UNCW Coastal Engineering Students Put Designs to the Test

Bringing together creativity, problem-solving, and friendly rivalry, the annual Wave Flume Boat Race challenges engineering students to put their skills to the test by designing a boat to withstand the waves inside the Coastal Engineering Building’s wave flume.  

The Wave Flume Boat Race, which began two years ago by UNCW’s Society of Women Engineers, gives students the opportunity to learn more about the engineering design process and the importance of trial and error.  

This year, students were given 45 minutes to build their boat based on a design previously made in class. They used materials such as cardboard, duct tape, aluminum foil, their “captain” rubber duck, and a new addition this year: an optional battery-operated motor.     

While on the outside the event may resemble a simple boat-building challenge, students must consider many factors while putting together their designs

“Students have to figure out how to balance the payload of the weight of the sub-assembly motor and the duck as the passenger with the security and stability of the boat,” said Amy Reamer, engineering program director for the College of Science and Engineering. “That’s the engineering of it.” 

One group put these problem-solving skills to the test when their original boat exceeded the width requirements. With just 14 minutes left, they were able to completely reconstruct their design to meet the requirements before entering the wave flume. 

For these Engineering 101 students, their different designs showcased the combination of math, science and creativity required in their major. Many groups added costumes to their ducks: tinfoil hats, plastic cup masks and duct tape jackets. Several teams added flags displaying their group number to their boats.

The competition also highlights how UNCW's engineering program continues to evolve. While first-year students gain an early introduction to hands-on design challenges, upper-level students can see firsthand how the program has grown.  

“I didn’t have the wave flume or this competition my freshman year,” said Julia Morash, an Engineering 101 teaching assistant and senior coastal engineering student. “It’s really cool to see and be able to experience something like this as a senior and get to help teach the new students about it as well.” 

Once the building time came to an end, students made their way inside to compete in the wave flume. As the boats entered the water, students and faculty gathered to see how each group’s design would hold up against the waves. As some boats made it through the flume unscathed, others ended up sideways, upside down or even lost their passengers. Regardless of the outcome, every student walked away with a memorable experience and a better understanding of creativity, collaboration and trial and error in engineering. 

“This was a super fun and challenging experience,” one competing student said. “Putting our heads together to solve a problem and be able to see the outcome of it was a super rewarding experience.”