The Floatila on the Tennessee River on Saturday will feature homemade boats similar to ones that participated in a previous event held on the Connecticut River.IF YOU GOWhat: The Floatila community floatWhen: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 18Where: From boat ramp at Rivermont Park, 3400 Lupton Drive, to Coolidge Park, 150 River St. After-party will take place at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St., beginning at 3 p.m.Admission: Free to watch; $20 per person/$10 child in advance to register, $30/$20 day ofPhone: 423-648-0963Website: www.floatila.com
Andrew Zaleski figures his engineering background might come in handy when it comes to building a boat for the Floatila community float down the Tennessee River on Saturday, May 18.
Zaleski and two friends — Patrick Noland and Robert Kellermann — plan to build a boat from 55-gallon rain barrels complete with a deck for chairs. The design challenge for them is that they don’t have a big truck or trailer, so they will have to dismantle the boat to transport it and rebuild it on-site Saturday.
It’s the challenge though that interested them.
“The design element looped us in,” he said.