Motorized, self-inflating, stand-up paddleboard goes fishing

Motorized, self-inflating, stand-up paddleboard goes fishing

Last year we reported on a motorized and self-inflating stand-up paddleboard by Slovenian company SipaBoards. Since the successful Kickstarter campaign that followed, the firm has snagged a prestigious Red Dot design award and has now returned with an updated model for 2016 that caters to fishermen.

 /ШУУД ҮЗЭХ/

SipaBoards' Fisherman features the same basic design as its predecessor, but is larger, which should make carrying fishing gear more practical. Made from tough reinforced vinyl, it sports an onboard motor that both inflates it within five minutes and propels the paddleboard forward.

The Fisherman measures 335 x 90 x 15 cm (131 x 35 x 6-in) when fully inflated and 95 x 50 x 20 cm (37 x 19.6 x 7.9-in) when deflated. The total weight of board and drive unit comes in at 18.5 kg (40 lb), while the board can carry a maximum weight of 300 lb (136 kg).

It can cruise at a sedate fully-assisted speed of 2 knots for up to three hours, though an extra swap-out battery is also available to purchase.

Propulsion is controlled using buttons on the supplied Bluetooth-equipped paddle, and you'll want to keep a firm grip on it because the motor will cut out should you fall into the water while holding it and the Bluetooth connection broken between the paddle and the motor. However, if you fall into the water without your paddle, you could be up the proverbial creek ...

Other than its increased size, the Fisherman differs from SipaBoards' non-fishing models by including extra strapping and rings, which should make it easier to attach gear. The underside can also be outfitted with an optional LED light for night fishing, though this option is available to the non-fishing models too.

The Fisherman is up for pre-order now at US$1,990, with shipping slated for this summer (northern hemisphere).

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