineering drawings was apparently questioned.  Great job!

Product:

Canoe Name: The MacInnes
Length: 20 ft
Weight: 175 lb
Color: Black

The team reinforced their hull with graphite mesh and employed free fibers to prevent crack propagation.  SISCOR glass bubbles and rice husk ash were added to the mix to help meet the C-33 requirement.  The contour was geared toward paddler comfort and no flotation was required.  Very impressive! 

 Vital Statistics