Field Testing a New Design
Glen Carlin loves a design challenge. His thirty-five year design and building experience includes creating everything from award-winning racing yachts to adaptive sporting equipment. Although his brain requires oxygen, his heart thrives on the creative process. Four months ago, having never designed or built a stand-up paddle board (SUP), Carlin decided to do just that. He read, talked, brainstormed, drew, drew some more, built and launched the Carlin 12'6" SUP Prototype #2 (#1 never made it past the drawing board). "You conceptualize it, put it in the computer, draw it out, cut it out and put it together," says Carlin of his process.
When the board was ready, there was one thing left to do. And as a long-time paddle board enthusiast, I was honored when Carlin asked me to field test his design. First, I had to get it.
"Drive to Ft. Lauderdale and pick it up from a guy named Dan behind the IHOP. I found him on Craigslist but I think he's fine. He'll be the one in the white truck," Carlin instructed. Behind the IHOP, I parked next to the dumpster and there, sticking out of Dan's truck, was the gorgeous stand-up paddle board prototype #2, I had patiently awaited for months.
Considering my role in the birth and evolution of the beautiful vessel strapped to my roof, I drove the on-ramp and headed back to Miami.
Hitting Water to Test the SUP
To test the new SUP, I hit the closest water to my house for a trial run, storm-runoff canal C-100A. It's not romantic but it's glass-calm and miles long. After shimmying the limestone decline to water's edge, guarding the board like an ice sculpture, I hopped aboard, closed my eyes and relaxed. I gently rocked back and forth to feel for the board's "initial stability." Carlin's design, which includes a double concave bottom and hard chines, is similar to that of a catamaran. In other words, it's very stable for it's width, which is good.
"Tracking" is the board's ability to go straight when paddled, which is key in a race board. It's more efficient and easier on the muscles if a board remains somewhat in one direction, without turning every stroke. The glassy water offered the perfect "baseline" for testing. I paddled on one side only, held my paddle out of the water and glided. Again, the design succeeded. The bottom of the SUP offered lots of "hard" waterline and longitudinal channeling which translates into good tracking.
Straight is good, but when you need to turn, you need to turn. I took one large step toward the back of the board, lifting the front of the board out of the water, to shorten the board and simulate a hard turn. With a wide aft section, the board's stability is surprisingly solid. It allows me to dig in and complete a 360° in about 6 seconds, that's quick.
The Board Did Well, But This is Just the Beginning
The sun finally set behind the Australian pines, marking the end of the first of many test days. Being a race board, however, the key ingredient is speed. The next series of tests will include a stopwatch and a known distance, preparing for our first official race together, which was to take place in four days. I shimmied back up the bank with Florida's newest race board and headed for the phone.
"Well?" asked the eager voice on the other end of the line.
"It's a beautiful thing, in and out of the water" I replied.
Although I can hear him smile through the phone, I know that good is never good enough for someone whose heart beats for the creative process. It's not about having a good design or a fast board, it's about making it better, every time. He has already has prototype #3 in his head.
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