Building and racing a concrete canoe seems impossible, but for the Kansas State University Concrete Canoe Team, this is an opportunity that combines engineering, creativity and collaboration. They are cementing proof that concrete can, indeed, float.

This year’s canoe, named “Apidae” after a family within the bee species, carried a design theme inspired by teamwork. Featuring honeycomb patterns and wood-grain inlays, the theme was derived unanimously among the team members.

“We thought the bee theme was perfect,” Jenna Haas, the team’s treasurer, said.  “It represents how we work together like a colony to make something that seems impossible, possible.”

The team’s creativity paid off, with K-State placing first at the Mid-America Student Symposium regional competition, going on to finish seventh nationally. Haas said their success came from both innovation and attention to detail.

“What set us apart was our building style,” Haas said. “Our wire technology made the canoe durable, even when it cracked under tension, and the design was unlike anything else at the competition.”

Rather than sticking to the traditional tri-fold display boards most teams use, K-State pushed for a more dynamic presentation, a move that has since inspired other schools to rethink their displays.

Building “Apidae”

Constructing a concrete canoe requires several months of meticulous planning, experimentation and some trial and error. For the first few weeks of the semester, the team focuses on different concrete formulations in an effort to find the optimal ratio of concrete’s tensile strength to its buoyancy, and only then will they begin to design a custom mold for our canoe’s component to be 3D-printed.

“There’s a lot of discussion between the mold leads and paddling leads,” Haas said. “We wanted to make this year’s canoe faster, but still reliable.”

The process isn’t without challenges. This year, new competition rules introduced a maximum density requirement, which forced the team to rethink its signature heavy design, known among Facebook viewers as the “chonkiest canoe.” The previous year’s canoe was measured at 500 pounds, which was 200 pounds more than the average competitor’s canoe. The unusually high weight earned the team a nickname and emphasized the impressive design in terms of strength and durability.

They also faced issues with mold alignment during the pouring of the canoe, leading to cracks during transport from regionals.

“This year, we’re redesigning the mold to avoid those problems,” Haas said.

More Than Just Engineers

When the team started it was primarily made up of civil engineering majors, but over time they began incorporating students from business, industrial engineering and even architecture. 

Each individual approaches the problems with a unique point of view, which has allowed for more efficient design conceptualization and improved collaboration. Haas said that the broad mix of student interests and majors has strengthened their approach.

“Having different perspectives helps a lot,” said Haas. “Last year, our project manager was an industrial engineering major who brought a manufacturing mindset. As an accounting major, I can help with finances and fundraising.”

That mix of skills proved valuable when Thomas Moore, a sophomore civil engineering major, and general member of the team, joined two years ago. After helping design the mold his first semester, he stepped up to assist Haas with fundraising over the summer, raising $7,000 in just two weeks.

“At first, I thought the team sounded kind of boring,” said Moore. “But I went to one meeting and really liked the people, and now I can’t imagine not being part of it.”

Life on the Water

Training for race day takes more than just building a strong canoe. Paddling practice is an essential and intense part of preparation. Team members train in both standard canoes and past concrete models until the water gets too cold, then they switch to indoor workouts.

“Steering a concrete canoe is really touchy,” said Haas. “It takes precise paddling to keep it on course.”

The late nights leading up to competition week, though, are what really bring the team together. 

“It gets a little crazy,” said Moore. “We’re up until three in the morning some nights during what we call ‘hell week.’ Sometimes we get on each other’s nerves, but it’s because everyone cares so much.” 

Looking Ahead

The team is  shooting for a top-five finish at nationals next year, hoping to build a canoe that’s lighter, faster and easier to steer on the water. They want the canoe to be a conversation piece, hoping to increase interest for students of other disciplines to join in.

“We’ve been recruiting hard,” Haas said. “We even joked at the career fair, calling out, ‘Hey, do you like concrete,’ and it worked; we got a lot of new members.”

The team also plans to participate in other American Society of Civil Engineers competitions such as steel bridge, timber strong and concrete cornhole. For Haas, the experience has been more than just technical. 

“Concrete canoe is about so much more than engineering; I’ve learned leadership, teamwork and communication with a really fun group of people.”