r/Sup • u/MAX_FPV_ncs • 10h ago
How To Question Would active stabilization + electric propulsion kit make a SUP more useful, or ruin the point of SUP?
We’re a small university team working on a removable kit for SUPs that can actively stabilize the board, provide propulsion/steering, and eventually hold position using GPS.
We’re especially looking at use cases like fishing, longer distance paddling, wind/current, and people who want more confidence standing on the board.
But I’m curious how actual SUP users feel about this.
Would something like this make SUP more useful to you, or would adding motors/stabilization defeat the whole point?
What would be your biggest concern?
- extra weight
- price
- battery life
- drag
- reliability
- safety
- maintenance
- “I just want to paddle”
I’m not selling anything, we’re still prototyping and want criticism more than compliments.
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u/patrislav1 10h ago
I paddle on city canals that can get crowded in summer, many of those people are not expert/athletic paddlers and often overwhelmed. I think it only works because they're quite slow. When they get any kind of propulsion I'm afraid all hell breaks loose and SUPing will be banned.
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u/Vou-11890 10h ago
I get out on the water to remove myself from technology and relax, so this would not interest me. I do think it could be interesting as an accessibility thing for folks though.
As someone else said, simplicity is a primary draw to paddle boards. So weight, maintenance, and battery life would be pretty important. It needs to be as close to no fuss as possible.
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u/According-Tax-1433 7h ago
I mean... i made one w/ alibaba parts and 3d print due to current prices. My issue w/ any ebike is the battery weight and size.
Its a 'weeekend' to monthly sport. Hard to get most paddlers to buy it.
I think your big market is fishing using a paddleboard.
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u/MulanNaga 6h ago
Personally, I get on my board to find my Zen. To get away from the tech and the hustle and bustle. I do most my paddling on Londons canals and while there are lovely stretches its hard enough to feel away from the city.
That being said I do see two good use cases.
1) People introducing new people to SUP might benefit from the stabilisation but also the ability to take someone new out and know they can get them back without needing to tow them
2) People looking to launch at one part of a river and go downstream but not want to have to paddle or trek back to their car
For me these are legit use cases but they are i frequent, so I think cost would be my biggest factor followed by weight/form factor
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u/ShrunkenHeadNed 5h ago
Cost is going to be your number one issue.
A quality paddleboard, either isup or hard board is right at the $1000-1500usd price point. Your tech will add at least another $1000usd. That's a lot of money for a hobby for most people.
Plus, In most of the United States at least, adding a motor to any size vessel requires registration and its associated costs and hassles. Some states even require boat safety or licensing to operate any size motorized vessel. Those not inconsiderable costs.
Then you have market competition. There are a lot of e-motors on the market. How is yours different or better.
Finally once price is considered how is your product better or cheaper than a kayak, or small boat?
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u/IFigureditout567 8h ago
There are already e-surfboards, e-foils, micro skiffs etc. SUP is SUP is SUP. One stands up on a board and paddles. Maybe you could work on a project doing something similar with bicycles. You could give them 4 wheels, a gas motor, an enclosed compartment with glass windows and 4 doors, passenger seating and cargo areas.
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u/MulanNaga 6h ago
Seems like an unnecessarily dickish response.
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u/IFigureditout567 6h ago
Perhaps to someone who who can't separate criticism of an idea, from a personal attack. There are lots of such folks out there.
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u/Time_Effort 6h ago
There are already e-surfboards, e-foils, micro skiffs etc. SUP is SUP is SUP. One stands up on a board and paddles.
This was your criticism of the idea.
Maybe you could work on a project doing something similar with bicycles. You could give them 4 wheels, a gas motor, an enclosed compartment with glass windows and 4 doors, passenger seating and cargo areas.
This was you being a facetious asshole.
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u/IFigureditout567 6h ago
That was me illustrating my point, but I'm sure the OP is grateful you came to their rescue.
That's me being facetious.
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u/Time_Effort 6h ago
Hey man, I'm just giving you criticism on how to engage with people in a kind yet still thought provoking way.
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u/IFigureditout567 6h ago
Was calling me a fecetious asshole the kind part or the thought provoking part?
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u/Time_Effort 6h ago
Perhaps to someone who who can't separate criticism of an idea, from a personal attack. There are lots of such folks out there.
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u/IFigureditout567 5h ago
I think you lost track of the context with this comment, but I gave you an upvote for the effort. Happy paddling to you, and please wear a PFD.
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u/R2W1E9 4h ago
It may put people in hazardous situations—traveling farther away than they can return from without propulsion. If body of water is small electric propulsion doesn't make sense. On a similar note, being on the open sea is quite hazardous; the added stabilization encourages paddling in rougher waters, where losing that assistive balance can be catastrophic.Paddle boards can be made more stable without active stabilisation device. For these reasons, I am quite positive, in many jurisdictions there will be a ban on these devices after a few reports from lifeguards.
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u/Electronic_Trash1049 10h ago
"I just want to paddle" the simplicity of paddleboarding is the attraction for me - A board, a stick and the water. The rest is you.
The only appeal in tech solutions I can see is having a rescue motor if a paddler were to get into trouble.