"University of Florida (Gators)"
(2nd place overall; 3rd in paper; 1st in presentation; 5th in product)

Presentation:

The University of Florida represented the Southeast and made their fifth national appearance.

The Gators relied on 3 people to make their presentation; 2 men and 1 woman.  The presenters were dressed in suits and the presentation was business oriented.  The team used 1 screen and included two videos (animations).

The Gators were the last team on the blocks and last to leave the arena.  The team began their presentation by giving a brief introduction and outlining their presentation.  Then they elaborated on their management philosophy and presented their critical path.

The team explained that they reviewed their prior hydrodynamic design and elaborated on how changes were made to overcome the deficiencies.  They explained how they studied the various load cases and presented the structural requirements and specified the desired safety factor.

Mix design came next.  The team outlined the desired properties and elaborated on the strategy employed to obtain them.  They explained how they selected their reinforcing scheme and specified the percentage open areas.  Then it was on to form and canoe construction.

The team explained how they constructed their form and the concrete canoe.  Then they elaborated on the curing and finishing techniques that they employed.  They mentioned how much time and effort they spent training and concluded by highlighting the salient features of their entry.

Questions and Comments:

• Can you explain the lift system integrated into your mold?
• Did you have any difficulty supplying mud to the people doing the shooting?
• How did you avoid rebound as the material was deposited on the mold?
• What are the major improvements that you made from last year to this year?
• Did you experience any problems with shrinkage during cure?
• Who performed your impressive chemical analysis?
• How did you use the results of this analysis to improve your mix design?
• What is the make up of your team regarding the level of seniority?
• Did you include last year’s hull while conducting your small scale drag tests?

Product:

The "Gators" from the University of Florida fielded "Gladigator."
Length: 19' 10.5"
Weight: 130 lb
Color: blue, orange, and gray

The team employed a reverse stern to reduce their canoe's drag and developed a very fast and maneuverable boat.

Vital Statistics