Birth of a Motorized Surfboard

An anonymous reader writes: "The October Mechanical Engineering has a article on the creation of a motorized surfboard. Looks like a bigger creative leap than Segway and potentially a lot more fun!"

Comments

it's been done

[acidrain69]

I saw a motorized surfboard when I was like 6 years old. That was about 19 years ago. Granted, it wasn't NEARLY as sexy as this one. The one I saw was a fairly big box on the back of a surfboard. The one in the article actually LOOKS like a surfboard, maybe a little thicker in the middle.

That's Nothing!

[zimmermantech.com]

How about an UNDERWATER gas powered AquaScooter? Great for fighting the current when snorkeling for lobsters here in Florida!

Re:Motorized HYDROFOIL surfboard

[john_smith_45678]

Or non-motorized hydrofoil (air) surfboards:

http://www.foils.org/sailbord.htm
http://www.hydrofoilsurfing.com/

Re:Something's missing here....

[kfg]

I've been pretty vocal about slagging off the Segway, but never for its technology and the creative inventiveness it took to create it.

I'm with you on this one.

Hell, I even think the Segway is more useful.

You want to see real creativity and invention in personal watercraft? Well, then go to the guys with a history. . . Hobie.

Their Mirage drive for kayaks is one of those things that I wish I had designed myself. It's based on the funtion of penquin wings ( so it's Linux compliant ) that generate "lift" when you pedal them, all in one amazing compact unit.

http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/index.html

Beats the hell out of " Gee, I don't know. How about a kayak with. . . a motor! Yeah. Nobody's ever done anything like that before."

KFG

Re:Revolutionary

[MikeFM]

I'm not a surfer but this looks like fun. It's like a JetSki you can carry around. I'd definately try it. All you cool surfers may complain and bash it for it's lack of purity of the sport but I can see this as being really fun and a popular new toy.

Re:Getting lazy

[KiDas]

When I first got into surfing I thought it would be great to have one of these. My main thoughts were along the lines of safety. If you could have a normal surfboard that when an extra big wave was heading towards you about to crash down on you, you could (while laying down on your board) press a button near the front of your board with your thumbs to accelerate out of harms way. You would either go at the wave full speed to get over it or go down under the wave and actually be able to have power while under water. For me that hardest part about surfing was actually getting under the wave that is about to crash or has already crashed. As the waves get bigger this gets increasingly harder/impossible (really really big waves.) It could also serve well to help catch those large waves with having to use a jet-ski to tow-in surf.

Seeing this article excited me for a second, but what a dissapointment... and I think i've changed my mind about these things now.

No where in the article does it mention how well it really surfs. Most of the pics on their website show people standing up on them riding like a jetski. That's really what this is. Not a motorized surfboard. Surfing means riding waves and if it's not still good at riding a wave, then it's not for surfing... more like waterskiing.

If it could be done without altering the shape of a normal surfboard and also allowing full operation when underwater as well and being completely quiet and environmentally friendly, then I will be excited. That day is likely a long ways away.

There is a certian "spiritual" feeling you get from surfing that you would definately loose if it didn't meet those criteria. Adding to the safety of surfing with a properly well made board as mentioned would be great, but not with something that replaces what you get from paddling out, humbly getting crushed by the ocean, rushing to catch a wave, dropping down the face, and getting the ride of your life!

Another saftey thing that I'm surprised isn't available are small, cheap "aqua lungs" that would provide 2-5 min of air for a surfer stuck underwater for longer then planned. Or maybe they do have these and I just havn't seen them? They could be just part of the leash that velcros to your ankle and you reach down and snap it off in an emergency. Maybe these things would be seen as "wussy" or whatever, but I wonder how many lives something like this could/would have save(d.) These would also boost your confidence when out there in the water and maybe help to increase your surfing skills.

...sorry, I know, I'm rambling on now. It's late and it's not often that surfing make the news on slashdot, so... goodnight.