Marine

The Speakeasy could have been Al Capone's paddle board

The Speakeasy could have been Al Capone's paddle board
The Speakeasy is presently on Kickstarter
The Speakeasy is presently on Kickstarter
View 14 Images
The Speakeasy is presently on Kickstarter
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The Speakeasy is presently on Kickstarter
The Speakeasy's tie-downs allow users to secure items such as coolers
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The Speakeasy's tie-downs allow users to secure items such as coolers
The Speakeasy measures 10' 4" in length (3,150 mm), 32 inches in width (813 mm), and is 5 inches thick (127 mm)
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The Speakeasy measures 10' 4" in length (3,150 mm), 32 inches in width (813 mm), and is 5 inches thick (127 mm)
The Speakeasy weighs 33 to 36 lb (15 to 16 kg), a figure that would be higher were it not for the board's hollow-core construction
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The Speakeasy weighs 33 to 36 lb (15 to 16 kg), a figure that would be higher were it not for the board's hollow-core construction
Speakeasy users stand on a 5-mm-thick foam traction pad
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Speakeasy users stand on a 5-mm-thick foam traction pad
The Speakeasy is covered by a two-part yacht-grade urethane clear coat, along with a protective layer of fiberglass on the bottom
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The Speakeasy is covered by a two-part yacht-grade urethane clear coat, along with a protective layer of fiberglass on the bottom
The Speakeasy is made in the "barrel back" style of classic Chris Craft motorboats
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The Speakeasy is made in the "barrel back" style of classic Chris Craft motorboats
The Speakeasy is presently on Kickstarter
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The Speakeasy is presently on Kickstarter
The Speakeasy's tie-downs allow users to secure items such as coolers
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The Speakeasy's tie-downs allow users to secure items such as coolers
The Speakeasy measures 10' 4" in length (3,150 mm), 32 inches in width (813 mm), and is 5 inches thick (127 mm)
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The Speakeasy measures 10' 4" in length (3,150 mm), 32 inches in width (813 mm), and is 5 inches thick (127 mm)
The Speakeasy weighs 33 to 36 lb (15 to 16 kg), a figure that would be higher were it not for the board's hollow-core construction
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The Speakeasy weighs 33 to 36 lb (15 to 16 kg), a figure that would be higher were it not for the board's hollow-core construction
Speakeasy users stand on a 5-mm-thick foam traction pad
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Speakeasy users stand on a 5-mm-thick foam traction pad
The Speakeasy is covered by a two-part yacht-grade urethane clear coat, along with a protective layer of fiberglass on the bottom
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The Speakeasy is covered by a two-part yacht-grade urethane clear coat, along with a protective layer of fiberglass on the bottom
The Speakeasy is made in the "barrel back" style of classic Chris Craft motorboats
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The Speakeasy is made in the "barrel back" style of classic Chris Craft motorboats
View gallery - 14 images

It was just last year that we heard about The Bootlegger, a retro mahogany stand-up paddle board made by Minneapolis-based artisan Kevin Fitzke. While it's a beauty to behold, it also costs US$3,299. Well, Fitzke is now back, with the less-pricey but still-classy Speakeasy.

Like The Bootlegger, The Speakeasy was inspired by wooden boats and airplanes from the 1920s and 30s. Whereas the former board has an almost boat-like prow and a recessed cubby hole on the deck, however, the latter has a more conventional look – that said, it is made in the "barrel back" style of classic Chris Craft motorboats.

The Speakeasy is constructed from stained Lloyds-registered marine-grade mahogany plywood, which is impregnated with epoxy resin and bonded together using a two-part epoxy. All of that wood is covered by a two-part yacht-grade urethane clear coat, along with a protective layer of fiberglass on the bottom. Aluminum and PVC trim elements also help protect against dings from the included custom carbon fiber/kevlar composite paddle, or from car-top carriers.

The Speakeasy is made in the "barrel back" style of classic Chris Craft motorboats
The Speakeasy is made in the "barrel back" style of classic Chris Craft motorboats

Users stand on a 5-mm-thick foam traction pad, and are able to secure items such as coolers using deck-mounted tie-downs. A custom-made carbon fiber/honeycomb composite fin on the underside keeps the board tracking straight through the water.

The whole thing weighs 33 to 36 lb (15 to 16 kg), a figure that would be higher were it not for the board's hollow-core construction. It measures 10' 4" in length (3,150 mm), 32 inches in width (813 mm) and is 5 inches thick (127 mm).

If you're interested, The Speakeasy is currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign. A pledge of US$2,500 (which is also the planned retail price) will get you one – along with the paddle – assuming it reaches production.

Sources: Kickstarter, Fitzke Boards

View gallery - 14 images
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