This technical White Paper describes the three main types of electric paddleboards. Those with; 1. integrated drives, 2. fin-mounted drives, and 3. forward-mounted drives. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and these characteristics determine their niche in the marketplace.
Integrated drives are a package deal where the drive and board are designed to fit seamlessly together. The electric drive gear is located in the midsection of the board and are comprised of an internal jet drive for propulsion. This adds a level of safety because there are no external moving parts under the board. The main downside of a jet drive is that they are inefficient. They require significantly more battery power to generate the same amount of thrust compared to a propeller enabled drive. As a result, boards with integrated drives tend to be heavier and more expensive than their propeller driven counterparts. If safety is a prime concern, a board with an integrated jet drive is the way to go. That’s why they are the electric SUP of choice at rental facilities.
Fin-mounted drives are designed to easily convert a standup paddleboard into an electric SUP. It requires a minor modification to your board by removing the fin and replacing it with a motor/propeller unit. The battery sits on the aft deck of the board just above the motor and the motor is connected to the battery with a cable running over the rail. Although convenient to setup, fin-mounted drives lack good performance on the water and can be awkward to operate with the battery readout and on/off switch behind the rider. This compromised performance is a result of not having an adequate fin on the tail of the board. Without a fin the board becomes less stable. Because fin-mounted drives are the most convenient way to convert a board into an electric SUP, they have become the de facto standard for the DIY enthusiast.
Forward-mounted drives are also designed to convert a standup paddleboard into an electric SUP. However, the motor/propeller unit of a forward-mounted drive is located just forward of the rider with the battery located above it on the deck of the board. A special hull through fitting is installed on the board to secure the drive inplace. Locating the drive gear forward of the rider has a wide range of advantages over fin-mounted drives. It allows the fin to remain in place on the tail of the board keeping the board balanced and stable. It also provides convenient access to controls on the battery, an open working deck aft of the rider, no cable extending over the rail of the board, and less chance of hitting the propeller if the rider were to fall into the water. The main disadvantage of a forward-mounted drive is that the board must be modified by installing a waterproof fitting through the board. Alternatively, new SUP boards can be purchased with the fitting preinstalled during production. Electric SUPs with forward-mounted drives are considered best-in-class when it comes to performance on and off the water.
This summary will get you thinking, but the White Paper has the depth you’ll need to sort out your own purchasing requirements. The paper covers a wide range of operational and performance characteristics. Things like, do I need to wear an auto shutoff leash? Is noise and vibration a problem? What represents good speed for an electric SUP? What does setup and portability at the beach look like?
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Patented forward-mounted drive technology