Planed was started by Rich Robinson Harris in 2017. Rich trained as a professional boatbuilder at the Boatbuilding Academy in Lyme Regis. Following the course Rich worked for a small bespoke professional boatbuilding company based in the Lake District concentrating on building, restoring and running beautiful one-off custom launches, both diesel and high-performance electric and 1 or 2 very special steam launches.
Rich has always been a keen surfer and the lure of the ocean was too much so he moved back to the sea and Dorset and set up a company which married his two passions in life, woodworking and spending time on and in the sea.
What We Do
We produce stunning, sustainable high-performance watercraft, paddles and skateboards. The paddle and surfboards are created using a plywood/foam fishbone spine and ribs. A thin Western Red Cedar ‘skin’ is then bonded to the fishbone frame to form the bottom, rails and deck of the board.
The nose and tail are made from different upcycled timber to create a beautiful feature and provide strength to these potentially high-impact areas. The entire board is then faired and sanded before being glassed using a 'Bio' epoxy resin to make it completely watertight, incredibly strong and more resistant to knocks and dings.
Why Planed?
Here at Planed, we like to do things a little differently. All the materials that go into your board have been selected because they are the most sustainable available, which in turn means it's better for the planet we live on.
'Root To Ride'
Our philosophy ensures the timber we use is locally sourced and the trees are felled as part of estate management programmes which include replanting. The timber is processed for us by a local sawmill, based in Wimborne, Dorset. We work closely with them to ensure only the best timber is turned into planks to make your board, paddle or skateboard.
Your board or paddle are hand-crafted using time-honoured traditional techniques by experienced craftsmen, married to state-of-the-art materials and bio-resins.
Storyboard
The entire process will be recorded and your storyboard photobook will be presented to you when you take ownership of your board or paddle.
Lifecycle
If you look after your board it will last you a lifetime, but not the Earth’s lifetime.
Environment and Sustainability
All of our products are crafted with as minimal environmental impact as possible, putting sustainability at the top of our list of values. We believe there is always a better way, using sustainable, local, responsibly sourced timber is the best way to make beautiful, unique watercraft and skateboards.
We have teamed up with other like-minded companies to provide our surf fins, leashes, wax and other traction options for Planed watercraft.
Timber
Timber is one of the greenest materials available. It absorbs carbon while growing, uses low energy in conversion to wood-based products and is a renewable material.
Any wood left over from making boards is saved in dusty corners of the workshop. Off-cuts of planks are used to make belly boards, hand-planes or skateboards or our handmade business cards.
All the timber and sheet materials used in ‘Planed’ products come from responsible suppliers. They are affiliated to either the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or the TTF (Timber Trade Federation).
Epoxy
All ‘Planed’ products are built and laminated using Bio Epoxy Resins. This means the resins are created using up to 40% plant-based ingredients to substitute the oil-based material.
Planed paddle and surfboards are hand-crafted on the beautiful Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. There is plenty of creative inspiration as we are located on the Jurrasic Coast with its fantastic surf spots and sheltered waters of Poole Harbour.
Our paddle and surfboards are created using a plywood/recycled foam fishbone spine and ribs, which are hollowed out to make them as light as possible, but still retaining the strength required to withstand the stresses involved with surfing and flat water paddling.
