Delaware River Cardboard Boat Regatta and Beach Party!

Delaware River Cardboard Boat Regatta RULES

These rules are designed to ensure safety, fair competition, and maximum fun! Please read them carefully before designing and constructing your boat.

I. Boat Construction Rules

The spirit of the regatta is to use cardboard as the primary structural material. The overall spirit of this event emphasizes cardboard, duct tape, glue, and paint.

1. Primary Construction Material:

o Only recycled corrugated cardboard may be used for the main structure (hull, superstructure, seating). This means no solid cardboard, foam core, carpet tubes, or cardboard that has been factory-coated with wax, resin, or vinyl.

o Cardboard can be of any thickness.

o Allowed Additional Materials: Other materials may include: duct tape, paint, chewing gum, and even nail polish.

o Prohibited Structural Materials: No Cellular, fiberglass, plastic bottles, no logs, plastic, wood, or flotation materials are allowed in hull construction. Absolutely no wood, nails, screws, or Styrofoam filler. These materials are banned not only in construction but also because they present a danger to anyone in the water if the boat comes apart. Any boat found to be built with these materials will be immediately disqualified and asked to leave.

2. Adhesives and Sealants:

o Allowed Adhesives: Duct tape, masking tape, carpenter's wood glue, contact cement, rubber cement, and construction adhesive are generally permitted for joining seams and stress points. Hot-melt glues are often discouraged as they can melt in the sun.

o Allowed Waterproofing/Sealing (Hull): The entire hull may be waterproofed with one-part water-based paints, varnishes, polyurethane, or clear water sealants.

o Prohibited Sealants/Coatings: Tar-based substances (like roof coating), two-part epoxies, fiberglass resin, liquid rubber products (e.g., Flex Seal), shrink wrap, or wrapping the entire boat in plastic or duct tape are typically prohibited. The intent is for the cardboard to be the structural element, not just a mold for other materials.

o Tape Usage: Duct tape is generally allowed for sealing seams and reinforcing joints, but usually not for wrapping the entire hull as a primary waterproofing method.

3. Dimensions & Design:

o Maximum Dimensions: Typical maximums are around 4-5 feet wide and 6-8 feet long. There is usually no maximum height, but very tall boats can be unstable and difficult to maneuver.

o Crew Compartment: The boat's passenger area cannot be permanently enclosed above the occupants' shoulders to ensure easy exit in case of sinking and to keep crew members visible.

o Safety: Boats must be free of sharp edges, pointy objects, or anything else that could cause injury to crew or other participants. Large canopies or features that could become a menace are also usually disallowed.

4. Propulsion:

o Boats must be human-powered from within the boat.

o Allowed Propulsion: Hand paddling or cardboard paddles are generally permitted. Oars or paddles may be constructed of cardboard. No wood dowels.

o Paddle Construction: If paddles are used, they must often conform to the same construction rules as the boat (i.e., cardboard and duct tape for the blade, though wooden dowels are sometimes allowed for shafts).

o Prohibited Propulsion: No mechanical propulsion systems (gas or electric), swimming, towing the boat with your teeth/legs, or pushing off lane lines or the side of the river.

5. Decorations:

o Decorations are encouraged for creativity and team spirit!

o Rule for Decorations: Decorations may be made from any material but must not aid in the flotation, propulsion, or structural integrity of the boat. They also must not create a safety hazard.

6. Pre-Race Inspection:

o All boats will be subject to a technical inspection before the race. Any boat found in violation of the construction rules will be disqualified.

II. Participant Rules:

1. Team Size: Teams typically consist of 2 people per boat teams, with 1-2 people racing at a time. The number of people allowed in the boat during the race will be specified. Boat Classes include SS-Single Crew, SM-Multi-Crew (more than one), Teen (Ages 13-18 ONLY). Children 12 years & younger must participate with an adult.

2. Crew Integrity: The crew members who start the race must finish the race without leaving the interior of the boat. All participants' bodies (arms and legs) must remain in the boat at all times; body parts may not be used to propel the boat.

3. Safety Gear:

o Life Jackets (PFDs): Every participant MUST wear a Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while in the boat or water. Participants must bring their own Life Jacket.

o Footwear: All crew members must wear suitable footwear (e.g., aqua socks or closed-toe athletic shoes); no bare feet or flip-flops.

4. Fair Play:

o No intentional physical contact with other boats or crew members.

o No throwing water on other boats (other than incidental splash from paddling).

o Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in disqualification.

III. Race Day Schedule & Logistics

1. Boat Display Set-up: From 12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM in the West End Beach parking lot. Please follow directions for boat display space and remove tow vehicles to additional parking lots, ensuring lanes remain clear for safety vehicles.

2. Concourse de Cardboard (Public Inspection & Judging): Open from 12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM.

3. Captains' Meeting: Will be held at 1:00 PM.

4. Race Start: The race begins promptly at 2:00 PM. Any boats deemed "unsafe" will not be allowed to enter the race.

5. Boat Removal: Make sure you have enough crew members to remove your boat from the water at the finish line. Wet cardboard is very heavy.

6. Disposal Regulations: Please ensure you use FESTIVAL dump area for wet boat disposal. If you need clarification, please ask a volunteer.

7. Clean-up: If your boat comes apart at the seams, make sure to remove all boat materials from the river before you leave and clean your boat display area.

IV. Awards Categories

The 2025 Award Categories are as follows:

• Fastest Time Elapsed - Adult

• Fastest Time Elapsed - Teen

• Fastest Overall Time

• Best Construction Award

• Best Sinking

• Best Boat Name

• Best Theme

V. General Information & Registration

• Deadline for Entry Form: Monday, August 18, 2025.

• Family Event: THIS IS A FAMILY EVENT - Please remember this when naming boats and deciding themes!

• Boat Registration Fee: $35.00, all proceeds go to the Port Jervis Dive Team.

• Awards Ceremony: Awards will be handed out shortly after the end of the Regatta, with live music to follow! So stick around!

• Liability Waiver: All participants must agree to indemnify and save harmless The City of Port Jervis, Port Jervis Tourism Board its officers, employees, and agents, against liability for bodily injuries or property damage arising out of or in consequence of the Delaware River Cardboard Boat Regatta.