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Solar Splash is an international competition between universities to design, build and race solar powered/electric boats. 

                     Click Here to view pictures of the fiberglass demonstration.

                     Click Here to view past pictures.

• Solar Splash Contest Rules: (Taken from Solar Splash Official Rules for 2003)

• Boats are configured with two different operating conditions. 

• The endurance configuration consists of solar panels onboard the boat charging batteries on the go (solar and electric power). Solar panel output is limited by the rules so teams with more money can not buy larger more efficient solar panels to produce more power and win the race with an unfair advantage.
  

• The sprint configuration is identical to the endurance configuration except solar panels are removed and the boat is powered only by batteries that were charged earlier in the day with solar panels (only electric power). The batteries must be standard lead acid batteries and are limited by weight to insure fairness.
  

• Qualifying: Boats must negotiate a fixed distance obstacle course, the “Solar Slalom”, to verify maneuverability and safety.
  

• Technical specifications: Length may not exceed 19ft, 8in. Maximum width is 7ft, 10.5 in. Height must not exceed 4ft, 11in. Energy from the solar panels and battery are the only forms of boat propulsion allowed (no sails, paddles, springs etc.).
  
  Events and Scoring:
  a) Technical Report (90 points)
  b) Visual Presentation (40 points)
  c) Workmanship (20 points)
  d) Qualifying (100 points): Teams run the qualifying courses for time. The fastest qualifying team      receives full points and other teams receive points proportional to the fastest time.
  e) Solar Slalom (100 points): Same scoring and rules as the qualifying event.
  f)  Sprint (250 points): Timed 300 meter race from dead stop. The Solar Splash site mentions record speeds around 30 mph.
  g) Endurance event (400 points): The purpose of this event is to go as far as possible (most number  of laps) in two hours. The 2002 winner traveled 12.3 miles in 2 hours