Take a regular surfboard and strap this on.

It's the attached cross country ski machine on a surfboard. As you move your feet forward and backwards, it moves the two six or so foot long one way ribbed paddle mechanisms under the board forward and backwards pushing you forward. You steer with the handlebars or poles which turn a rudder, probably in front as there's be a static stabilization rudder in the back.

So the motive unit is a board about one foot by six foot with a series of hinged paddles that extend out into the water when pushed backwards, and fold up when moved forward so they only physically engage and push in one direction.

I've come up with a real small version about the size of a suitcase. Slip it over the front, grab the handles you steer it with, step on the pedals that power the drive mechanism underneath take off.
-- doctorremulac3, Jul 06 2024

This on a surfboard https://www.amazon....chine/dp/B003L2NUPG
[doctorremulac3, Jul 06 2024]

The basic idea https://www.dropbox...37&st=py8c72ws&dl=0
AI art isn't quite there yet. [doctorremulac3, Jul 06 2024]

Final design. https://www.dropbox...ol&st=gj09c01e&dl=0
Compact, straps on and works with any surfboard or paddle board. [doctorremulac3, Jul 07 2024]

World's more horrible illustration but gets the basic idea across. https://www.dropbox...h9&st=hd5ayuzd&dl=0
[doctorremulac3, Jul 07 2024]

Older design without "steering column" https://patents.goo...tent/US6764363B2/en
vaguely similar "walk on water" patent, but it's an all in one gizmo rather than something to strap on to surfboard. [a1, Jul 08 2024]

As one who's never surfed a foot, would it be easy to balance as you stride and shift weight?
-- RayfordSteele, Jul 07 2024


Was wondering that myself. I THINK it would be similar to a bike. I surf but that’s on waves where you steer by shifting your weight, this would be more of a paddle board thing that I’ve never done.
-- doctorremulac3, Jul 08 2024


Surfboards are generally riggen sideways to allow the knees to bend to adjust balance and direction. This would be more like skiing and I'll bet would require flat water.

You might even want the design to allow your feet boards some degree of independence from eachother for just that balance reason.
-- RayfordSteele, Jul 08 2024


Yea, I'm playing with various design tweaks that account for that stuff.

Thank you for the patent link a1. To be clear, I do appreciate it when you point out aspects of ideas that have been done before, that's obviously useful and good to know.

Appreciate it.
-- doctorremulac3, Jul 08 2024



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