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
