Patent ID: 7731555

Claim:
A surfboard having a body with top and bottom surfaces, wherein the body of the surfboard is configured to support a surfer lying in a prone position on the top surface while paddling, the surfboard defining a longitudinal axis and having substantially no protruding parts other than fins; first and second impellers positioned on either side of the longitudinal axis of the surfboard; first and second brushless DC electric motors positioned on either side of the longitudinal axis of the surfboard and contained within the body of the surfboard, the electric motors being aligned with and operatively connected to the impellers for providing a forward thrust of the surfboard; and a radio circuit board contained within the body of the surfboard and configured to receive throttle commands for selective control of the electric motors for operating the impellers to provide a forward thrust of the surfboard, and one or more lithium batteries configured to provide power to said electric motors; wherein performance of the surfboard when riding waves is not significantly adversely affected by the presence of the weight and bulk of the motors and lithium batteries contained within the body of the surfboard, and wherein the performance of the surfboard when paddling and catching waves is significantly enhanced by the thrust provided by the impellers powered by the motors and lithium batteries.