Simple propulsion for the lazy Paddle Boarder

Exercise is one of the downsides of healthy outdoor activities. Who would want to do that if you could build something to do the hard work for you? This seems to be the theme of the latest release from [Bitluni], a simple (and hacky) propulsion system for a stand-up paddleboard.

After acquiring an inflatable stand up paddle board and trying it out several times, [Bitluni] decided to skip the stand up and paddle board parts. He designed and printed a very simple propeller, which he intended to power with a brushless motor and speed controller. In the process of drilling the propeller to fit the shaft, he realized he was complicating things too much. So he decided to use his battery-powered drill instead. For the shaft tube, he modified an old crutch by drilling a hole in the handle for the shaft and adding a conduit with a bearing at the other end. He also attached a carabiner to the handle to secure it to the paddleboard.

A test on a lake showed that the propulsion system worked reasonably well for a proof of concept, but had some flaws. To submerge it properly, [Bitluni] had to sit on the back of the paddleboard facing backwards. If he was too close to the surface, he would suck in air and lose thrust, or spray him and his drill with water. Of course, there's also the real risk of drowning your drill in the process.

Projects don't have to be complex to be enjoyable, and you can often learn more by quickly creating a proof of concept instead of taking forever to find the "perfect" design.

If you want to see more advanced water projects, check out the electric water jet surfboards built by [RCLifeOn] and [Andrew W].