Steadfast DIYer Ben Kilner is currently on a journey across Scotland in a self-made amphibious bicycle canoe, paddling and pedaling his way from Fort William to Inverness to raise money for charity and spark creativity and a passion for adventure in others. Learn more here…

I recently found myself deeply distracted when I stumbled upon Ben Kilner’s Instagram account and got lost in the fascinating videos documenting the two-month build of his latest amphibious bicycle canoe and the lead-up to his current trip across Scotland (not to mention the super satisfying wood shed restoration video). Others have clearly taken notice of his distinctive projects, and Ben has amassed nearly 700,000 followers on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Pedal Paddle, amphibious canoe, Ben Kilner
  • Pedal Paddle, amphibious canoe, Ben Kilner
  • Pedal Paddle, amphibious canoe, Ben Kilner

Ben calls his amphibious bicycle canoe drive mechanism Pedal Paddle and says the design intent is to transition seamlessly from paddling on water to cycling with bike wheels for land travel. As evidenced in the videos, it works exceptionally well across various terrain and water depths. He has built several of his own and inspired many people around the globe to create their unique take on the hybrid machine. The latest version is built from three and a half scrap bikes and his most elegant self-made canoe yet. His creations are truly captivating, even if they’re well beyond the limits of my mechanical understanding, and they’re made possible through Ben’s impressive ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Pedal Paddle, amphibious canoe, Ben Kilner
  • Pedal Paddle, amphibious canoe, Ben Kilner
  • Pedal Paddle, amphibious canoe, Ben Kilner

“Sea to Sea for Charity” is Ben’s current mission, and his Scotland journey has already raised around £3,800 ($4,900) in support of A Leg to Stand On, an organization that helps bring mobility to children in developing countries with limb disabilities, turning their dreams of moving into reality (you can make a small donation here). His ride hasn’t been without issue, and the rugged terrain has already tested his latest amphibious canoe. In a post yesterday, he shared news of a catastrophic failure of an axle-to-wheel sprocket, but he’s still rolling onward!

If you’re on either platform, I highly recommend taking a moment to explore some of Ben’s Instagram or TikTok videos to see his amazing invention in action.

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