You may become the stuff of legend, or meet a heroic, if tragic end like Thomas Andrews, but one thing’s sure; a winning entry into the Moat Boat Paddle Battle at the Maker Faire Bay Area could yield some impressive dividends.
Matt Stultz of Make: magazine says taking your chance at designing your own rubber band-powered and 3D printed paddle boat – and then racing it against the seafaring “masters of the trough” – could win you a delta printer from Moat Boat sponsor SeeMeCNC.
The victors in the Youth categories will take home a fully assembled SeeMeCNC Orion Delta 3D printer. With features like a 6″ diameter circular heated plate it’s 9″ tall build height, the Orion is capable of some massive output. And if the build volume alone doesn’t float your boat, the built-in LCD screen and SD card reader will let you print dockside.
In the Open class, the stakes are much larger – literally. The winners will receive the truly enormous SeeMeCNC Rostock Max. It comes in a kit which includes an 11″ diameter heated build plate. The Rostock Max also includes the built-in LCD screen and SD card reader, but at a 14¾” build height, it’s truly epic in proportion.
And have no fear if you’re no Theodore Delavan Wilson when it comes to designing a seagoing masterpiece. The swabbies at Ocean State Maker Mill 
have created a set of sample boat designs to serve as a starting point for your version of the USS Maine. You download the files here.
The contest will happen across three classes: Youth Closed 12 and Under, Youth Closed 13-18, and, for the experienced naval architects, the Open class. There are some restrictions when in comes to the Youth classes, but the Open class is a free-for-all when it comes to engineering prowess.
The competition in all classes is basically a series of single elimination, head-to-head races which will see one boat from each race advance to the next level. The boats must be driven by rubber band power only, though you can add some decorative electrics for spice, but forget about using rocket motors, fireworks, or fossil-fueled powerplants.
The maximum size of your trough-faring entry is 8″ long by 6″ wide and while it can be as tall as you think prudent, it can’t draft more than 5.5″ in the water.
And the course, 12 inches wide by 12 feet long, will be the scene of naval carnage driven by paddle, propeller, turbine, or screw, and keep in mind that you can’t use the sides or bottom of the tank to drive your entry to glory.
If you plan to enter the youth classes, all racers must have permission from and be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
And perhaps most critical to your planning? Fully 90% of each boat must be 3D printed in the Youth classes and 80% of the boat must be 3D printed for entries in the Open class.
The Moat Boat Paddle Battle is brought to you by Ocean State Maker Mill, Make: magazine, and SeeMeCNC, and the competition sets sail on May 16th and 17th at Maker Faire Bay Area, and you can read the entire rulebook here.
Will you be entering the Moat Boat Paddle Battle at Maker Faire Bay Area in May? If you are, we’d love to see your entry in the Moat Boat Paddle Battle forum thread on 3DPB.com.
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