Engineering build floating cement canoe to compete

Put a man in cement shoes and he’ll sink. Put him in a concrete canoe, though, and he’ll… Put a man in cement shoes and he’ll sink. Put him in a concrete canoe, though, and he’ll float.

What may sound like a crazy endeavor to the common student is actually the basis for “a well-known and respected competition in the field of civil engineering and the construction industry,” said Patrick Nacey, vice president of Pitt’s Concrete Canoe Club, in a press release.

Pitt’s club hopes to sail away victorious from the Ohio Valley Regional Invitational Concrete Canoe Competition at the University of Kentucky this year, when it will compete against 11 other schools for a shot at the National Championship, hosted by Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Their secret weapon: “Oliver,” the 21-foot-long, 160-pound pirate canoe, adorned with the recognizable elements of a buccaneer’s boat, a skull and crossbones insignia, and wood-colored stain on its exterior resembling the planks of a ship. The canoe also displays the Pitt seal and flag.

But Oliver’s facade alone will not win the competition. Judges award points based on a technical paper, a presentation and a series of races, in addition to the final product.

Oliver is stationary for the time being, on display in Benedum lobby all week.

The goals of the competition are manifold, Nacey’s press release said. It combines practical knowledge with creativity. It builds leadership and teamwork skills among it constituents.

And, perhaps most importantly, it proves concrete can be used for more than just sidewalks and construction.

Nacey and his team have buoyed their spirits high for the competition.

“This year’s team was much more organized than those of years past,” he said. “We are proud to say that we have progressed by leaps and bounds each year and continue to do so.”