Cardboard boat races set for June 25 at Hannibal Aquatic Center

HANNIBAL, Mo. — In years past, Hannibal youngsters sailed handmade rafts on the mighty Mississippi during the annual raft race. Today’s youngsters use cardboard and duct tape to construct their watercrafts and take a leap of faith hoping their vessels can hold up in the waters at the Hannibal Aquatic Center.

The sixth annual Hannibal Parks and Recreation Department cardboard boat races will be Saturday, June 25, at the Hannibal Aquatic Center.

Registration deadline for the cardboard boat races is June 22. Youngsters team up to build their best cardboard boat and attempt to ride in their boats for as long as possible before the boat sinks. Boaters are tasked with building a functional craft with only cardboard and duct tape.

Jenna McDonald, aquatics director at the Hannibal Aquatics Center, said in a press release, “The participants get creative in their design. We’ve had a little bit of everything, which is what makes it so much fun. It’s fun for the spectators as well.“

Boat check-in is 9 a.m. June 25, with the first launch at 10 a.m. Each boat must have two passengers, ages 6-16. Rules are on the hannibalparks.com website and available at the HPR office, 320 Broadway.

Trophies will be awarded to winners in the following categories:

• Fastest boat
• Titanic Award
• Best decorated
• Can’t believe It’s cardboard

McDonald said the lifeguards at the Hannibal Aquatic Center will help participants get into the boats and make sure they make it safely to the other side while also serving as judges for the contests.

Rules are available at https://www.hannibalparks.org/news/cardboard-boat-races-planned-june-25/