Little Bay Boards, paddling on a piece of art
While wandering through the gear and equipment room at the Miami International Boat Show, I was amazed to see some absolutely stunning paddleboards that appeared to be made of wood. Jason Thelen, the founder and master board builder of Little Bay Boards, saw me gawking at his magnificent work and quickly came over to talk. A master carpenter, he started the company by accident after he built a wooden paddleboard for his daughter Shawni as an eco-friendly alternative to the plastic, foam, and inflatable boards everyone else was using. That first board impressed so many people that Thelen started building boards on request. Soon he launched Little Bay Boards to meet the growing demand and now he builds both stock and custom boards.
Lightweight and Eco-friendly
Since the boards are made of wood, I expected them to be heavy, but they are not. Thelen let me pick up one of the boards on display and it felt remarkably light, somewhere around 25 to 30 pounds despite its size. Built of sustainably sourced wood, the boards have a hollow core which makes them not only float without the need for any toxic foam, but they are easy to carry and manage. They hand pick their materials and the wood’s natural grains and patterns show through making every board unique. Each board is carefully laid out with each strip of wood chosen for its beauty and color and then the hollow boards are sealed using low VOC resin, essentially a high-quality epoxy. The design and construction technique creates a durable and waterproof board that will last for many years.
Custom Boards
Boards can be fully customized to include boat names and feature different woods with unique patterns and colors as well as glass like counter effects. Buyers consult with Thelen directly to determine the type and size of board needed and the aesthetics desired. During the build process he continues to keep you informed on the progress. Custom boards include a matching paddle and start at $4,200 USD. Enhancements like custom inlays, full-body design, custom names, or imagery can add to the cost but the goal is to produce exactly the board you want.
While custom boards typically take about four weeks after the design is finalized, finding the right woods and colors needed before production begins can sometimes take longer. There is also a waiting list to begin custom projects which can be as long as several months.
Amazing boards in stock
They also carry some fantastic looking boards in stock so if you don’t want to wait simply check out their in stock inventory that is ready to ride.
Little Bay Boards combines eco-friendly elegance with unmatched craftsmanship to deliver unique stand-up paddleboards, surf boards, paddles, and more that are both functional and unbelievably beautiful works of art. I was truly amazed when I saw their boards in Miami and equally impressed with Thelen’s friendly demeanor. Check them out!
Stock Boards start at $2,500
Little Bay Boards Workshop and Showroom is at 355 N. Division Rd, Petoskey, Michigan
