In 2024, I crafted a 15-foot "boat" from a wild polypore mushroom (Ganoderma sp.) collected near my studio in Los Angeles. To create the boat, I modified a used ocean fishing kayak to serve as the positive for a two-part fiberglass mold. Over 300 pounds of inoculated hemp substrate was used to propagate the mycelium inside the mold for about four weeks. After the incubation period, the mycelium was dried to produce a strong, hydrophobic, and cork-like material. The boat was then sealed with locally sourced beeswax. No rigid internal support frame or hardwood was used. Once dried and coated, the boat weighs 72 pounds.
I am planning to build more mycelium boats. While I am very pleased with this initial boat, I have more ambitious plans for future iterations. My ultimate goal is to cross the Catalina Channel—a challenging 28-mile Pacific Ocean passage from Catalina Island to the mainland coast of Southern California—using a boat made entirely from mycelium. With additional time and support, I plan to publish a comprehensive guide detailing my methods and research.
Special thanks to: Laza Panich, Phil Ross, Josh McGinnis, Katy Ayers (creator of the first mushroom boat in Nebraska), and Zak Sciff, Blue Ridge Honey and Ian Byers Gamber for their generous support with this evolving multi-year project.
Photos by Ian Byers Gamber
2025 update:
The second mushroom boat is in production. We engineered a vessel specifically for mushroom mycelium based on the data we collected from the first attempt. This entire project was made possible through the generous support of Fulcrum Arts
The new boat is a tad shorter but 55% larger by volume. The new boat has a keel, enlarged size (to account for shrinkage during drying) and weight distribution that is better suited for this material. This boat will be stronger, more buoyant, and easier to control than the last boat we molded from a used plastic fishing kayak. We have a long way to go but I am confident we are moving closer to my goal of paddling across the Catalina Channel on a mushroom.
My cousin Laza Panich is the real MVP for this latest production period. Laza’s engineering background and experience as a board shaper really elevated this whole project beyond what I thought was possible. I’ve learned so much working with my cousin and am grateful for all the long nights we’ve worked together on this.
Fulcrum Arts’ programming is made possible with the generous support of the Perenchio Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, J. Paul Getty Trust, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the Wilhelm Family Foundation, and the Pasadena Arts and Culture Commission and the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division.