Airmen sink spare time in duct tape boat

  • Published
  • By Lee Ross
  • Nucleus editor
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  It took a big cardboard box, a half-dozen determined Airmen and about 10 rolls of duct tape.

That's according to Staff Sgt. Colin Hinkly of the 898th Munitions Squadron. He and a few fellow Airmen are entering Kirtland's first Battle of the Battleships, which will be held Friday at the indoor pool. Competitors build and race a boat made only of cardboard and tape.

This particular craft is a silver, near-perfect square and looks like something from a comedy movie involving a shipwreck. It has a triangular prow tacked on, so it is obvious which side faces forward. Hinkly said the best part of building the craft is yet to come.

"It will be Friday, when we win and it doesn't sink," he said.

The rest of the crew -- Tech. Sgt. Robert Contreas, Tech. Sgt. Andrew Barger, Senior Airman Daniel Cuevas and civilian Carl Sohm -- agreed that there were a lot of disputes about the design of the boat. The words "constant argument" were used to describe the process.

Master Sgt. James Green of the 898th Munitions Squadron was a driving force behind the event. He said this year's event has been a learning process, but things have gone smoothly "due to the awesome support" from the 377th Air Base Wing and Force Support Squadron.

Participants are asking questions about what can and can't be done to give them the edge. Although Green didn't give away the competitors' secret plans, he did say that one ship might have a grappling hook made out of cardboard and duct tape.

The rules for the competition are simple: Teams of two to four people will bring their boats ready to compete and at least two people must be inside the boat during the race.

The event is open to all units, squadrons, flights, services and groups with base affiliation. Checkin is 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and the event starts at noon. Cost is $35 per team and includes lunch for all the team members.

For the 898th MUNS boat crew, the plan is to add a few more coats of tape, put the thing in the water Friday and "let the shenanigans take over," Hinkly said.