Ep 139 The Ultimate Backyard Flex: Handcrafted Wooden Diving Boards with Mikel Tube & Farley Pool Designs

Mike and Trey Farley host the Luxury Outdoor Living Podcast and interview Mikel Tupe from Belgium, who handcrafts luxury wooden diving boards he calls “functional art.” Tupe explains he began after building a board for his own pool, then left a banking/insurance career as international demand grew, especially in the U.S. He describes two construction types—floating boards (more flexible, cheaper, require storing in winter and checking screws) and tension boards (more solid, less bounce, adjustable tension bars). He discusses materials (ipe and a shift toward afrormosia), oiling to prevent graying and cracking, optional UV-protective covers, anti-slip features, and U.S.-based safety standards, bracket heights, and stainless-steel bases. He highlights the Ocean One as the most popular model, notes 5–7 week high-season lead times, typical longevity and weight guidance, unusual installations, and emphasizes customer communication and trust.   Discover more: https://woodendivingboards.com/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:12 Meet the Guest 02:01 Wooden Boards Origin 04:24 Choosing the Right Wood 06:00 Handcrafted Production 07:30 Floating vs Tension 11:04 Oiling and Winter Care 15:27 Covers and UV Protection 18:38 Splinters and Grip 22:05 Safety Rules and Brackets 27:30 Bracket Designs and Ocean One 28:48 Ocean One Bestseller 29:06 Board Sizes And Profiles 30:09 Why Wood Boards 31:09 Wild Install Locations 32:46 Maintenance And Hardware 35:41 Ordering And Shipping 37:55 Longevity And Weight Limits 41:37 Wood Vs Fiberglass Bounce 47:10 Design Inspiration And Safety 50:31 Trust Customer Care Wrap 52:37 Rapid Fire Favorites 55:02 Final Thanks And Contact