The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Concrete Canoe Design Team

The Concrete Canoe Design Team annually designs, constructs, and races a canoe made of concrete. The secret is in the concrete mix that must be specially designed each year so the canoe floats on water. The canoe seats four and is approximately 20 feet long.

Design and testing of the concrete mix takes place throughout the fall semester. Construction of the mold and the forming of the canoe occur in spring during the following semester. The team then competes against rival engineering schools throughout the New England Region in terms of visual appeal, presentation, reporting, and canoe racing.

The Project Entails:

  • Structural Design of a Concrete Mix
  • Special Mix Additives for Curing and Tensile Strength
  • Concrete Material Cylinder Testing
  • 2D-3D Modeling and Plan Preparation
  • Wooden and Foam Mold Fabrication
  • Transportation of the Canoe to the Host Location
  • Project Management and Construction Control
  • Project Reporting and Professional Presentations

Get Involved!

To learn more about the Concrete Canoe Team and find out how you can be involved, contact:

Vanya Golikov Concrete Canoe Co-Captain
igolikov@umass.edu
Nico Anderberg, Concrete Canoe Co-Captain
nanderberg@umass.edu
Matt Castro, Concrete Canoe Co-Captain
matthewcastr@umass.edu