A message from the founder.
Outboard Surf Club didn’t start with a business plan or a big launch. It started years ago, with a life jacket too big for me and a rope trailing off the back of our 02 Mastercraft. Some of my earliest and fondest memories I have are of days spent at the lake with my family. I can always remember how it felt to jump into a lake with no agenda but fun. I knew the rhythm of morning water before the wind picked up, the support from my family when it came to learning the sports, and the endless thrill of trying to stand up on a board for just one more second. The lake was where I could slow down. It wasn’t just a body of water—it was a shared space for family time. These weekends didn’t just give me a love for watersports—they gave me a feeling I’d chase forever: freedom, connection, and joy.
Over the years, surfing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing, and all things boat-related became more than just weekend activities—they became part of who I was. I found confidence behind the wheel teaching my younger brothers, friends and new family members the thrills of boat days. To this day I consider myself an amazing surf teacher, helping eager new riders catch their first wave behind the same boat I did. As time went on I wanted to share my love for watersports with more than just the people around me. I wanted to make an impact in the ecosystems we live in and I quickly became aware of the plastic crisis that grips our oceans
Outboard Surf Club began as a personal experiment, completely apart from any business idea. The original designs started as my senior year AP 2D design portfolio, they were nothing special, just some words and colors made into logos and such. As time moved on I continued to make designs even after the highschool class had ended. There was no real reason as to why I decided to make Outboard a real thing, It was more something I figured couldn't hurt to try.
That’s when the idea came to life.
The name Outboard Surf Club has a great ring to it, and while your defiantly not supposed to surf behind an outboard motor, its more about capturing the spirit of surfing. It’s about perfect ocean swells or coastal towns, surf sessions with your closest friends and days spent on the beach. It’s about lake days, boat ramps, and barefoot adventures. It’s about anyone who finds their peace in water, no matter what kind of board they ride.
I launched Outboard as a solo project—just me, my laptop, and a vision. I designed every product myself. The brand wasn’t built overnight, but every sticker sent out, every hoodie worn, every tag on social media felt like proof that the idea resonated. People weren’t just buying apparel—they were buying into a feeling they already knew deep down.
As the brand grew, so did its purpose. I didn’t want Outboard to just reflect the lifestyle—I wanted it to give back to the waters that shaped me. With our recent partnership with Ecodrive and 4ocean I can finally see this coming to life. Through this partnership, each Outboard purchase of a hoodie or shirt contributes directly to ocean conservation by pulling 1 pound of plastic. In my opinion if we’re lucky enough to live the water life, we owe it to the water to protect it.
Outboard Surf Club is more than a brand. It’s a community. A crew. A club for those who crave the lake days and sunsets. for those remember catching their very first wave and for those still waiting for their chance. It’s for the ones who grew up rinsing off lake water before dinner and now pass on that joy to their friends, their family, or their future kids.
From the boat pier to the designs that now ship across the US, this brand is rooted in something real. In shared joy. In slow mornings. In art and adrenaline. And in the belief that the water has something to offer all of us.
So welcome to the club. Whether you're surfing wakes, chasing waves, or just kicking back on the dock—you belong here.
— AJ, Founder & CEO
