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Clearwood - hollow wood surfboards and paddleboards

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Hollow Wood SUP and Surfboard Structures

Hollow Wood SUP and Surfboard Structures with Integrity Hollow SUP’s, surfboards and prone paddleboards that are built from strips of wood over a light framework all have one thing in common; a semi monocoque structure. What is a semi monocoque structure? Think of an aircraft fuselage or wing on most aircraft …

Sustainability in SUP and surfboard production

Sustainable SUP and Surfboard Production Building a hollow wood SUP can be a great way to build a board with a low carbon footprint. Tom Blake started building hollow wood paddleboards in California the 1930’s and they were the standard surf rescue craft for several decades. The good news is that hollow wood S…

17′ Unlimited Length Standup Paddleboard

17′ Unlimited  Length Standup Paddleboard         The 17′ Unlimited length SUP board by Clearwood is now ready for production after a year of designing, building and testing. We’ve been paddling the board in a wide range of conditions varying from glassy flatwater to wind chop, and in…
A view frame the tail of the Cllearwood "Cascade" 14

Hollow Wooden Boards?

Why do we build hollow surf and sup boards? Certainly not because it’s a quick or inexpensive way to get on the water! So, why? Since the first time I experienced sailing our garage-built sailing dingy as a kid, there has been a kind of magic in the process of building “homemade” watercraft, then going out and …

Why build with paulownia wood?

Why build with paulownia wood? Ok, I will admit upfront that I sell paulownia wood.  That being said, the reason I do is that I want to make it available to my customers and also individuals that design and build their own hollow wood SUP’s, surfboards and kayaks.  This wood is mostly unknown to the woodworkin…
Exploder performance shortboard SUP fishbone framework kit

“Tunnel 13” Redwood Pin Lines for Hollow Paddle and Surfboards

“Tunnel 13” redwood pin lines I was telling the story of the redwood pin lines material in the boards I build and my brother-in-law said, “Bro, you need to tell that story!”  So, here goes.  It’s really a story about the part of Oregon I live in and the railroad tunnels that connect Southern Oregon to Northern…

Rocker Tabs for Building HWS

Using Rocker Tabs for Building in the Rocker Profile     If you have ever built a hollow wood standup paddleboard (SUP) or hollow wood surfboard you have probably built it using some variation of a rocker table.  When I started building hollow wood boards I did as well.  I built my firs…

Standup Paddle Board Fins

Standup Paddleboard Fins I’ve been paddling my set of  Black Project standup paddleboard fins on my 12′ 6″ and 14′ flatwater hollow wood paddleboards for a couple of months now and have a pretty solid feel for the performance value this set of fins contributes to my paddling.  These are highly refined fins…
 Text of Article for http://www.supboardermag.com/2014/02/11/clearwood-make-you-own-wooden-paddleboard/Wood paddleboards and surfboards have a long history and they have been common in Hawaii for many centuries. The modern version of “woodies” however, is something altogether different than what ancient Ha…

Make your own wooden paddleboard

Make your own wooden paddleboard Are you looking for a winter project? Have you got some spare time and space in your garage? If so, have you considered making your own wooden paddleboard? It might not be the quickest way to get out on the water but it’s sure to be the most rewarding. Are you up for the challe…