In this episode, Corey and Sean welcome their first guest on the show, as they join forces with their legendary pal Pete Buzelli (or “Simple Pete” as Sean calls him) to talk about one of BOTE’s most iconic differentiators: the BOTE DarkRoom. More than just a space to make paddle boards, the DarkRoom quickly became a project with a purpose; a safe space to fail fast and fail often, yet also make a lot of magic happen; a place to churn out cutting edge paddle board technology on their own terms; and a beacon for the local paddle board community to come together, sip on some brews, and see how paddle boards get made. 

If, when you picture the DarkRoom, you’re envisioning a laboratory-like lair of giant shipping containers filled with 3D printers and ballistics-grade composites and sheets of advanced plastics, topped with a couple of mad boat scientists conducting a bunch of crazy paddle board experiments, well then… yeah, that’s pretty much exactly what it is.

In this episode, the guys talk about the origins of the DarkRoom and how it came to be. They also provide a rundown of some of their favorite BOTE board models & technologies—some of which are still around & kickin’ to this day—that were created in the DarkRoom. And—as always—they shoot the shit for half an hour until you’re left bummed that it had to end. So sit back and enjoy.

Links from the Episode 

Watch a killer video that offers inside access into the heart of the DarkRoom. 

Learn about Gatorshell Technology—a game-changing innovation from the DarkRoom gurus.

What on earth is a CNC machine? 

Become a Traveller. 

Listen to the Everglades: Without a Plan podcast.

Who’s in the Episode

Lead Designer, Co-Founder, and CEO at BOTE, Corey Cooper is a licensed engineer hailing from Auburn University. Corey is the pioneer of the DarkRoom, assisting with the design of the machinery, concepting the layout and ultimately developing the workflow used in DarkRoom production. Corey’s passion for this project is so strong that on any given day, regardless of how busy things are at BOTE, you will often find Corey working in the DarkRoom.

Sean Murphy is the Director of Photography at BOTE and a world-renowned photographer based in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After spending most of his career based in Los Angeles, shooting for brands like Adidas, Red Bull, and Toyota, just to name a few, Sean moved back to the Redneck Riviera. You can find Sean capturing gritty America and spontaneous moments that translate into visually stunning photography.  

Pete Buzzelli joined the BOTE team after 40 years in the boat building industry. His eccentric and innovative personality is why he was selected to direct and manage the DarkRoom, an area at BOTE dedicated to complete control and infinite manipulation. When he’s not working with Corey and the crew to bring their mad scientist ideas to life, you’ll find him driving eclectic motorcycles off and on the road or SUP racing along Northwest Florida waterways.

Sound Bites

“The idea really started with this giant machine that I designed that was 20 feet long, 6 feet wide, 6 feet tall. It started there. I remember making this thing going, ‘okay this is gonna be a project just to design it. We’re gonna have to put it somewhere. It’s gonna be really cool to look at so we want to showcase it so that people can see it.” – Corey Cooper, CEO and Co-Founder at BOTE