Colin Christy
Colin Christy
A rafting guide needs a paddle that can be easily articulated in the water in many directions. The paddle is a tool that connects us to our own migration on the water. This prototype connects hand carved wood with scalable manufacturing.
This paddle is designed to mimic humpback whale fins’ irregularly shaped tubercles along the front profile. They reduce drag and increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the fins in the water.
The ridges on the edge of the paddle and the facets carved into the surface reduce drag around the paddle by creating an artificial turbulence around the paddle as it moves through the water, similar to the way that dimples in a golf ball allows it to fly more easily through the air.
Carved from cedar and coated in graphite for additional water resistance, this design was tested in the ocean, rivers, and lakes with a variety of crafts.
The paddle’s tubercles and the pocketed surface created a much easier handling of the paddle while steering compared to a standard paddle.
The form factor, reminiscent of the humpback’s fins, hopes to bring the user closer to the story of the whales and the great journeys we all take navigating through the currents of life.
Paddlesports enthusiasts need a paddle that can be easily articulated underwater in order to steer their crafts more effectively when it matters. By reducing drag, this design increases the performance of the paddles’ steering ability allowing outdoor enthusiasts to push their limits further.