April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge | Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society

Events > April tools

APRIL TOOLS WOODEN BOAT CHALLENGE 2020

Get Your Team Ready!

It’s time to start assembling a team for the 2020 April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge!

Last year’s Castaway builders made their boats from what might have washed up on the beach on the ‘isle of Madeira Park.’ The vessels took an amazing variety of shapes and fared surprisingly well in the races—maybe due to the help of their pal Wilson!

But what about this year? No one (including us) knows what the challenge will be. But rest assured the teams will have 1 hour to formulate their plans, then 3 hours to execute them using only hand tools and battery powered screw guns. They will rest for an hour as the high schoolers race, then it will be flat out racing for the adults.

There will be free boatbuilding and other activities for the kids, and lots of good food. We can make no promises about the weather, but in 19 years we have managed in pretty much everything!

So don’t forget the date: April 25, 2020. The place is Millennium Park (Government Wharf) in Madeira Park. Teams learn their ‘twist’ and see their materials at 10AM, begin building at 11AM. High school races are at 2PM with the adult races following right after. Free kids’ activities are on all day.

Entry fee for a team of up to 4 is $180, but if you get your entry to us by April 1 it will only cost you $160. Download and fill out the entry form below and mail it with your fee to April Tools, PO Box 65 Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0.

Cheques should be made out to PHLHS/April Tools. Don’t forget there are significant prizes to be won: 1st $700, 2nd $400, 3rd $250. Also it’s a ton of fun and that’s worth more than money!

See you there!

Download 2020
Team Registration Form

Thank you to our 2020 sponsors!

See you on
April 25, 2020!

Download 2020 Team Registration Form

What happens on
Event Day:

10 am: the twist and building materials are revealed to the teams. Then they have one hour to plan how they'll build their boat. Hand tools only!

11 am - 2 pm: Boatbuilding action, lots of activities for kids, museum displays, snacks, and more.

2 pm: Youth Races the high school teams run two races: the trophy race and the free-for-all

2:45 pm (approx.): Adult races follow the youth races. It's float, sink, or swim! Will they even get all the way around the course? Can anyone beat the multi-champion Fireflies? (aka the Garden Bay Firefighters) Upsets of all kinds can happen!

Family Fun

Wooden boats are available to row or paddle around the Harbour for free.
Burgers and baked goods keep everyone energized
Lots of fun activities for the little kids, including free mini-boatbuilding!

Check out our photo galleries from past event years!

Location

Situated on the shores of spectacular Pender Harbour, Madeira Park is a jewel of the Sunshine Coast. With only a ferry ride and a scenic one hour drive north, it is easily accessible from both Vancouver and the lower mainland. View our location on Google Maps.