BETTENDORF, Iowa -A record-setting 59 teams of teens floated and paddled their way across Middle Park Lagoon on Friday.
The eighth annual Cardboard Boat Regatta proved to be a test of engineering skills and patience for seven high schools.
"The students can be creative and innovative," said Pat Barnes, Deere & Company. "Sometimes it works out really well, and other times it doesn't."
Designing the boats tests science, technology, engineering and math skills in school.
In this real-life application, a lot of the cardboard vessels proved to be seaworthy.
"They actually design, build and see how something really works," Barnes continued. "We think these are great skills from a business perspective. They learn by doing this competition. Plus, it's fun."
This year, administrators, teachers and engineers also got into the action with their designed boats.