help my son with his science project please

my son would like to invent a surfboard…he has two ideas…one is to put a very small low powered engine on it, and the other is to widen the surfboard and put fins on each side (to assist with balance)and two in the back(not sure why? speed perhaps)the second one is supposed to be geared towards beginners. What do you think? Any suggestions?

out of the motor . … even a low powered motor is going to go against everything that surfing is about . … . as well as trying to hold onto the ocean as long as we can maybe some solar powered hydraulic fins? eh on the other hand I don’t know if solar power can do something like that … but keep him thinking about it, just take away the motor . . . . he might invent some environmentally wonderful transportation device for the water

my son would like to invent a surfboard…he has two ideas…one is to put > a very small low powered engine on it, and the other is to widen the > surfboard and put fins on each side (to assist with balance)and two in the > back(not sure why? speed perhaps)the second one is supposed to be geared > towards beginners. What do you think? Any suggestions? http://www.surfart.com/surf_history/surfboards.html would be a good place to start. Good Luck, Rich

The surfboard essentially doesn’t have any moving parts (although Dick Keating had a board that had bicycle handlebars that activated a rudder-that seemed to work). Designing something with an engine goes against the no-moving-parts model. Plus, an engine is heavy, noisy, requires fuel, and produces waste. Maybe he could work on a surfboard that is unattractive to sharks.

The surfboard essentially doesn’t have any moving parts (although Dick > Keating had a board that had bicycle handlebars that activated a > rudder-that seemed to work). Designing something with an engine goes > against the no-moving-parts model. Plus, an engine is heavy, noisy, > requires fuel, and produces waste. Maybe he could work on a surfboard that > is unattractive to sharks. Hummmmmmmmmm??? I think Randy French is looking for a new idea??? Just kidding??? or am i??? Tell your son to post with his ideas and we will all help him… http://surfnwsc.com

out of the motor . … even a low powered motor is going to go against > everything that surfing is about . … . as well as trying to hold onto the > ocean as long as we can>>> maybe some solar powered hydraulic fins? eh on the other hand I don’t know > if solar power can do something like that … but keep him thinking about > it, just take away the motor . . . . he might invent some environmentally > wonderful transportation device for the water OK how about a gyroscopically-stabilized surfboard for beginners, so they don’t fall over as much? OR a remote controlled oil spill cleaning board (use that motor for something important, maybe it could even be powered by stuff it sucks up!!)

love the first … the second good too . … but really . … no more motors. On the water they just really suck.

Hummmmmmmmmm??? I think Randy French is looking for a new idea???>>> Just kidding??? or am i???>>> Tell your son to post with his ideas and we will all help him… Hey Rob maybe it should have a “flex tail”.I loved that string…R.B.

Hey Rob maybe it should have a “flex tail”.I loved that > string…R.B. >>> I’m just waiting for Blanks!! Then the tread begains… The flex final. I wanta know where this kid lives??? He wants to reinvent ( son would like to invent a surfboard )the Surfboard??? He belongs on Swaylocks… We need fresh ideas sometimes my son would like to invent a surfboard…he has two ideas…one is to put a very small low powered engine on it, and the other is to widen the surfboard and put fins on each side (to assist with balance)and two in the back(not sure why? speed perhaps)the second one is supposed to be geared towards beginners. What do you think? Any suggestions? http://surfnwsc.com

I’m just waiting for Blanks!! Then the tread begains… The flex final.>>> I wanta know where this kid lives??? He wants to reinvent ( son would like > to invent a surfboard )the Surfboard???>>> He belongs on Swaylocks… We need fresh ideas sometimes>>> my son would like to invent a surfboard…he has two ideas…one is to put > a very small low powered engine on it, and the other is to widen the > surfboard and put fins on each side (to assist with balance)and two in the > back(not sure why? speed perhaps)the second one is supposed to be geared > towards beginners. What do you think? Any suggestions? Thank you all so much. WE live in Hawaii and my son is 9 years old and in the fourth grade. When he suggested a motor, he doesn’t mean outbord size, he means a little 2 propeller battery operated one, maybe with a remote control. If I can figure out how to post a picture or drawing of his idea, I will do so. He is looking into all of the ideas that you have given. Thank you again for your support.

love the first … the second good too . … but really . … no more > motors. On the water they just really suck. plus, motorized surfboards have already been done…