TEAMSurvivor Madison is an organization that provids fitness activities for women cancer survivors. We've been involved with dragon boating for 5 years - entering approx. 2 races a year. A local boat builder has volunteered to build us a dragon boat. He is very experienced. He is requesting we research and find the specs for building a Hong Kong dragon boat. Is anyone able to help us find what we need?

http://www.idbf.org/documents_specs.php

You should find what you need there.

Are you looking to build a fiberglass boat or a wood boat?

Our boat builder wants to build a wooden boat.

Wood is heavy.
Diego

Marilyn,

I am a paddler in HK, HK is not using wooden boat for major event. I suggest you to have a fiberglass boat. However, if you still need some info of wooden boat. I may help. My email is boat_dragon@yahoo.com.hk

Build a fibreglass boat. It will last longer, be a lot lighter and require somewhat less work to maintain it.

That's not good advice since the molds will cost double what it would cost just to buy a Buk boat. If you want to build your own wooden boat then buy a kit boat available through GWN in Toronto.

We (The Rotary Club of Woodstock) Built the first two kits in Ontario from the kit that GWN is selling. With a bunch of amateur builders and some professional assistance we built a couple of pretty good boats. From a cost standpoint they were great. We used forms supplied by GWN and set them up on a platform using floor trusses that they use to build new homes with. This gave a long stable platform to build the boats on. For some pictures on our project go to http://www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/DxJournals/journal.aspx?cid=171&jid=1279

Drop me an e-mail with any questions.

Marilyn,

If you are racing in non-IDBF sanctioned races you should be fine with your wooden boat (although as others have pointed out, it will be a beast as far as weight goes). If you are planning on bringing your boat to races and racing in IDBF-affiliated races, you might want to check out getting a spec boat from one of the licensed boat builders (licensed builders can also be found at www.idbf.org). I think it's great that you have a local builder who wants to build you a boat! That's great community spirit!

Hi Marilyn,

The Collingwood Club might have a solution to your conundrum. Go to our website (www.collingwooddragonboats.ca) and drop us a line...

first bench wench.....we don't race in our own club boats over here. Boats are provided by the festivals to ensure fairness.

Our GWN kit boat weighed in at just under 600lbs so right in line with a fibreglass boat.
The material is 5/8" marine plywood.