Kiwi grandfather builds electric surfboard

Taranaki granddad Michael Parker has built a battery powered “e-board” surfboard to save paddling.

Aged 58, he started surfing five years ago but found paddling hard so built the surfboard with a 300W electric motor, Stuff reports.

It says he has already built e-bikes, electric skateboards and e-foils, his latest creation featuring two buttons for half speed to get out to sea and the other full speed for a five-second boost to catch the wave.

“It’s like an e-bike for surfers,” Parker says.

He reckons the battery can last three hours out on the water and is considering making e-surfboards a business.