The present invention includes a surfboard comprising a laminated frame extending along the side rails of the surfboard, the laminated frame comprising three or more layers of laminates, and wherein the laminated frame has been formed to the shape of the rocker of the surfboard. In various exemplary embodiments, the laminated frame may have one or more lateral members extending between opposing sides of the laminated frame, wherein such lateral members may be circular in cross-section, and may include one or more supports connecting the lateral members to the top surface of the surfboard. In various exemplary embodiments, two or more layers of laminates may form an internal structure extending laterally across the laminated frame from one side to the other.

A grip pack for providing a slip-resistant, water-resistant, and antibacterial surface to a piece of sporting equipment including at least three substrates printed with images. The images are printed with ultraviolet curable ink and the substrates are non-silicone. Each substrate includes a top printable layer, a middle adhesive layer, and a bottom removable layer. The top printable layer is printed with an image. The bottom removable layer is removable from each substrate printed with an image to expose the middle adhesive layer. The middle adhesive layer is configured to adhere the top printable layer to a surface of the piece of sporting equipment. Each substrate printed with an image and each image printed with ultraviolet curable ink is smoothed flat to conform to the shape of the piece of sporting equipment and provide a smooth protective layer with the slip-resistant, water-resistant, and antibacterial surface.

A grip pack for providing a slip-resistant, water-resistant, and antibacterial surface to a piece of sporting equipment including at least three substrates printed with images. The images are printed with ultraviolet curable ink and the substrates are non-silicone. Each substrate includes a top printable layer, a middle adhesive layer, and a bottom removable layer. The top printable layer is printed with an image. The bottom removable layer is removable from each substrate printed with an image to expose the middle adhesive layer. The middle adhesive layer is configured to adhere the top printable layer to a surface of the piece of sporting equipment. Each substrate printed with an image and each image printed with ultraviolet curable ink is smoothed flat to conform to the shape of the piece of sporting equipment and provide a smooth protective layer with the slip-resistant, water-resistant, and antibacterial surface.

A surfboard blank comprising:

a central portion extending from a nose to a tail end of the surfboard blank wherein the central portion comprises a stringer with one or more central panels;

rail panels attached on either lateral side of the central portion such that the central portion is flanked by said rail panels, wherein the rail panels generally extend along a longitudinal axis of the surfboard blank;

wherein said central panels are formed from a first resilient foam core material and the rail panels are formed from a second resilient foam core material whereby the first resilient foam core material has greater buoyancy in water relative to the second resilient foam core material.

A surfboard blank comprising:

a central portion extending from a nose to a tail end of the surfboard blank wherein the central portion comprises a stringer with one or more central panels;

rail panels attached on either lateral side of the central portion such that the central portion is flanked by said rail panels, wherein the rail panels generally extend along a longitudinal axis of the surfboard blank;

wherein said central panels are formed from a first resilient foam core material and the rail panels are formed from a second resilient foam core material whereby the first resilient foam core material has greater buoyancy in water relative to the second resilient foam core material.

A surfboard includes a core covered with a laminate and having curved perforations in the deck area and the tail area of the surfboard, in order to prevent air blisters from forming between the core and laminate. The curved perforations are deformable under pressure to minimize the opening of the perforations to inhibit liquid from entering and maximizing under zero pressure to allow the maximum amount of trapped liquid and gasses from escaping. The core is formed from an extruded closed-cell polystyrene foam block that has been shaped by restraining it against a shaped form using shaped restraining tools and straps, and heating it; and by cutting using a hot wire. The core is laminated with FIBERGLAS and epoxy resin, and the perforations are formed using a perforating tool that has a planar or curved working surface and one or more heated needles extending perpendicularly from the working surface.

An inflatable structure that includes continuous longitudinal and axial curves, constructed to form a hydrodynamically designed performance platform for use as a performance water sports board, rescue board, or rescue sled, such as a stand-up paddle board, paddleboard, surfboard, PWC rescue sled, bodyboard, or other floating or dynamic platform. Alternatively, it may be adapted for use with additional structure to provide an inflatable hull and floor for a watercraft, such as a boat, raft, life-raft, rescue craft, or other floating or dynamic platform. Longitudinal stringers welded to opposing panels defining the interior volume of the inflatable structure are joined by welding, gluing, or lashing, and the shape of the stringers and the welding/gluing/lashing schedule can be employed to give the inflatable structure a highly customized curved shape.

In one example, a watercraft includes a buoyant body in the form of a single piece structure sized and configured to support the weight of one or more users. The watercraft also includes a retractable fin connected to a pin that resides in a fixed location relative to the body, the pin including a side surface that is in contact with the body. The retractable fin is rotatable about the pin between an extended position and a retracted position, and the retractable fin includes an engagement portion that is engageable with a first portion of the body and with a second portion of the body. The retractable fin assumes the extended position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the first portion of the body, and the retractable fin assumes the retracted position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the second portion of the body.

A water sports board includes a top deck forming portions of an outer surface of the water sports board; an underside forming portions of the outer surface; a set of internal baffle chamber structures disposed between the top deck and the underside, each baffle chamber structure fluidically isolated from another baffle chamber structure and including a plurality of pressurizable/inflatable baffle elements therein having hollow elongate internal passages that are fluidically coupled to one another; and a set of inflation/deflation valves fluidically coupled to the set of baffle chamber structures, wherein each inflation/deflation valve is accessible from the outer surface of the water sports board. The water sports board can also include a concavity adjustment mechanism by which concavity of the underside of the water sports board is adjustable. Essentially the entire water sports board is manufacturable by way of 3D printing.

A process and associated system for creating color effects in extrudable material, such as plastic and metal for example, are presented. Flows of first and second viscous materials of respective colors are provided and then combined in a predetermined pattern to form a stream of combined viscous material. In a first aspect, the flow rate of the first viscous material is caused to vary over time in order to vary an amount of the first viscous material in the stream. In a second aspect, which may be used alone or in combination with the first aspect, the first and second viscous materials have distinct viscosities to reduce an amount of color blending between the first color and the second color in the stream of combined viscous material. A static mixer may then be used to apply a predetermined dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to partially mix the first viscous material and the second viscous material, such that upon exiting the static mixer, the first material of the first color and the second material of the second color form a color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. Sheets of extrudable material may be created using such process and used in the manufacturing of many different products including for example kayaks and stand-up paddle boards.