Leave it to Corran. The designer who brought kayaking the planing hull with the Savage Designs Fury is now working on (gasp!) the world’s first interchangeable, breakdown, multi-section paddleboard.
The problem with paddleboards, says Addison, is threefold. “The first is that they are long and cumbersome. They are complex to transport and store for the end user, and they take up copious amounts of floor space in retail outlets. The second is that they are generally expensive, and lastly, you need a different board for every intended use.”
His new patent-pending invention, he says, solves all three issues. It consists of a front and back section which form the base board, and then additional center sections which click together to lengthen the board as needed. “The single design, which fits neatly into the back of your car, can go from the perfect Yoga board to a general purpose paddling board, or a distance board,” he says. “Plus, it breaks down for storage.”
While Addison’s been working on the concept for going on eight years, only recently did he come up with the idea to make the board adjustable in length and use. His theory: Take the same shape – and pieces – and duplicate them so that you can make a board short or long.
The “base” board is two pieces – the ends slide together and lock with a ratcheting system that pulls the two pieces together along rigid sliders. This 6-foot, 34-inch-wide board, he says, is perfect for kids and other lightweight paddlers. When you’re done, store it your Smart Car.
Clip in the additional three-foot section and it increases to nine feet long, for bigger paddlers and touring. Add another identical center section and it goes up to 12 feet for distance paddling, fishing and even tandem outings.
The only hiccup, he says, is financing. “The molds for this are very expensive, much more than rotomolding,” says Addison, who is venturing into the cloud funding realm to raise money to bring the product to market. (Info: Kickstarter
In typical Corran fashion, he isn’t shy about the project’s potential. “This is an awesome deal for everyone involved,” he says. “It helps us bring this idea to life, and it gets the end user a board at much less money than what the retail price would be. It’s a chance to be a part of stand-up history.”
For more information, visit www.corransup.com
