Hello everyone,

So it's not a kayak, but it is paddle-powered and basically everything I learned about building with strips came from this forum, so I wanted to share it. This is the SUP that I designed for www.woodsurfboardsupply.com who will sell kits for building this board. I had the pleasure of building the prototype, which will be my personal board. The inlay is of the Virgin Islands Flag. The wood is Mahogany, Balsa, Flamed Maple, and Cocobolo Rosewood.

Actually in the picture it just has the first layer of glass unsanded, but the supplier needed photos for the website and packaging so I took it to the beach and got some shots and then hastily put it back on the car before it rained. (I know- doesn't look like rain in the picture, but we get fast-moving squalls and one was on the way.) It probably wouldn't have hurt it as it was glassed each side, but I preferred just not to take chances as it did have two tiny holes in the deck for venting air. Those will be replaced with gore tex vents for permanent use. So this really is a "pre-launching." Actual launching hopefull will be over the upcoming weekend, depending on how fast the varnish dries.

To go with this will be a matching paddle and a fin that I recently posted pics of. If you want to see the entire build step-by-step then go to this link: http://www.grainsurf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3240

On the way to the beach I passed a guy and he slammed on brakes, was frantically waving, and turned around to catch up to me. It turned out to be a guy that already had commissioned me to build a similar board for him. As he looked at the board people from a restaurant came out on the deck and started talking and taking pictures. At the beach another small crowd gathered. People were very polite when I told them we were doing a photo shoot and allowed us to do some quick photos and then I answered questions for a while. I think that part will be just as fun as surfing it, which I am really anxious to do. This board was designed with good rocker and with hull speed in mind for long-distance paddling and open water, but still has a hollow nose which helps it get on plane and makes it great for nose-riding.

What I'm really proud of is the VI Flag inlay. I wanted everyone to know that this one was made in the VI and I wanted the locals to be proud of it. I will post another pic of the closeup of that inlay.