Reshaping concrete into a well-functioning canoe is not an easy task.
The university’s concrete canoe team manages the complex project using lessons from past experiments and continuing experience.
Captains Nick Thorsen and Jonathan Galvez share how the team has worked to restructure their canoe and team to lead the project to greater success.
Introducing new designs
A canoe’s design impacts how well it will cast in water.
The concrete canoe team made several design changes to enhance the canoe’s speed and efficiency:
- Restructured the hull to be narrower, shallower and asymmetric
- Added a convex mold, rather than a concave mold
- Reformed the mix design
- Applied molds for precise depths and pre-measured mixes
As the project’s design process begins with use of basic materials, the team chose Bear Bones as the theme of their canoe.
“It represents our team working from the project’s bare-bones, or bare essentials, and having to innovate and redesign our canoe, as well as our team,” Thorsen said.
Implementing new practices
To strengthen the team’s performance, the captains also adjusted the team’s structure. They created officer positions, which experienced team members have volunteered to fulfill.
“Our goal is to provide specific roles for the team and accountability for their completion of all assigned tasks,” Thorsen said.
Casting the canoe
The team’s Casting Day is set to take place at 10 a.m. Feb. 1 in the concrete lab of the efactory.
All are welcome to attend.
Food and drinks will be provided.