Crafty kayakers set sail on cardboard boats across Hudson River

It was a tearably good race.

Dozens of paddlers took on a test of maritime skill on the Hudson River Thursday — as they built their own kayaks out of cardboard and competed in a series of races that marked the opening ceremony for New York’s City of Water Day.

The wet-n-wild weirdness was won by a team from Manhattan Kayak, which, unlike many of their competitors, managed to stay afloat in the river currents and steam to multiple wins with a Saran-wrapped dinghy emblazoned with a stylish shark on the front.

“I feel amazing! I’ve been training every day, all day for this!” said Thomas Barber, one of the brainiacs who helped keep the paper boat afloat.

Barber and his team, representing the rental service of the same name, were one of 23 groups vying for the crown at the annual race at Pier 84.

The festivities, hosted by Manhattan Kayak and Hudson River Park, celebrate the city’s sprawling waterways and their increasing cleanliness.

The teams were given just two hours to turn their slabs of cardboard into buoyant boats — with nothing but duct tape, scissors and a marker for tracing.

The teams had wildly different approaches to the project, with some completely covering the underbelly of their ships with tape and others focusing on the seams.

Others, like the city Economic Development Corporation, used some of their precious time to doodle mini boats alongside the sides of their ship.

“We’re kind of just winging it. I mean, we’ve never built a cardboard kayak before. We’re just trying to get something that kind of floats, stays upright, doesn’t let water in,” said Elliot Ma, 28, who was repping Brooklyn’s Marine Park Alliance.

Ken, from team Langan Engineering Firm, said he was concentrating on having fun: “We’re not professional paddle-ists!”

The 23 teams competed in a bracket-style tournament, with the winners of each race moving forward to take on other winners until one was crowned the ultimate craftsman.

Several teams, including the “Fingers Crossed” — manned and built by two teens — and the city EDC’s “Whole Hogan” sank within seconds of hitting the water.

Other vessels like the “Dam it We Float,” “Crustacean Nation,” and the Downtown Boathouse’s dragon Viking-inspired craft sailed to multiple victories in the seven-round tournament.

Ultimately, they were no match for Manhattan Kayak’s speed.

“When we saw these, like, slats of like cardboard, I was, like, oh my god, very overwhelmed, but we got it together, and I’m so excited that we won,” said team member Stefani Jackenthal, 59.

“This was a really fun day of celebrating New York City waterways.”