Marbella to boats craft.

Types of craft.

Click on a method.
Box - Flotsam and Jetsam - Paper Mashie - Real boat covered in cardboard - Sandwich
Sell one to someone - Don't build a boat - Carpet - Production - Adopt a boat

??!!	Imagination.	DL	The Bad.
»"	Time and Effort.	üû	Do's and Don'ts.
Nf	The Race.	66	History.
CJ	The Good.	é	Top of the page

	1) The Box method.
	One box, two holes and a pair of flippers.
	é
??!!	Sky’s the limit. Costumes help.
»"	Minutes to build.
Nf	Could take over an hour to come last.
CJ	You can leave the decision to enter the competition until the last minute. Relatively little to dispose of at race finish.
DL	This method has yet to win the Marbella Cup.
üû	Important to be a strong swimmer, if not wear a life jacket. Make the holes large for ample leg room. Not technically a boat, more a submarine.
66	In 1989, Carmel of "Tu Casa" won third best boat.

	2) The flotsam and Jetsam method.
	Glue, sellotape and paint all rubbish, waste and other bits and pieces together into a wonderful illusion of imagination and spare parts.
	é
??!!	Could win The Forte Cup for most imagination.
»"	The most variable method, hours or days.
Nf	Can be seaworthy.
CJ	Probably the most fun method.
DL	Bits tend to fall off. Not easy to transport.
üû	Try and make something that doesn't look like a boat. Details are effective so include lots.
66	"Bastilla" built a small villa in 1994 and walked away with ‘The Marbella Cup'.

	3) The Paper Mashie' method.
	With patience and good weather apply glued strips of paper to a structure until a boat happens.
	é
??!!	This is the preferred method for feria floats. Almost anything is possible, the only limitation is ones own imagination.
»"	The most time consuming method. Begin your boat at least two weeks before race day. The drying time between each layer will determine more than anything how long the boat will take to build.
Nf	By far the lightest therefore fastest design.
CJ	Probably take it home and use it again next year.
DL	After the half way mark you will realize how much more needs to be done. Very messy
üû	All paper has a grain and can be torn into almost perfect strips. Use wallpaper glue. Work outside. Place each wet layer over yesterdays now dry layer. Don't try and build the boat in one go as it will collapse under its own wet weight. Build the hull from the inside out and upside down!!!!!!
66	1989 Race winner, A coracle was later taken back to a swimming pool and demolished by its crew.

	4) The real boat covered in cardboard method.
	Find or borrow a real boat and hide it by completely covering it in cardboard.
	é
??!!	Be sneaky. Costumes help.
»"	Couple of hours only, lots of heavy lifting.
Nf	Should float well but could steer like a pig.
CJ	You will definitely be disqualified and made infamous.
DL	You will definitely be disqualified and made infamous.
üû	Make sure the boat floats before you cover it in cardboard. Don't take the Judges decision too seriously.
66	First boat to sink in the race of 1990 as a plate sized hole was seen as normal and of no consequence by its builder, Simon.

	5) The Sandwich method.
	Lay undamaged sheets of cardboard on a large flat floor, glue subsequent layers on top. When dry, cut out the base and sides of a boat and then stick the whole lot together.
	é
??!!	Tends to look like a boat no matter what you do.
»"	The second most time consuming method. Thought in design and technique can save days.
Nf	Can be extremely fast and sea worthy.
CJ	Very robust. Will survive much damage and still remain competitive. Very large boats can be made this way.
DL	Can become very heavy. Hull design is important. A large flat sheltered floor is imperative.
üû	Cardboard has a grain, so revolve each layer ninety degrees from the previous layer, this will mix up the grain and so increase the overall lateral strength. It is a good idea to place weights on top of freshly glued layers. Clear silicone used as glue dries quickly is flexible and makes for a strong bond. Strong cardboard tubes are effective in the internal structure. To stick the sides of the boat to the hull will require more than one person.
66	In 1993 at the end of the days competition, the winner, a boat seven meters long, continued along the coast with its crew of nine and five passengers, eventually ending up at Banana beach for a very large party. This size of crew made it necessary to modify the rule for future races: Not more than four rowers.

	6) The build a boat and sell it to someone else method.
	Convince someone without the time to build their own boat to buy yours, then give the proceeds to the 'Ciudad de los niños, Kids charity.
	é
??!!	This is the most acceptable method for making the boat look ridiculous.
»"	The better the boat the higher the price.
Nf	Up to whomever buys it.
CJ	If the boat wins you will get most of the credit. If the boat looses it will be the fault of whomever bought it. You can remain warm and dry on the beach.
DL	No claim to any Cups or prizes.
üû	The best place to sell a boat is in a pub or at a party.
66	In 1995 a boat was bought by V. Forte for 50,000 PTAs. It was capsized by Gregg and never left the beach.

	7) The don't build a boat method.
	Find a boat that has already been built and insist on being a crew member.
	é
??!!	Imaginative imput is welcome at all times.
»"	By far the most popular and least time consuming method.
Nf	Paddle as fast as possible, do what the Captain tells you.
CJ	Take an active part in a brilliant day. Could find yourself on the crew of the Best Boat of the day.
DL	Could find yourself on the crew of the Worst boat of the day.
üû	Promise everything, be keen and charming.
66	90% of everyone that has ever taken part in the race has gone for this option.

	8) The Carpet tube method.
	Collect long strong cardboard tubes and glue or tie the lot together into a boat or raft.
	é
??!!	Tends to look like a stack of tubes. Detail helps.
»"	Finding enough tubes takes as long as it does to build the craft. Lots of heavy lifting. You will need help.
Nf	Boats do well. Rafts are stable but difficult to control.
CJ	A very competitive design. If well constructed and then painted, waterproof plastic sheeting should be unnecessary.
DL	Potentially the heaviest design. If the tubes are not made watertight you will not be going anywhere. A lot of glue will be needed, silicone or West epoxy in such large quantity makes this method very expensive.
üû	Carpet shops have the longest, best quality tubes. Use a hacksaw to cut your tubes a knife is useless. Try and keep your tubes of an equal diameter for the hull and sides, not only is it more esthetic but will help to distribute the weight and stresses equally. Expanding foam used as glue is relatively cheap and quick drying. It can be bought at most boat chandlers or hardware shops.
66	Almost every year there has been someone that has used this method of construction.

	9) The Production method
	Rally an office or pub into a well organized band of boat builders, costume designers and crew, delegating responsibility as you see fit.
	é
??!!	Your committee can think up all wonder of things.
»"	Spread the sweat, half the effort, many hands make light work, the more the merrier, etc.
Nf	If you can produce more than one boat you will double your chances,-------- and headaches.
CJ	This method suits groups already established and can make the best of memorable experiences for all involved.
DL	Without inspiration, humor or co-ordination the producer will have little or no chance of launching anything on the day.
üû	Assign people to tasks that best suited their talents. The art of production is not so much dictatorial as coercive. Take photographs of everything and everyone. Laugh.
66	In 1995 two boats where produced by this method. The two groups consisted of children whom inclined towards rambunctious pandemonium, together they caused more stress and anxiety that winning the Best Boat of the day with one boat and third place with the other did little to relieve the tension in the burnt out producer.

	10) The Adopt a boat method.
	As a spectator, turn up on the day, choose which boat you think has the best chance of winning and then adopt it's crew. Claim undying loyalty, buy everyone drinks and be a real pal.
	é
??!!	Only in what you say and how you say it.
»"	None what so ever.
Nf	If your boat should win you may yahoo and revel along with its crew and later join the victory celebrations.
CJ	The crew could turn the tables and adopt you, giving you mascot status, you will then become famous.
DL	It is considered bad form to pretend loyalty to more than one boat. Can cost a small fortune in drinks.
üû	Offer a starting push at the race start. Find out who built the boat and show off your bikini or muscles then promise heaven and earth. Try and remember everyone’s name in your adopted crew.
66	This has always been one of the more enjoyable aspects for any crew. Its tradition goes back to 1989.

Visit another cardboard boat Site in the USA. gcbr.com

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