Waterman / Craftsman
Clearwood Paddleboards Origin Story
Randy Bogardus founded Clearwood Paddleboards in the early 2010s at his woodshop in Oregon's Rogue Valley. As an experienced craftsman, designer and lifelong waterman, the intuitive kit system he developed for DIY builders of hollow wood surfboards and paddleboards rapidly expanded into a deep lineup of shapes for paddlers of all types.
As business expanded, Randy remained focused on providing outstanding customer support in the form of personalized technical consultation, and advocating for the use of Paulownia as strip-planking material in producing the strongest, lightest and most high-performing hand-built wood boards available on the market.
In the years that followed, domestic and international orders have increased as demand for exciting, affordable, quality wood boatbuilding project options continues to grow. These trends, in turn, encourage technology advancement in the products to come.
Steward
Beginning in 2025, Phil Fritz continues the Clearwood tradition, transferring the knowledge and culture to future generations with the goal of preserving the legacy of hand-built smallcraft construction methods, and to encourage the protection of our oceans, lakes and river resources by paying forward the opportunity to be in and on the water.
As an active volunteer and leader with local non-profit organizations serving movement challenged / adaptive athletes and youth programming, growing 'ohana is a key measure of Clearwood's success.
