Help SJSU Concrete Canoe Race for Nationals

Last year, our Concrete Canoe team finished second overall at the Mid-Pacific Symposium, just 2.5 points behind first place among 12 universities. We took first place in both the technical presentation and the written report, but fell short in paddling and product. This year, we're coming back to win the symposium and earn our spot at Nationals.

What we do

Our student team builds the canoe from scratch. We design and optimize the hull, develop and test concrete mixes, build the mold, cast and pour the canoe, and train the paddlers who race it.

What's new this year

We are building a two-mix canoe that shifts the center of mass toward the water level. We are also adding new inlays, upgrading our curing tank, and focusing on paddling training. Our team has tripled in size, so we are putting quality control first to turn a computer design into a hand-built canoe. You can't learn that kind of engineering from a textbook.

Why we need your help

Every member already pays out of pocket to take part, and competing is expensive. Without enough funding, our testing capacity stays limited. We also can't house all of our racers and presenters, or cover the cost of transporting the canoe.

Where your gift goes

Most of your donation goes straight into the canoe. Construction and concrete mix materials make up about three quarters of our budget. The rest covers paddling, travel, team meetings, and apparel.