World’s First 3D-Printed Kayak
Doesn’t sink
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In recent months, 3D printers have cranked out everything from prosthetics to pizza, and the new technology continues to revolutionize the outdoor world one layer at a time.
Last week, engineer Jim Smith debuted the world’s first 3D-printed kayak. The colorful boat took more than 1,000 hours over 42 days of printing to construct. Crafted with a home-built large-scale 3D printer, Smith’s custom kayak measures in at 16 feet 8 inches long, is two feet wide, and cost about $500 to make.
The kayak is made of 28 color-coded ABS plastic parts, which are connected using brass-threaded thermoplastic inserts. To ensure that the kayak is watertight, a small amount of caulk is used like glue between sections.
This video from Smith’s website breaks down the incredible process: