"Texas A&M University"
(16th place overall; 15th in paper; 18th in presentation; 17th in product)

Presentation:

After finding themselves marooned, Texas A&M conducted an investigation to find out why.  Six members gave their presentation, all dressed in business attire.

After presenting the specifications of their hull, an expert witness justified why their hull design could not have caused the team to be marooned.

The mix design was presented next and another expert witness explained rigorously how materials could not be at fault.

After the construction methods and reinforcement techniques were explained, a third expert concluded that this could not be the cause of the situation at hand.

Then team members questioned one another to reinforce these points... before the final expert witness explained how the boat was built.  During this segment, it was explained how prior problems were addressed.  The conclusion was drawn that construction was not a problem.

Judges Comments/Questions:

Then, the real questions arose:

  • What load conditions were checked during your structural analysis?
  • How can you expect a construction crew to produce your design using the four dimensions given in your design report?
  • Who was responsible for the hull design and when was this done?
  • How does particle size affect workability?
  • Why are you so confident that your mix is so good when it is substantially heavier than that of most of your competitors?
  • What analysis did you perform to pinpoint the position of your reinforcement?
  • How long would you expect the materials that you used for reinforcement to last?
  • Where would I find the curvature of your hull in your design report?

Commentary:

By performing an investigation, OSU may have inadvertently given the judges the impression that their stint was weak.  Their skit was not well received and this was one of the most brutal sets of questions posed to any team.  It was very apparent that power comes in knowing details… and you need to know them if you don’t want to be hammered.

Product:

Canoe Name: Marooned
Length: 21 ft
Weight: 227 lb
Color: Gray

A&M used two layers of fiberglass to reinforce their canoe.  The boat featured a raised bow that served as a splashguard.  Expanded clay was employed to help meet the C-33 requirement.

Vital Statistics

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