It’s summertime and being on or in the water is great, especially if you’re into activities like snorkeling, kayaking, or stand-up paddle boarding. Not so great, especially on the really hot and humid days, is all that physical effort if you just want to relax and enjoy the sun.
Enter the Bixpy Jet, the personal water propulsion device that will give you locomotion in the ocean.
According to Bixpy, its Jet device has the approximate dimensions of a 1L bottle of water and a similar weight at 2 lbs, and it’s able to produce enough thrust to drive a 240-lb kayak with two adults against ocean tides and winds. Speed and range will vary with load, but expect up to 7 mph for 15 miles on a single charge of its swappable 450 Wh lithium ion battery. It will even go in reverse.
Naturally, the Bixpy Jet is waterproof: The submerged components and connectors are IP68 rated, and the less vulnerable parts are rated to at least IP67 in both fresh and saltwater.
The idea for Bixpy came to the company founders when they went on a kayak fishing trip off the coast of San Diego and had a difficult time getting back ashore against wind and current. The next day, they searched for methods to motorize their kayak but couldn’t find anything practical or affordable that could work with their existing kayak. So, they started building their own.
While the Bixpy Jet was originally developed for kayaks, attachments and accessories will allow it to work with other personal watercraft, such as stand-up paddleboards, or even for snorkelers and divers.
Sure, there are plenty of other water propulsion devices, but Bixpy Jet is unique in its adaptability. The same Bixpy Jet that attaches to the swimming grip, which has a built-in flashlight and action-camera mount, can be bolted to a paddleboard or small watercraft with a larger battery and joystick steering mechanisms.
After 18 months of development, Bixpy will hit Kickstarter this summer and shipments are expected by the end of the year. The basic Bixpy Jet for swimmers will start at $750 and the kits for attaching to watercraft will hit the $1,000 mark. Stay tuned for an update once this hits Kickstarter.
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