Bathtub boats have been competing in the Nanaimo to Nanaimo "Great" INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE since 1967. Until the 1990s, tubbers raced from Nanaimo to Vancouver's Kitsilano beach). The race is held the last weekend of July every year and goes from downtown Nanaimo to Departure Bay in Nanaimo.

Other cities now hold bathtub races, but the Nanaimo events continues to be the most widely known.

A Bathtub Boat heads to the milling area for the 2004 Great Race

Boat design

Early boats were whimsical and crafted from a variety of materials. Today, most bathtub boats are monohull planers with outboard motors. The rules restrict the engine to 8hp, and the weight to a minimum of 350lbs (including driver). There are two classes of bathtub boats: stock and modified. A form resembling a roll-top tub must be an integral part of the structure. Most tubbers make their "tub" by using a bathtub as the mold to lay down fiberglass. See The Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society (http://bathtub.island.net) for more information.