RULES
Using at least one bicycle and no more than a $200 budget,
build a human-powered boat that can go out, turn around and
come back. The one that does so in the shortest amount of time wins.

The 2003 race did not have any prize, just braggin' rights to the
winner and a nifty trophy made by John Noel Carambat.

What is This?
The 2003 race was between seven boats, all independently designed and
built by members of the Carambat family. The Carambats are who came up with
the idea of building and racing pedal-powered boats over the Christmas holidays.

Where and When Did this Take Place?
The 2003 competition took place on July 4th, 2003.
We raced on Lake Ponchatrain, on the Northshore in Mandeville, Louisiana.

Can I Participate?
This was the first race of what may become a yearly event if there is enough
interest and if we can get sponsorship for a prize.

If we decide to make this a yearly event and open it to the public, we will
make such an announcement on this site, so check back often. if you have
questions or wish to promote this event in some way you can
email us at: info@pedalboatrace.com


Coming Soon! 2003 race results and highlites!


Here were the 2003 competitors:
Click thumbnails to enlarge
The Wave Wacker
Built by Mike Carambat, Sr. of Covington, LA. His all-wooden boat, hybrid pontoon boat uses a four bladed, plastic cooling fan from a Civic as a propeller and a flexible weedwacker cord for a driveshaft. This flexible driveshaft allows him to sit in the same position pedaling while being able to turn his propellor like a regular boat engine. This gives him an extraodinary turning radius.

The Scat Cat
Built by John Noel Carambat, of Covington, LA. This near indestructable pontoon boat is made of roofing tin and 1"x6" planks. Although heavy, it is very bouyant and can take the weight of the driver on just one of it's long pontoons. It uses a custom carved two-bladed, wooden prop as a propeller and a chain with a power drill right-angle drive for a driveshaft. Steering is via a small rudder in the back.

The Dog Paddle
Built by John Noel Carambat, of Covington, LA. This is a much smaller, yet still blue pontoon boat made entirely out of wood. Much lighter and smaller than it's predecessor, it is also uses a completely different style of propulsion. It uses two custom made oars which are directly attached via a clever mechanism to the pedals. The oars dip in and out of the water much like they would in a regular boat, except much more efficiently. Steering is via two small rudders mounted behind each pontoon

The Nautilus
Built by Mike Carambat, Jr., of Prairieville, LA. This pontoon boat has a frame made of welded together electrical conduit. The pontoons are fiberglass coated styrofoam. This boat uses a centrifuge to maintain momemtum to the prop once it gets going (like those little cars you push along the ground that keep going once you let them go). Originally, the main propulsion unit was an archimedes screw, but it failed to perform during development. It now uses a large, conventional two-bladed propellor. Steering is via two large rudders mounted near the rear. This boat has it's own development website at: http://www.designwizardry.com/nautilus

T.J.'s Boat
Built by John Noel Carambat and T.J., of Covington, LA. This all-wooden pontoon boat is light, small and designed for a smaller operator. It drives a paddlewheel in the back which was taken from an old excercise bike. Modifications have recently been made to the paddlewheel to increase efficiency. Steering is via a small rudder mounted near the rear.

Chain Lightning
Built by Mike Carambat, Sr. and Chase, of Covington, LA. This styrofoam and wooden pontoon boat is light, small and designed for a smaller operator. It uses a mostly unchanged bicycle frame which has four paddles attached to the rear wheel where the tire would normally be. Steering is via a large rudder between the pontoons in the front.

Sammy's Boat
Built by John Patrick Carambat, and Sammy Carambat, of Covington, LA. Not much has been seen of this boat. It is rumored to exist in production somewhere in New Orleans. It's all very hush hush... But from what we have gathered, it has styrofoam pontoons and uses a large, above the water-line FAN for main propulsion, thus making it an airboat. In addition, two smaller props exist below the waterline in the front of the boat for additional propulsion and steering via a flexible roto-rooter cable. We are all dying to see this thing.