Stand-up paddle boards certainly can be fun, but kayaks are generally a faster, more efficient means of getting around. Watercraft company Bote has now combined the best features of both, in its redesigned Rackham Aero paddle board.
The Rackham Aero itself is a two-chamber inflatable stand-up paddle board (SUP), measuring 12 feet, 4 inches (376 cm) in length, weighing about 45 lb (20 kg), and capable of supporting up to 400 lb (181 kg) of user/cargo weight. It also features a recessed deck and thick rails for added stability, plus center and side fins to help it track straight.
Along with a pump and a three-piece adjustable-length SUP paddle, the latest version of the board now comes with a deck-mountable Aero Paddle Seat, and a covered Pedal Port hole which is integrated into the deck. If the user simply wishes to paddle the board like a sit-on-top kayak, they just get themselves a kayak paddle, sit in the seat, and start paddling.
![Depending on the package, the Apex Pedal Drive kit is either included or is an optional extra](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/a5ee773/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1024x628+0+0/resize/1024x628!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5d%2Fbf%2Fa156bb154bd998e80462596cfff1%2F542a3731-1024x628.jpeg)
Should they want to pedal it, however, they utilize the Apex Pedal Drive kit. That unit is quickly installed by removing the cover of the Pedal Port, and consists of a set of pedals up top, which spin up a propeller down below. It has a 10:1 gear ratio, and works in both forward and reverse.
That kit also includes a steerable rudder which can be turned to either side via a hand-operated cable-connected controller located beside the seat. As an added bonus, the rudder is spring-loaded, so it just moves up then pops back down into place if it hits an underwater obstacle.
Bote is offering the new Rackham Aero in a US$2,832 package which includes everything, along with packages that don't include the pedal kit, but will work with it if it's purchased later – those go for $1,449, with the pedal/rudder kit costing an extra $899.
The whole setup is demonstrated in the following video.
Source: Bote via GearJunkie