At first glance, it might not look like more than a frame of PVC pipe wrapped in layers of duct tape and shrink wrap, but for five iLEAD Academy students, this homemade kayak was a ticket to winning on the state stage.
Brody Chowning, Kameron Meadows, Trey Miller, Jack Chowning, and Roger Phelps earned third place in the Technology Student Association’s state competition with their sleek, lightweight vessel. The real test came in the pool at the University of Louisville, where their boat had to not only float. It had to win.
“I got in it and paddled against two other people,” Brody said. “I ended up winning the race.”
Weighing in at just 17 pounds, well within the 12 to 20-pound requirement, the kayak was a team effort built from PVC pipe, duct tape, shrink wrap, and shrink wrap tape. While Brody and Trey competed at state, the design was a product of all five team members’ collaboration.
“Jack and Roger had done this project in past years,” said Trey. “They built the frame, and the rest of us jumped in to help finish it.”
With years of experience under his belt, Jack had studied previous designs and combined the strongest elements to create a 7-foot-long, 30-inch-wide frame. Brody and Trey joined mid-build after realizing their own project wouldn’t be completed in time. The two contributed to the frame work and completed the wrapping process.
“We were pretty confident we were going to make the podium,” Brody said. “The only thing that held us back from placing higher was our portfolio because it needed to be stronger.”
Part of the judging included a mathematical equation in the team’s documentation that calculated buoyancy based on the kayak’s and paddler’s weight. Brody, the lightest team member with kayaking experience, took the paddle for the final test run.
“It was our first year going,” he said. “Jack had talked a lot about how much he enjoyed it, so I was really looking forward to the experience.” Jack and Brody are brothers collaborating on this project.
The event wasn’t without mishaps. Trey, dressed in a suit, was soaked at the starting line after Brody’s enthusiastic paddling splashed him. “I had to hold the kayak against the wall until they said go,” Trey said, laughing.
The team plans to improve the design by reducing pipe thickness and shaving off extra weight. Brody hopes to begin revisions over the summer, and the group is even trying to convince their advisor, Mr. Ashcraft, to hang the winning kayak in the school as a reminder of their success.