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Marine

Kit converts a stand-up paddleboard into a sit-down Oar Board

By Ben Coxworth
March 05, 2014
Kit converts a stand-up paddleboard into a sit-down Oar Board
The Oar Board lets you row on your stand-up paddleboard
The Oar Board lets you row on your stand-up paddleboard
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The Oar Board consists of a fixed seat, a sliding footstop and oar supports – all in one carriage unit
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The Oar Board consists of a fixed seat, a sliding footstop and oar supports – all in one carriage unit
The Oar Board lets you row on your stand-up paddleboard
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The Oar Board lets you row on your stand-up paddleboard
Because it's made of a mixture of polymer plastic and marine-grade powder-coated aluminum, the Oar Board should be OK with salt water
3/3
Because it's made of a mixture of polymer plastic and marine-grade powder-coated aluminum, the Oar Board should be OK with salt water
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Given the recent announcements of products like the ElectraFin and the Rum Runner, it certainly looks like we're in the midst of a stand-up paddleboarding gold rush. One of the latest gadgets to get in on the action, the Oar Board, lets you convert your board into a single scull rowing boat.

Made by Victoria, BC-based Whitehall Rowing & Sail, the Oar Board consists of a fixed seat, a sliding footstop and oar supports – all in one carriage unit. It's simply strapped down to the deck of an existing board, reportedly in under five minutes. Because it's made of a mixture of polymer plastic and marine-grade powder-coated aluminum, it should be OK with salt water.

Because it's made of a mixture of polymer plastic and marine-grade powder-coated aluminum, the Oar Board should be OK with salt water
Because it's made of a mixture of polymer plastic and marine-grade powder-coated aluminum, the Oar Board should be OK with salt water

Whitehall has already sold out one hand-made run of the Oar Board, and has now turned to Indiegogo to finance larger-scale production. A pledge of US$949 will get you one (oars not included), when and if they're ready to row. If you want the company to throw in a pair of Dreher carbon fiber oars, be prepared to offer up $1,539.

You can see the Oar Board in action, in the video below.

Sources: Indiegogo, Whitehall Rowing & Sail
Oar Board™ by Whitehall Spirit®

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MarineRowingIndiegogopaddleboarding
5 comments
Ben Coxworth
Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.

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5 comments
Bob Flint
Your center of gravity is really high sitting and worse standing, but maybe the appeal is getting to display the body above the water line to be noticed? No PFD is a sure sign to that is the real reason.
BigGoofyGuy
Since it seems to be wider than a skull boat, perhaps it would be more stable when the person is higher up? Personally, I think it is clever.
The Skud
Looks waaaaay too dear for what you get - check local rowing clubs and get a 'beat up' rowing scull for lots less and use the seat and runners and probably get the oars tossed in! Buy two and make a cataraman or canoe with outrigger for stability. Rowers often upgrade as newer materials and designs appear, you can't win with out-dated stuff. If you rinse in fresh water after use and spray with WD40 your 'new' gear will last just as long as this fellow's at $1500+.
ChessySailor
Seeing article this a year later, and compelled to respond to "set the record straight".
I rowed in college up in Boston. Now, 3 decades later, I wanted to get back into it for exercise and meditation.
I looked at sculls--both used and new. I could find nothing in the range of this setup ($2500), especially that could be delivered to my home. Furthermore, traditional sculls subjected to the winds, wakes, washes prevalent on the Bay (I live on the Chesapeake Bay) would quickly swamp a regular scull. From my recollection on the Charles River in Boston, single scull rowers had to be wary even in moderate chop.
So, on to my experience... The SUP shown in the videos is a 12'6" model (I have the same). It is a displacement hull and VERY stable. The whole unit, with the Oar Board attachment, is somewhere in the range of ~50 lbs or so. The oars are high quality Dreher brand. As an older guy, I feel very safe on this unit. I also wear a kayak-style PFD (around the waist--CO2 inflate or manual inflate). Very maneuverable this way.
I have been out in 10 knot winds and in Bay chop. No issues. No instability (unlike a regular scull). I can lift both oars out of the water and be hit by chop without feeling any instability. Again, I am an older guy so this is important to me.
As far as exercise goes, this unit is great. Wonderful workout. I can row for miles and the unit is FAST--very fast.
So, that's my experience as an owner, former rower, and an older man 50+ years of age.
austntexan@gmail.com
Agree with ChessySailor. There're a couple of these on the market at the moment. It's a clever design and a great way to add additional functionality to a SUP. I've rowed too but honestly, SUPs are so much more convenient to store and transport.
There're quite a few vids on YT where you can get a better idea of how well these things work. There's another company making a steel or alum version that is slightly lower in profile that is attached like this one(with straps) or semi-perm with marine grade bolts and a 3M sticky backed bracket. Very cool stuff. I could really see this working well on something like a 14' CLC Kaholo SUP.