: Are any other materials allowed at all?
Nope, just the ones listed. Here is a more complete list:
One 4x8 x1/4 ply
Two 8'x2x4"
One 2" wide by 60 foot roll duct tape
One lb of fasteners of YOUR CHOICE (ie: staples, nails, screws, etc)
No adhesives or caulking
Painting optional. Only latex or enamel, but not resin based. (Darn, so much

for the paint-glue approach!)
No propulsion devices other than what you make with the materials listed.

: How long of a roll of duct tape?

60 Feet. Darn, there goes the duct-tape-on-frame west greenland "ductyak" idea.

: How much do you weigh? We need to make sure the displacement is adequate.

150 to 155 lbs, depending on what was for dinner the night before, and how big
the surf was over the weekend.

: Are these materials for the boat alone, or must you make the paddle from
: them, too? or is another paddle (or set of oars) allowed in addition to
: these materials?

Gotta make 'em with whatcha get. That's why I wanted to build a SOF kayak and a west greenland paddle, but now I don't have enough to skin it.

: What size nails? Steel, aluminum or copper? Is an assortment of sizes and
: types permitted as long as the total weighs less than 1 pound? Or do they
: just hand you a pound of nails?

I thought it was what they gave you, but have been informed that you can use what you wish as long as it's only a pound.

: What water conditions will this be in? Lake, river, ocean ?

Ocean, but in a protected inlet. There's still a bit of swell, so the gunwales need to be proud and perhaps some rocker to the chine.

: Any limitations on cutting tools or other tools allowed?

Nope. Perhaps rip the 2x4 into 3/4 x 4 for more wood?

: Can your body be part of the craft? (plywood pieces taped onto you, etc.)

Sure, as long as my head stays above water!!! Well, second thought, as long

as I can snorkel.

: How long of a course must the boats go? Is this a timed race? Is the course a
: straight line or a slalom, or triangular course?

Still trying to find that out, but I think it's a down and back sprint.

: How long do you have to build the thing?

Until January 25. I am told you can start now, but that was not my original understanding. I had thought that you built it on site. I'm going to clarify that to be sure.

: How thick is the plywood?

The plywood is 1/4". My head, on the other hand, is very thick, which may

be another factor to consider.

: Frankly, I'm not sure if the answer to any of these questions is really going
: to help, but I hope whateer other information you can provide will add
: ideas into the mix.

I would love to build a kayak of sorts. It would be easy to paddle, and very

fast. Most folks I've talked to are building piroque style boats in the 6' range. A kayak could be made narrow and long for speed. I'm going to experiment with a 1/2 plywood kayak with a SOF bow and stern skinned in duct tape. This would be fairly light, but give me more hull speed than boats that were built with just plywood. (The plywood boat couldn't be much more than 8', but if I use SOF techniques I could gain a few extra feet of bow and stern. 60 feet of duct tape, however, will not go very far. (Well, of course it will go 60 feet, but I mean it won't give much coverage.) By the time you tape your chines and stem and stern seams you would not have much tape left.

: PGJ