Thurgau inventor brought pedal boats into mass production

Swiss inventor Oskar Forster brought the pedal boat into serial production in the 1950s, according to SRF. The invention came from the Thurgau town of Diessenhofen and soon spread to lakes across Switzerland.

In the early 1950s, pedal boats promised a new and easy form of leisure. After the Second World War, Forster, a young auto body mechanic, had been looking for ways to transport more with a bicycle. He first built lightweight sidecars and adapted bicycles as alternatives to cars, when petrol was still scarce.

Forster later turned his attention to a bicycle for use on water. Although pedal boats had been attempted before, he developed the Forsa pedal boat. He fitted two steel floats along the sides of the body, creating what SRF describes as a sports car on the water.

The Forsa pedal boat quickly became successful. Its Clipper DS model, introduced in 1952, gave the design its breakthrough. Its conical shape was inspired by the Citroën DS. The pedal boats then entered serial production and were distributed from Forster’s workshop in Diessenhofen to Swiss lakes.

Popular culture and films helped the Thurgau producer’s business. Singers and actors including Heintje, Peter Kraus and Conny Froboess appeared in films in which the pedal boat was an unofficial star. SRF also reports that a pedal boat may have appeared in the opening credits of a Clint Eastwood film.

Pedal boats have also been associated with prominent figures. Football twins David and Philipp Degen were photographed in a Forsa pedal boat on Lake Zurich in 2007 while they were active players. Northern Irish football legend George Best was pictured on a pedal boat in 1969.