SUP construction and design

I was recently approached by a guy that wants me to shape some SUP’s in a conventional way; not wood, not composite, not hollow. I figure I can do it, but could use some input into design and materials. He’s adamant about this being a “completely-made-in-the-U.S.A.” endeavor.  His idea is to have something long and very wide for buoyancy and stability. He’s talking 40 to 48 inches in width, 4" thick and something around 12’ to 15’ in length. He wants to make a bunch and lease them out to summer rental venders at various lake, river and water areas for vacationers and tourists to rent daily or hourly rates.  But that’s his deal. My end will be to shape them and and send them out for glassing. I was thinking EPS foam and epoxy. Your input and ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

EPS and epoxy is the only way to go for a SUP

First off have you cost-out the construction of these boats?

SUP's don't need to be that wide to work, even on lakes.  If

you are not charging $1400 + you will be taking it in the shorts.

Epoxy glass jobs for 10' SUP's here on the west coast run in the

$600 range.  12 - 15 feet is a lot more.  Add in the cost of blanks,

cutting, stringers, etc.. and you are already loosing money.  Add in

your time.............  I would do a little research first on what works on

rivers and lakes that is already in production.  See what they are charging.

You do know how to use the internet?  Add in what you think your profit should

be.  Go back to your guy.  See what he says.  I'll bet he doesn't go for it.

Tell him you can hook him up for a nominal fee.  Charge him a grand for the

websites & companys you have already researched.  Done deal.  Walk away.

Sorry to be so harsh, but everybody has a great idea.  Few have money to back

it up.  I was hoping to save you from getting burned.  Just my 2c.

Thank you surfteach; Don’t worry I wont let myself get burned. I appreciate your words of caution.  I intend to do all the research that you have suggested. I already told him that I won’t put up any of my own money but that I will put in some time looking into the costs. I also told him that he will have to pay for materials and labor costs in advance (blanks, glassing etc.) I will research the cost for materials, glassing charges. I told him that it’s not going to be cheap. Keep in mind he’s not doing this to sell them, he wants to lease them to rental vendors. He has told me that he has contacts along those lines, but that’s his business. I’d like to get your input as well as others on what materials and methods I should use, so I can research the costs.  If he decides to move forward with the project, then I will iron out a contract in writing for my handling and shaping fees.

hi Mitch

Those would be way, way too big for folks to paddle around on. Most people could get up and feel comfortable paddling around on something like a Liquid Shredder soft-top (12’x31.5"x4.8")–having taken my retirement age mother out on one, she was up and zipping around within a few minutes. They are also relatively easy to turn, and most average adults could carry a child or dog on board with them, no problem. Plus, anything longer becomes pretty difficult to carry and transport.

I laud your customer for wanting a made in the US product…however there’s a good reason why rental fleets are made up of soft-tops and surftech boards rather than conventionally glassed EPS/epoxy–they are pretty durable and not overly burdensome to repIace or repair as needed. I’m not sure your customer really has a good sense of what he is up against when considering rentals. Some friend of mine run a mobile flatwater SUP rental for about 3 months a year in upstate NY. Their fleet was predominantly the Liquid Shredders I previously mentioned, as well as Riviera (surftech style) 11.6’s. Their discovery this summer was that customers totally thrash rental boards and they ended up selling their fleet at the end of the season. Even the Liquid Shredders were waterlogged and delamming by the end of the season, and the Rivieras had cracks etc.

For a rental board, durability, rather than performance, should be key. Super bomber glass jobs, high density foam…just imagine customers dragging their boards across the parking lot to the water, or dropping it on the dock, or running into the beach. Your customer’s investment only makes sense if he can keep the boards in the water all season…if they need repair, not so good.

Hope this helps.

mike

With a little more research, your customer is going to learn the way to go, is made in the USA plastic SUPs being knocked out by several kayak companies and retailing for $500 each. One factory is in Buffalo.

The local rental operation here, has already gone this way. All the epoxy EPS boards did not hold up to constant rental abuse.

But if you end up doing it, 34 wide is max for the big wide SUPs on the market. Anything wider and you can’t paddle straight. The paddle must be vertical when you stroke, if you want to paddle straight!

 

 

 

 

Mitch;

Glad you got my meaning.  There is lots of good advice here, you might

want to be the middleman in this situation.  If you really think that you can

make some money making these boards, here's what I would suggest in terms

of materials.  Since they are rentals, you want to make them almost bullet-proof.

First this is, get superfused EPS.  Anything less will be waterlogged after the first

month.  Second, consider using 7.5 oz cloth.  It is a bit harder to wet out with epoxy,

but major strength contribuitions in the rails.  22 oz. rail strenght with a double deck

and a single bottom.  30 oz. rails with double top & bottom.  Do the dim's listed above,

your guy doesn't know what size is appropriate.  12' is plenty long.  The size of the

EPS block at max size is 6' x 12' x 24" at most block molders shops.  There are other

types of builds that work, this is the most conventional that I would do.  Anything else is

a financial risk.  Here on the west coast, the most common bay rentals are not soft tops

but standard builds.  Rockers are not surf related but river (flat water) curves.  Good luck!

Surfteach your advice is very accurate.

Glassing is $600 for a 10 footer.

Blank is $175

Most CNC Machines will cut 30 1/2 wide.

Marko may be able to do them 12’0" and check with them on the width.

You could have a cut blank delivered.

$775 is just for the raw material.

Then you have the paddle?

The rental yard can buy two with paddles for the same price you can sell one after your labor.

I appreciate the made in the USA ideal however it’s a little late and you want to do the labor?

This is not Guru Shaping. Be nice but you should pass on your friends offer.

It’s not a very smart ideal and your time can be spent a bit wiser.

Kind regards,

surfding