: Gals,

: When I was in University there was an annual Raft race with craft similar to
: what you are describing. One year these smart*ss engineers (no offense,
: mick et al,I'm a biologist) came up with a design that was a pair of
: pontoons made of 8" black pvc pipe about 12' long pulled together and
: up at the ends. The pontoons were spread wide enough to accomodate seats
: for rowers, and provide adequate(sp?) stability. Talk about kickin' butt!
: They were cheering at the finish line before the ehco of the starting
: pistol died out.
: This is a design idea worth thinking about. Good luck!

: Ken

Hi Ken,

No engineer but, I agree w/ you that a likely way of winning is hoping the guys are paddling and gretta's group uses their whole body as in rowing. Barring a long race where wind may play a part or technology where pedalling might.

For 2 pontoons about 10-12in diam and 20ft long will float about halfway w/ 4pple on board abt 150# ea.barring a lot of extra wt. The trick is to build them using a simple(in approach) cross bracing system that stiffens and braces the structure and doubles as oarlock outriggers, while separating enough for stability. We need to know the parameters of the boat building and the bldg competency of gretta et al in order to judge what may be a good way to achieve this.

-mick