Raingutter Regatta ~ Great Salt Lake - Cub Scout Themes - PowWow Books - Pack Meeting Plans

This information for holding a Raingutter Regatta was in the 2006 Utah Great Salt Lake Council PowWow book.  This is a great idea, and many of the things that were used back then can still be used today.

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RAINGUTTER REGATTA
Description: The Raingutter Regatta is a race in which boats race along a narrow channel (10-foot lengths of raingutter). The wind powered version uses sailboat designs and the boats are blown down the channel. Each boy builds his own boat with the supervision of a parent of other family member. He also supplies the wind for the sail with his own lung power. Raingutter Regatta kits are available at the Scout Shop. For a different idea, you can use vegetables carved as boats.
Race Day: The race involves two lanes of raingutter. The boys are to blow air on the boats in order to advance them through the water. Hands are only to be used to upright a turned over boat, and are not to be used to advance the boat. In addition, boys should not use their faces, lips, hats, nose, or other bodily parts to move the boat – just the air in their lungs!
Raingutters:

• Have a spare raingutter on hand.
  
• Pre-test all raingutters for leaks. Have some crimping tools on hand (such as vise grips) to seal
  last minute leaks.
  
• Keep caulk on hand. Do not use 100% silicone on wet surfaces since it dissolves in water.
  
• Clamp the ends of the raingutters down so that they do not get knocked over. Hints:
  

• Your boat doesn’t need to be fancy. Some of the best boats are those left unfinished, with mast
  and sail stuck on it.
  
• You can give awards not only for the fastest boat but also for the prettiest, best decorated, etc.
  
• Try to keep the bottom of the boat as flat as possible.
  
• Have a “waiting deck”. Bring a small plastic pool to fill with water, the “marina”, where the boys
  can test their boats.
  
• It’s not how hard you blow, but how straight you blow that makes the difference.
  
• The bottom edge of the sail needs to be about 1⁄2” above the deck of the boat. If the sail is too low,
  the corners rub against the gutter. If the sail is too high, the boat is top heavy and tends to tip
  over.
  
• The keel needs to be placed about 3⁄4 of an inch behind the mast. Don’t follow the instructions
  in the kit.
  
• The rudder should be placed touching the keel.
  
• Blow evenly with the straw at a point about 1” from the bottom of the sail.