SDHS ship-building team wins competition

By Carol Ann Ellis

For the third year in a row the Stephen Decatur High School (SDHS) Engineering Club has built the winning radio-controlled, scale model cargo ship, taking the honors on April 19 at a competition held at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. SDHS has competed in this event sponsored by the Maryland Association of Appraisers and the Baltimore Museum of Industry for the last four years.

Planning for the competition began a year ago when six students interested in engineering, design and construction were recruited. The students, under the direction of Larry Ryan, Tech-Ed teacher and engineering club advisor and Dale Krantz, faculty advisor designed the winning entry, which carried the most cargo over an "ocean route" in the shortest time, achieving the highest "freight rate."

The model, christened Miss Anne Baby is 24 inches long with a 12 inch beam and a 2.5 inch draft, built on a scale of one inch to 10 feet. It is constructed of two-inch thick extruded polystyrene, coated with epoxy resin after assembly. Powered by a small 12 volt electric motor, it moves at a speed of about 1.5 feet per second while loaded with three inch wooden blocks to simulate freight containers.

The team generates funding for supplies and equipment through a ping pong tournament held in November. Winners are awarded prizes including pizza, gift cards to Outback Steakhouse and savings bonds from The Bank of Ocean City and Taylor Bank. This year the tournament raised nearly $500.00.

Other sponsors who contributed materials and expertise over the life of the project include Metal Magic, Frick Electric, Ashton Surfboards, Sherwin-Williams Paints, Harvard Custom Manufacturing, Hardwire in Pocomoke and Bayliner Yacht, formerly of Salisbury.

Art Schmidt of Ocean Pines, a retired Naval Architect, provided invaluable help with designing the craft. Mr. Schmidt collaborated on the design of The Nautilus," the nation's first nuclear submarine. He says that he "really enjoyed participating in it [the present project] because it is a challenge." He noted that it has helped him to renew his interest in shipbuilding and keep up to date with his field.

Mr. Ryan comments, "Students who are doing this are good role models who inspire their peers to want to know more about how technology is applied [to real-world situations]. The cargo ship challenge gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge of many higher math and science concepts. The added advantage of winning in this competition brings the pride of this accomplishment back to our supportive community and our great school."

Contact The Courier
Phone: 410-641-6695 Fax: 410-641-6688
Email: thecourier@delmarvacourier.com