Refining the Design of a 3D-Printed, 27-foot Rowing Boat
Problem statement
The sport of rowing began in the early 1800s and since the 1970s these boats or “shells” have been made of composite materials. Competitive shells are made with carbon, glass, and even kevlar fibers that are bonded with thermoset resins and sandwich layers of hard, honeycombed plastic. The unique material composition means boats are built layer-by-layer using molds to form the hull and deck shape [1]. The process is time-consuming and a single-person boat ranging from 20-27 feet long can cost between $6000-$8000 [2]. Utilizing 21st-century developments in additive manufacturing, a previous senior design group has already proven the feasibility of creating a geometrically similar and watertight vessel by 3D printing ABS plastic. If rowing shells can be 3D printed, the design and testing of shells can be transformed into an iterative process requiring drastically less labor, and rowing shells can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost. We intend to prove that testable attributes such as the coefficient of drag and hull rigidity of carbon fiber shells can be achieved by 3D printing ABS instead. We will do this by optimizing the geometry and printing parameters, as well as testing different post-processing methods with the goal of decreasing drag and improving the overall strength of the 3D-printed rowing shell. A similar project at the University of Maine is currently utilizing 3D printing to create boats as one contiguous piece out of thermoplastics [3]. While this method creates a high-quality vessel, the price of a large enough printer as well as the cost of thermoplastics makes it impractical to use for prototyping. Thus, using ABS and a modular print design will allow our team to produce an inexpensive and uncomplicated model that is ideal for prototyping and testing. [1] Filter, B. K. (2019). Design and materials in rowing. Materials in sports equipment (pp. 375-401) doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-102582-6.00013-7 [2] MAAS Boats. (2023). Shell comparison chart and shell price list. https://www.maasboats.com/shells-2/shell-price-list/ [3] “UMaine launches world’s largest 3D printed boat,” Maine Boats Homes & Harbors, 11-Oct-2019. [Online]. Available: https://maineboats.com/blog/2019/umaine-launches-world%E2%80%99s-largest-3d-printed-boat. [Accessed: 17-Feb-2023].
Team members
Cole Johnstone – leader
Grace Romanick – communicator
Jonah Guelker – accountant
Matthew Grant – admin
Client
Grant James, Polymer Engineering Center