If You Build It, Will it Sink?

It's crunch time for Dale Beutel and his family as they build their contraptions for the 6th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta presented by the .

This year, Dale’s plan is to assemble a birthday cake boat for him and his daughter, LillyAnne, who will be 6 the day before the July 30 races. There is only one thing that may throw a wrench in their plans.

“With this humidity it’s hard because we use a flour-water mixture for the glue and it takes so long for it to dry. With this weather it turns into a soggy mess,” says Beutel.

The challenge is to design and build a boat that can float while carrying people using only corrugated cardboard. Tape, staples, glue and other fasteners can be used only on the seams and joints of the boat, and for the oars.

“You laugh because some of the boats get in and sink right to the bottom. Others that you wouldn’t expect go really far,” says Tracy Putkonen, director of the Grayslake Park District.

Dale, a five-year competitor, says his goal is to keep the process inexpensive, limiting supplies purchased to only $20. He gets the cardboard from his office before it gets to the recycling bin, he finds leftover paint from friends and neighbors, and he uses a handful of old bicycle parts he’s collected over time.

The only thing he really needs to purchase is the masking tape to apply over the seams, and he says, even that is cheap.

“You don’t need the expensive stuff. You need it to float for a minimal amount of time.” But Dale says sometimes that isn’t as easy as it sounds. “My first year we fell through the bottom of the boat. I’ve learned a few things since then and in the more recent years we have won by default.”

This year Dale is losing his former co-captain, 9-year-old son Gabriel. He and his friend are building their own boat – something to the tune of a “crocodile hunter” swamp air boat.

Dale says he is looking forward to seeing his son compete in his own category. Gabriel will fall under the Class I Open Division while Dale will be in the Class II.

The boat classes include:

Class I - Open Division: Boats must be made entirely of corrugated cardboard and be propelled by oars, paddles, brooms, etc.

Class I - Youth Division: This has the same restrictions as the Open Division but limited to ages 14 and under.

Class II: Boats may be propelled by devices such as propellers, sails, wheels, etc.

Class III: “Instant Boats” are designed and built at the Regatta. Secret kits of materials are provided and contestants are given two hours to assemble a boat and get it in the water to race.

Several awards will be given at the Regatta including the Grand Champion for most creative design and best use of the cardboard, the RAH RAH Award for the team that has the most fun participating, the Best-Dressed Team Award, The Titanic Award for the best sinking boat, Peoples Choice Award, and first, second and third places for all classes.

For those wishing desperately to receive an award let your money do the talking.

“The judges gladly accept bribes for the Judges Award. We have no shame. The more, the better.” Putkonen adds that any money raised from bribing the judges goes to the Park District’s Grant-N-Aid Scholarship Program to help those less fortunate still be able to participate in GLPD activities.

New this year will be canoe and kayak races. Participants must bring their own canoes and kayaks to participate.

You can register for the 6th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta the morning of the race, July 30, at Jones Island Beach located at 243 Harvey Street. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. with preliminary heats starting at 10 a.m.

There is a $20 per boat fee for competing. For a complete list of rules and regulations or to register ahead of time log on to the GLPD website.