Wa k

e bo a

r ds

Megan Ashley Shagott Prepared for Professor Peter Fossick IDUS 431 Winter 2009

Wa k

e

Wa k

e

Megan Ashley ShagottMegan Ashley Shagott

b oa r

d s

Megan Ashley ShagottMegan Ashley Shagott Prepared for Professor Peter Fossick IDUS 431 Winter 2009

Wa k

e

Megan Ashley Shagott

What is Wakeboarding?ScopeResearchFocus Final Solution

Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water behind a boat.

WHAT?!?

ScopeThrough a research and human factors intensive design process, develop a high performance wakeboard.

The wakeboard should fill a gap in the current market and provide product opportunities through mass customization and material choices.

The wakeboard must be durable and attractive and must be able to perform up to the standards of professional competitive wakeboarders.

ResearchCompetitive Brands

Whats HOT right now?

Rocker Lines

Adjustable Fins

New Materials

Flex

Innovative Edges

Width

Research

After looking at each brand and discovering strengths and weaknesses, I found design opportunities in weight versus rocker line as well as board shaping and branding

ResearchDesign Oppurtunities

Materials and Manufacturing

Currently most boards are produced from a foam blank which is CNCed to the correct shape and then fitted with wooden runners.

Graphics are then applied to the board and it is glassed and pressed in a mold to obtain correct shape and thickness.

Finally holes are drilled for fins and bungs.

Research

$15.7 billion spent annually in the recreational boating industry

Research

Wakeboarding has grown steadily since about 1990.

Wakeboarding like most extreme sports in considered as not just an activity but a lifestyle. As riders and equipment improve the sport will continue to expand.

Market Opportunity

While such sports as fishing and skiing have declined 9.4% and

2% respectively in the past ten years, motorboating sports have grown 4.7%.

Research

The sport is 87% male but female participation is rapidly increasing

Users

Social BoarderParticipates once or twice a yearRents equipment or buys cheap board (under $150-250)Wakeboards for the fun on the sport

Weekend WallyGoes wakeboarding 3-7 times a yearOwns mid level board ($250-450)Mostly just participates for fun but occasionally participates in a competition

Professional/Competitive BoarderWakeboards multiple times a monthOwns at least one high level board ($450+)Spends a lot of time participating in competitions

Research

User Bios

HarleyAge 15High School Grade 10Wakeboards for fun but hopes to compete in the futureEnticed into the sport after seeing it on television and the internetInterested in going fast, adrenaline rushes, surf shops, surf/wake clothing, girls, fast cars, video games, loud music

AmberAge 22College SeniorCompetes on her collegiate teamDad was a professional waterskier so she grew up on the water but turned to wakeboarding in her early teens and never looked backInterested in marine biology, competing at the X-games, outdoor sports, beating the boys

ShawnAge 33World Ranked ProfessionalOne of the originals in the sport. An older professional who is looking to be able to keep an edge on the younger athletesInterested in improving the sport of wakeboarding, custom hot rods, the surf lifestyle

Research

Target Market

Based on research and surveys, my target market is users between the ages of 15 and 30. These users are advanced to professional riders. They know what features they want in their boards and what features work the best for them.

Research

3D Exploration

To better understand the form, function and manufacture of wakeboards, I went straight into 3D development. After researching board size requirements and measuring my test riders, I built a functioning 141 size board out of pink insulation foam, ash wood, fiberglass and epoxy.

Research

3D Exploration

Research

Prototype One Glamour Shots

Research

User Testing

After the board was completed, it was put to the test. Three riders of different skill levels, a professional, a mid level rider and a beginner, all tested out the board.

Research

User Testing

Research

Findings

V-HullHigher rideSmoother rideFaster ride

Light-weight + rolled edges

extra agilityextra speedextra pop

Design Opportunities

Post ride interviews revealed that the design features I had chosen were a successful combination.

Certain features like the fins could be tweaked to provide the perfect ride.

There are opportunities in weight reduction, construction, materials as well as board features.

Design Constraints

Lightweight for speed and agilityHybrid rocker for popDurableFlex for shock absorption and popCustomizable

The sickest ride Ive ever had. -Jono

The board rides really smooth and high on the water. The fins tracked well, almost too well.

-Randy

Focus

2D Graphic Ideation

Focus

Product Features

Dual axis V-hull - provides a smoother, higher ride as well as shock absorbencyHybrid rocker line - superior pop

Rolled edges - higher ride on the water, superior speed

Aggressivefins-providegoodtrackingand control

Ultra light weight - superior pop and aerial agility

Superiorflex

Provides users with the best experience possible through superior performance, features not offered by other brands and customization.

High performance material choices EVA and ADAM product lines featuring ANGELkoreSuperior manufacturing (combination of machine and hand processes) Highperformancefeatures(dualaxisV-hull,rockerlines,rollededges,aggressivefins,ultralightweight,superiorflex)Graphic customization

Final Solution

Product Features

ANGELkore

High performance foam and wood (Ash, Hickory, Oak) Wood choices depend on availability as well as harvest conditions, the best wood choice is applied to every board

EVA and ADAM Product Lines

Range of pricesEVA-ANGELkorewrappedinfiberglass(lowerprice range)ADAM - ANGELkore wrapped in Carbon Fiber or Carbon Kevlar or Dacron (higher price

range)

Final Solution

Manufacturing Process

ANGELkore

Wood cut and veneered to shapeFoam blanks CNCed to desired shapeFoam and wood veneered together

Composite Shell

Graphics appliedComposite choice layed up on coreBoard vacuum bagged to bring out styling as well as remove extra resin (improves weight, smoothnessofhullandflex)

Through a combination of manufacturing, technology and service, the user is provided with the best ride

and user experience possible.

As wakeboarding is not just a sport, but a lifestyle, the ability to fully customize a board beyond simple

stickers is an important selling point in the market.

Varying price points as well as proprietary technology will allow the company to corner many different

sectors of the market.

Final Solution

Color Palate

Final Solution

Specs

25.51

17.5

1

1.37

2.13

8.37

8.14

54.50

7.69

2.17

Final Solution

Internal and External Construction

Option A: Fiberglass and epoxy exterior

Option A: Carbon Kevlar and epoxy exterior

Wood

Foam blank CNCed to Shape

Internal Construction

Externall Construction

Final Solution

Rhino Models

Final Solution

Rhino Models

Final Solution

Rhino Models

Final Solution

Final Solution

Physical Model

Hybrid Rocker

Rolled Edge

Reduced Weight

Improved Flex

Dual Axis V-Hull

Final Solution

Dual Axis V-Hull

Physical Model

Final Solution

Hybrid Rocker Line

Physical Model

Final Solution

Physical Model

Final Solution

Physical Model

Final Solution

Final Solution

Physical Model

Final Solution

Physical Model

Final Solution

Physical Model

Final Solution

Physical Model