Here's an (at first) interesting concept..
It's called the Wavejet and it looks like this..
A jet-powered surfboard can add between 6 and 10 knots to your speed in water along with 7 kilograms of extra weight, which is not always a bad thing in the water. The extra speed when surfing seems a bit unnecessary with the kinetic energy of a wave, but if you are interested in paddling a long distance - to surf a specific spot that has no beach access or to make it out past impossible breakers for example - this PWP (personal water-propulsion) device might just come in handy. Steve Walden, shaper and craftsman of longboards (some know him as 'the father of the modern day longboard'!) says, “WaveJet’s propulsion drive will dramatically enhance when, where and how we surf due to conditions and location."
The Wavejet can be built-in to nearly any flotation device with enough flat surface area, including stand-up paddleboards, rescue boards, kayaks and even boat tenders. The unit is powered by a lithium ion battery pack with twin drives, unlike the dangerous internal-combustion engine propellers of motorized surfboards from the past. It’s capable of 20 pounds of thrust, has a continuous run-time of over 30 minutes, activated through a wireless wrist controller and recharges in a standard wall socket.
Wavejet inventor Mike Railey of Del Mar California breaks it down like this..
Q. What is the technology that WaveJet is built on?
A. Patented Personal Water Propulsion (PWP) technology invented in the US is a revolutionary, one-of-a-kind system. It’s a clean, quiet, battery-powered miniature jet drive that can be plugged into any WaveJet-ready personal watercraft, including surfboards, standup paddle boards, kayaks, inflatable’s, belly boards, DPVs and operated with a wireless controller (wrist).
Q. How fast is a WaveJet?
A. Manufacturers will be able to offer boards that run about an hour and fifteen minutes and those pods will have a top speed of about 6 mph. There is also a higher performance pod with a top speed of 10 mph that will have a run time of about 40 minutes.
Q. How much does a WaveJet weigh?
A. A WaveJet pod will add about 14 lbs to a surfboard. Surfers that are testing WaveJet powered boards say they love the additional control and balance they get from the additional weight. If you think about it, boards float on water, so once you put 20 lbs of thrust in a board, weight becomes your friend and the WaveJet becomes your jet powered assist.
Q. How does a rider control the board?
A. We put leading edge wireless technology developed by WFS Defense into an oversized wrist control. The system is very unique because the signal must travel under water. If you fall off your board the WaveJet powers off.
$3,500 though. Guess the beaches won't be stock full of people riding along on the Wavejet just yet?
more info at www.wavejet.com
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