About Our Plans
How long does it take to ship plans?
The PDF plans will be emailed within 24 hours. Paper Plans are usually ship within 2 business days.
How do I print the PDF plans?
The PDF plans are full sized templates that can be printed on a 24″ wide format printer. Kinko’s, Staples, or any place that prints construction plans will be able to print your plans. Simply ask the print shop to print the files actual size. If you are being asked for as password it is because you are trying to open the file with editing software (Adobe Illustrator) not read only software (Adobe Reader).
Can I cut your PDF plans on my own CNC machine?
I do not sell files that can be cut with CNC machines because there is currently no way to limit them to personal use. The plans are copy-write and password protected to prevent them from being used as vector files. Please do not email me asking if you can purchase a DXF file as the answer is NO.
About Our Kits
How long does it take to ship my fishbone kit?
Fishbone kits usually ship 3-5 days after they are ordered. I stock the materials but not many pre-cut kits. Sliver Paddleboards has an industrial CNC machine so as soon as your kit is ordered, it is slotted into the cutting schedule and then shipped to you the same day it is cut. This allows us to reduce overhead and keep the prices low. If you are in a panic for your kit, missed a birthday or something, just let me know when you order and I might be able to work late!
Will I find your paddle board kits at my local store?
I have been asked but do not see a benefit you or for me in letting other people sell kits. Fishbone kits are normally cut and shipped the same day. This way there is very little chance of it being damaged sitting in a storefront. If you are in Vancouver, Canada I am happy to have you stop by and pick-up the kit in person.
Can I buy a complete kit including the fishbone, wood planks, bead & cove strips, epoxy, fin box, etc?
No. I do not sell complete kits because it is better for the planet to have you purchase the supplies locally and it is a pain to ship long lengths of lumber. If looking to order your fibreglass, epoxy, inserts online you are welcome to contact my supplier directly: Fiberglass Supply in Burlington, WA.
Can I buy a printed manual to go with my paddle board kit or plans?
The free tutorials serve as the building instructions for the SUP kits and plans. I prefer this style of manual as it allows better pictures, videos, and saves a lot of wasted paper. Most of the steps are quite simple after you have seen them broken down into manageable steps. If there is a specific step that confuses you, contact me and I will help guide you through the confusion. Don’t be shy as these questions help me improve the tutorials.
Where can I test ride one of your boards?
Since I sell kits direct to customers you won’t find my boards at your local dealer with the Sliver logo. I do sell kits to professional craftsman selling finished boards around the world so you may find one locally but they have no official link to Sliver Paddleboards other than they use our fishbone kits. Our shapes start as exact copies of the industry’s best foam boards so I am confident you will love your new board. They’re amazing Paddleboards, both to look at and more importantly to paddle.
About Wood Boards
What makes wood paddleboards special?
Wood boards are special for many reasons beyond being beautiful, they are also amazingly strong and if properly cared for will last forever. Wood has a higher compression strength than foam and bonds relentlessly with epoxy’s. This strength virtually eliminates minor bumps and dings from becoming problems.
How is a wood board construction different from a foam board construction?
Wood board construction is different in almost every way except for the finished shape. Sliver Paddleboards use an internal fishbone framework instead of a foam core. This internal frame creates a hollow torsion box when the outer 4-6mm skin is added. Wood boards are so strong before glassing they require 70% less fiberglass than foam boards. Wood boards are finished with environmentally responsible epoxy resin instead of harmful polyester resin. Maybe the biggest difference is that our boards are free from flashy logos that quickly date production boards.
Are your boards really better for the environment?
There is a measurable improvement of 300-400 times! A university study on the carbon footprint of wooden surfboards showed the cedar trees have actually absorbed more harmful carbon while they were alive then is consumed during their construction. The petroleum based foam core that is standard in most boards has been replaced with an environmentally responsible wood skeleton and air! A standard paddleboard has 150-200 liters of non-recyclable foam inside so this is a big deal for the planet. Foam boards are usually glassed with polyester resin in Thailand and China before being shipped overseas. Wood boards are glassed with 70 percent less resin and use epoxy instead of the weaker polyester resin.
How much heavier is a wood board than a comparable foam board?
The weight of a Sliver Paddleboard is usually within 10% of the weight of a quality foam board. Our main goal has never been to build the lightest board possible since the weight is very hard to feel in the water. Even though weight isn’t the first priority all the excess material is machined from our fishbone kits because nobody wants to have to carry a heavy board.
Why do wood boards require a vent?
Sliver Paddleboards are hollow and air and water tight. Ninety-five percent of a board’s volume is air! Since air inside the board expands and contracts when heated, the vent is used to equalize this internal pressure. All that is required is to turn the vent screw before you head into the water and again when you return to shore.
Why don’t you use automatic vents?
I have chosen to use a simple screw vent because they work really well. I still have mixed feeling with the Automatic Gore-tex vents available. With the screw style vent you can hear the board equalize every time you open or close it. This air movement reassures you that your board is properly sealed. The main reason I am cautious about the use of the Gore-tex vents is that there is no easy way to know that they are functioning properly. Gore-tex only works if it is clean. In salt-water environments the gore-tex membrane would need to be replaced occasionally but if you are willing to take the risk, you might be fine?
Are wood paddleboards fragile or easily damaged?
The short answer is NO. Wood paddleboards are less prone to damage from normal use than foam boards. The density of the wood supports the fiberglass really well and localizes damage from even large hits. This added support makes repairs easy and usually invisible.
Custom Orders
Can you build a board to my specifications?
I enjoy building new shapes. If you have a board that you love or just some ideas in your head that you would like replicated in wood, I’m happy to discuss this with you. Custom boards usually cost a bit more than my proven shapes but if you have a board that I am interested in, I sometimes waive this extra cost. Send me an email and lets discuss your project.
Can I use any kind of fin system I want?
I like to build with fin 10.5″ center boxes and sometimes FCS inserts for thrusters depending on the shape. Glass-on fins look really great but they do come with a couple of limitations: I personally like to be able to change my fin if I am surfing or just out for a paddle. It is amazing how well any shape can track with a hatchet style fin if you are just paddle on flat water. Secondly, It is nice to be able to remove the fin if you are travelling.
Do you make wood paddles?
I realize that wood paddles would be a natural addition to our paddleboards but haven’t seen any huge ‘short-comings’ with paddles already on the market. I know that my paddleboards are far superior in many ways to what other companies offer: materials, shapes, construction, being environmentally responsible, etc. The fact that the boards also look beautiful is a HUGE benefit but that wasn’t the reason I started building boards. In order for me to be motivated to build something I have to believe that my product will be better than what it is already offered and truly fill a void. I have more interest in my pursuit of building the ‘worlds finest paddleboard’ than building paddles out of wood just because they might look nice. I currently use a full carbon paddle and have been very happy with it.
Do you make wood fins?
Yes and no.
I do occasionally make wood fins out of the leftovers from building paddle boards. Wood fins can be a nice addition to foam boards but along the same line as building paddles, I don’t see any improvement in my fins over what others offer. When I make fins I usually just trace a fin that I like as a template. If you are buying a custom board, and want a glassed on fin, I can make you a matching fin as an upgrade.
Ordering & Shipping
How will I know my board will fit?
Paddle board sizing is a little more subjective than sizing shoes. The first consideration is the style of paddling you will be doing and your experience level. The second consideration is how much do you weigh. Most of the boards list a maximum recommended paddler size. Technically the boards will float more weight but staying under these limits ensures the board performs as expected. If you have any concerns the board you are interested isn’t right for you send me an email with your height, weight, where you want to paddle and a bit about how much experience you have paddling.
Do you accept returns or refunds?
We stand behind our work 100%. In the extremely unlikely case that there are build issues of any kind we will resolve them immediately. If your order was damaged during shipping we will replace any damaged pieces right away. If you’re still not happy for any reason we’ll take the board or kit back within 7 days and offer a full refund, minus any shipping — as long as your kit remains in new condition, with no visible signs of wear. There are no refunds on PDF plans after they have been sent for obvious reasons.
