Students sail concrete canoes into engineering majors at UNF event
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The themes ranged from a small replica of Noah's Ark to a Viking ship replete with miniature shields on the rails. But the objective was anything but novel.
Engineering students from five northeast Florida high schools converged on the University of North Florida School of Engineering building Saturday to see if their "concrete canoes" could outdo the others. It was part of the second Concrete Canoe Contest put on by UNF and the Society of American Military Engineers that tests design, stability and buoyancy of small 2-foot vessels made mostly of concrete and designed by the students.
The point is to prove that concrete, through appropriate engineering, can be less dense than water.
Source: Florida Times-Union
Business bringing water sports back to White Rock Lake
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DALLAS -- With warm weather and sunny skies in the forecast, Amy Ebert is gearing up for months of 60-hour workweeks.
But from where she sits -- the grassy shore of White Rock Lake -- Ebert thinks she has the best job in town.
And on a spring day with a cool breeze blowing across the water, it's hard to argue.
"This is my dream job -- I'm living it," said Ebert, 36, co-founder of the White Rock Paddle Co.
Ebert left corporate life three years ago to launch the outdoor venture with a fellow paddling enthusiast -- the first time in more than 15 years anyone has rented watercraft at the Dallas city park.
The change in jobs also came with an upgrade in work environment. It's certainly less stressful.
Source: Bryan College Station Eagle
Canoe business helps owner paddle through adversity
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BRESLAU – Out of adversity comes opportunity. James Gjesing knows the meaning of that saying only too well.
Eight years ago, at the age of 30, Gjesing (pronounced Gay-sing) was struck down by a crippling attack of arthritis that swelled up his legs and feet so badly he couldn’t walk.
Just prior to this setback, Gjesing had quit his job as a general contractor in the Collingwood area and moved back to Kitchener with plans to become an English teacher.
Stuck at home with his retraining plans on hold, the avid canoeist hit upon the idea of building a canoe in his garage. He studied designs on the internet and purchased a copy of Canoecraft, by Ted Moores, which Gjesing calls “the bible of boat-building.”
Source: Waterloo Record