Explore urban waters in a canoe that folds up like a suitcase
A pair of entrepreneurs from Ghent took inspiration from the Japanese art of origami to create a foldable canoe that can be easily carried around
Paddle away
But transporting a conventional canoe is no easy task, even less so in the city, says Weyn. “You always have to transport it on a car. An inflatable canoe, on the other hand, is not very robust.”
Coming from an engineering and a graphic design background respectively, Weyn and Van de Steene had tinkered with alternatives, but the breakthrough arrived three years ago when Van de Steene returned from a photography tour in Norway.
“I accidentally lost my cameras, so I started making tiny paper canoes to distract myself,” he says. “That’s when I was struck by the idea to make real‐size foldable ones.”
Taking inspiration from the Japanese art of origami, the young entrepreneurs created a light-weight portable canoe, and called it Onak. The concept is not entirely new – the US-based company Oru Kayak offers kayaks that also fold and unfold.
For Onak, however, Weyn and Van de Steene developed a unique material based on the pattern of a honeycomb. It’s both highly flexible and durable.
Canoe anywhere
With support from EconCore, a technology company connected to the University of Leuven, Weyn and Van de Steene were able to design a canoe that’s not only very sturdy and light, but also comfortable and safe.
Before hitting the production line, the Ghent start-up received support from the Flemish agency for innovation through science and technology, Vlaio, and the Flemish government's investment agency PMV. Weyn and Van de Steene also had assistance from the networking organisation Wonderland and raised some €235,000 through crowdfunding.
The canoe folds into a compact suitcase on wheels. In a few minutes, however, it transforms into a sturdy canoe that can carry up to 250kg
This month, production finally began. The canoe folds into a compact suitcase on wheels, weighing just 17 kilograms. In a few minutes, however, it transforms into a sturdy canoe that can carry a load of up to 250kg. “Ideal for two people and some luggage,” says Weyn.
Or for three people. Onak was designed to seat up to three, so it can also be an enjoyable social activity, they emphasise.
The canoe can be used anywhere but is especially suited for urban paddling. This opens up new recreational opportunities, say the inventors, as canoeing is allowed in all Flemish cities, except for the centre of Bruges and some ports.
Building a community
Onak will offer financial incentives to customers who share their adventures and routes online, with the aim of expanding the canoeing community. “Canoeing is the perfect way to relax during stressful times,” says Van de Steene. “You experience the urban environment differently and notice things from a new perspective because you are not distracted by the traffic in the streets.”
It has met with immensely positive feedback already. Time magazine devoted an article to it, and many orders are coming in from abroad. This means the canoe is probably not the end of the road for the two inventors. “The honeycomb material opens new opportunities, but it’s too early to disclose anything yet,” says Weyn.
If you’d like to examine the origami canoe up close before sinking €1,295 into it (paddles included), head over to Ghent’s Design Museum, where one is currently on display.
Photo courtesy Onak
