Paddle Boarding
Discussion
CharlieAlphaMike said:
RammyMP said:
I saw one of these for sale in a local sports shop recently and thought it would make a nice compliment to my SUP (for days when it's too windy or the sea is too rough). You must let me know how you get on with them. 
I have no affiliation but had a newsletter from this shop earlier, with some decent discounts on SUPs, starting from £249.
https://www.coyoti.com/collections/all-stand-up-pa...
https://www.coyoti.com/collections/all-stand-up-pa...
Fabulous day on the sea this afternoon 
It was quite windy (gusty) but the sea was almost flat-calm. I spent the afternoon just enjoying the peace and quiet which seems to be the whole point of SUP'ing for me.
Regarding the 'sinking ship' I shared a picture of in an earlier post. I paddled past it again this afternoon and it looks like the stern has been re-secured to the bank with ropes. It hasn't sunk any further but what will happen to it now is a mystery.
Talking of pictures. The one day when I really wanted my camera, was the day I forgot to take it. One very curious seal took an interest in what I was doing because it was floating along next to me for a while. Evidence of a big half-eaten fish suggests it might have just finished a big lunch. It certainly seemed quite content to keep me company for 1/2 hour or so
Sadly no pictures but it was a timely reminder to always have a camera onboard 
It was quite windy (gusty) but the sea was almost flat-calm. I spent the afternoon just enjoying the peace and quiet which seems to be the whole point of SUP'ing for me.Regarding the 'sinking ship' I shared a picture of in an earlier post. I paddled past it again this afternoon and it looks like the stern has been re-secured to the bank with ropes. It hasn't sunk any further but what will happen to it now is a mystery.
Talking of pictures. The one day when I really wanted my camera, was the day I forgot to take it. One very curious seal took an interest in what I was doing because it was floating along next to me for a while. Evidence of a big half-eaten fish suggests it might have just finished a big lunch. It certainly seemed quite content to keep me company for 1/2 hour or so
Sadly no pictures but it was a timely reminder to always have a camera onboard First time out on a paddle board in about a decade. Bought a matching pair for me and Mrs CO. Took them both out on the Thames this evening for a little paddle after work. Was a nice evening, not too hot, not too cold. Well, I was fine, the Mrs less fine after falling in the water right at the end of our trip 
Did a taster session at Adventure SUP here in Bristol this week, went through some drills and now have a “Ready to Ride” card which apparently means I should be able to hire kit unsupervised if so desired. Lots of fun though, maybe too late to get anything sorted this year but definitely keen to invest in a nice board for 2024. Looks like it’s possible to get going for not much money which makes a difference to other hobbies
pablo said:
Did a taster session at Adventure SUP here in Bristol this week, went through some drills and now have a “Ready to Ride” card which apparently means I should be able to hire kit unsupervised if so desired. Lots of fun though, maybe too late to get anything sorted this year but definitely keen to invest in a nice board for 2024. Looks like it’s possible to get going for not much money which makes a difference to other hobbies
You could venture over to Clevedon and hire one on marine lake from Dan.https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=90fa43410e5...
Finally got around to buying a paddleboard last year, found a decent ex-hire one at a good price. Haven’t done much on it yet and still finding my balance.
Lugged it round in the van for 2 week trip in Scotland, finally used it in the last 2 days on Mull. Absolutely worth it. Gliding along on a glassy loch… perfect!
Annoyingly cant get pressure gauge on pump working so just have to guess!
Lugged it round in the van for 2 week trip in Scotland, finally used it in the last 2 days on Mull. Absolutely worth it. Gliding along on a glassy loch… perfect!
Annoyingly cant get pressure gauge on pump working so just have to guess!
carreauchompeur said:
Finally got around to buying a paddleboard last year, found a decent ex-hire one at a good price. Haven’t done much on it yet and still finding my balance.
Lugged it round in the van for 2 week trip in Scotland, finally used it in the last 2 days on Mull. Absolutely worth it. Gliding along on a glassy loch… perfect!
Annoyingly cant get pressure gauge on pump working so just have to guess!
If you go back through this thread, you'll find a few hints and tips I've shared which might help you with your balance. Especially with regard to having a 'staggered' foot position on your board.Lugged it round in the van for 2 week trip in Scotland, finally used it in the last 2 days on Mull. Absolutely worth it. Gliding along on a glassy loch… perfect!
Annoyingly cant get pressure gauge on pump working so just have to guess!
With regard to the correct pressure. The obvious solution is to invest in a new pump. Otherwise, I doubt you'd ever be able to exceed the recommended max pressure with a hand pump. At max pressure, my board is as close to standing on a rigid board as possible when on dry land, with very little flex on the water. And at max pressure, I have very little else left in my arms to be able inflate the board any more. Board size and construction obviously has a part to play in this but I'm using a 14ft board so a shorter board should have much less flex on the water.
markymarkthree said:
You could venture over to Clevedon and hire one on marine lake from Dan.
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=90fa43410e5...
Cool, will investigate thathttps://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=90fa43410e5...
Safety.
I haven't said much about personal safety when out on your SUP because I don't think I'm in a position to tell people what to do. It's your choice. However, I briefly caught the news this morning about the increase in callouts to the RNLI so I think it's important to remind everyone to take care.
Whatever you do, before you go out (especially on the sea), please check the sea conditions and weather forecasts; and not just the immediate forecast but check the weather for the whole day. If the forecast says there'll be an offshore wind, stay at home. You'll be amazed at how quickly offshore winds will take you out to sea and how difficult it is to paddle back to shore against the wind. And before you go out, assess the situation yourself. Don't simply rely on the forecasts, they're not always accurate.
There are plenty of weather forecasts and marine charts available. I use these:
For navigation (sea depth, obstacles etc):
https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@3&key=ub...
And for wind forecasts:
https://www.windy.com/?56.756,8.394,5
Whether you wear PFD's or other protective clothing/equipment is up to you. There are no laws telling you what you can and can't wear. But you should ALWAYS attach yourself (and anyone else who might be with you) to your SUP with a leash. Being caught out by bad weather is one thing but getting separated from your board is an entirely different matter. Your SUP is a floatation device so don't lose it. I know there's an argument about not using a leash on rivers and I understand that but there are quick-release leashes (and waist leashes) and I think I'd prefer to use one of those than to risk being detached from my board.
Have fun but stay safe.
I haven't said much about personal safety when out on your SUP because I don't think I'm in a position to tell people what to do. It's your choice. However, I briefly caught the news this morning about the increase in callouts to the RNLI so I think it's important to remind everyone to take care.
Whatever you do, before you go out (especially on the sea), please check the sea conditions and weather forecasts; and not just the immediate forecast but check the weather for the whole day. If the forecast says there'll be an offshore wind, stay at home. You'll be amazed at how quickly offshore winds will take you out to sea and how difficult it is to paddle back to shore against the wind. And before you go out, assess the situation yourself. Don't simply rely on the forecasts, they're not always accurate.
There are plenty of weather forecasts and marine charts available. I use these:
For navigation (sea depth, obstacles etc):
https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@3&key=ub...
And for wind forecasts:
https://www.windy.com/?56.756,8.394,5
Whether you wear PFD's or other protective clothing/equipment is up to you. There are no laws telling you what you can and can't wear. But you should ALWAYS attach yourself (and anyone else who might be with you) to your SUP with a leash. Being caught out by bad weather is one thing but getting separated from your board is an entirely different matter. Your SUP is a floatation device so don't lose it. I know there's an argument about not using a leash on rivers and I understand that but there are quick-release leashes (and waist leashes) and I think I'd prefer to use one of those than to risk being detached from my board.
Have fun but stay safe.
CharlieAlphaMike said:
Safety.
I haven't said much about personal safety when out on your SUP because I don't think I'm in a position to tell people what to do. It's your choice. However, I briefly caught the news this morning about the increase in callouts to the RNLI so I think it's important to remind everyone to take care.
Whatever you do, before you go out (especially on the sea), please check the sea conditions and weather forecasts; and not just the immediate forecast but check the weather for the whole day. If the forecast says there'll be an offshore wind, stay at home. You'll be amazed at how quickly offshore winds will take you out to sea and how difficult it is to paddle back to shore against the wind. And before you go out, assess the situation yourself. Don't simply rely on the forecasts, they're not always accurate.
There are plenty of weather forecasts and marine charts available. I use these:
For navigation (sea depth, obstacles etc):
https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@3&key=ub...
And for wind forecasts:
https://www.windy.com/?56.756,8.394,5
Whether you wear PFD's or other protective clothing/equipment is up to you. There are no laws telling you what you can and can't wear. But you should ALWAYS attach yourself (and anyone else who might be with you) to your SUP with a leash. Being caught out by bad weather is one thing but getting separated from your board is an entirely different matter. Your SUP is a floatation device so don't lose it. I know there's an argument about not using a leash on rivers and I understand that but there are quick-release leashes (and waist leashes) and I think I'd prefer to use one of those than to risk being detached from my board.
Have fun but stay safe.
They've been pushing safety for the last month or two, there's an RNLI leaflet at the bottom of this page https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news/2021/sup-s...I haven't said much about personal safety when out on your SUP because I don't think I'm in a position to tell people what to do. It's your choice. However, I briefly caught the news this morning about the increase in callouts to the RNLI so I think it's important to remind everyone to take care.
Whatever you do, before you go out (especially on the sea), please check the sea conditions and weather forecasts; and not just the immediate forecast but check the weather for the whole day. If the forecast says there'll be an offshore wind, stay at home. You'll be amazed at how quickly offshore winds will take you out to sea and how difficult it is to paddle back to shore against the wind. And before you go out, assess the situation yourself. Don't simply rely on the forecasts, they're not always accurate.
There are plenty of weather forecasts and marine charts available. I use these:
For navigation (sea depth, obstacles etc):
https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@3&key=ub...
And for wind forecasts:
https://www.windy.com/?56.756,8.394,5
Whether you wear PFD's or other protective clothing/equipment is up to you. There are no laws telling you what you can and can't wear. But you should ALWAYS attach yourself (and anyone else who might be with you) to your SUP with a leash. Being caught out by bad weather is one thing but getting separated from your board is an entirely different matter. Your SUP is a floatation device so don't lose it. I know there's an argument about not using a leash on rivers and I understand that but there are quick-release leashes (and waist leashes) and I think I'd prefer to use one of those than to risk being detached from my board.
Have fun but stay safe.
And a leash guide.
Anyone had a go of an 13’ 2” Red Paddle Voyager?
For context I do a lot of open-ocean/downwind paddling and have Starboard Pinetek 14’ hard board as my main board.
I want an inflatable for travel/taking my kid/dog out so needs to fill a wide range of tasks.
I’m put off by the twin fin setup, but think the V Hull sways me over the 12’ 6” Red Paddle sport which would have been my default choice, as I suspect that is going to break through bigger swell better.
Anyone ridden both and have any thoughts on what catching a bump is like on these/what their sea manners are like? Appreciate it’s not going to worry my hard board but I’d like to get as close as I can.
For context I do a lot of open-ocean/downwind paddling and have Starboard Pinetek 14’ hard board as my main board.
I want an inflatable for travel/taking my kid/dog out so needs to fill a wide range of tasks.
I’m put off by the twin fin setup, but think the V Hull sways me over the 12’ 6” Red Paddle sport which would have been my default choice, as I suspect that is going to break through bigger swell better.
Anyone ridden both and have any thoughts on what catching a bump is like on these/what their sea manners are like? Appreciate it’s not going to worry my hard board but I’d like to get as close as I can.
mcdjl said:
They've been pushing safety for the last month or two, there's an RNLI leaflet at the bottom of this page https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news/2021/sup-s...
And a leash guide.
All good. It confirms pretty much everything I've said, especially regarding the use of a leash. Thanks for sharing And a leash guide.
The biggest problem with SUP's as I see it, they can be bought cheaply (from supermarkets as part of your weekly shop in some cases) which in turn leads to people with no knowledge or experience heading out on the water thinking it's just a bit of fun. It is fun but it can be dangerous for the novice so be careful. I'd hate to see this sport heavily regulated but if people are getting themselves into difficulties (and worse still, losing their lives) on the water, it's extremely likely that regulations controlling the sport might come into force.
Having said that, I personally think that supermarkets should be stopped from selling them. If you buy from a 'watersport' shop, you are more likely to get at least some basic advice about using your SUP safely.
Disastrous said:
Anyone had a go of an 13’ 2” Red Paddle Voyager?
For context I do a lot of open-ocean/downwind paddling and have Starboard Pinetek 14’ hard board as my main board.
I want an inflatable for travel/taking my kid/dog out so needs to fill a wide range of tasks.
I’m put off by the twin fin setup, but think the V Hull sways me over the 12’ 6” Red Paddle sport which would have been my default choice, as I suspect that is going to break through bigger swell better.
Anyone ridden both and have any thoughts on what catching a bump is like on these/what their sea manners are like? Appreciate it’s not going to worry my hard board but I’d like to get as close as I can.
I haven't ridden either of the boards you mentioned but given your intended use, that stability will be the priority. The question is, how stable is a SUP with a V-shaped hull? Your hardboard will always be your default choice for those perfect SUP days so that will be your 'performance' board. As you've said, an iSUP won't perform in the same way as your hardboard (although technology has improved massively in recent years). For context I do a lot of open-ocean/downwind paddling and have Starboard Pinetek 14’ hard board as my main board.
I want an inflatable for travel/taking my kid/dog out so needs to fill a wide range of tasks.
I’m put off by the twin fin setup, but think the V Hull sways me over the 12’ 6” Red Paddle sport which would have been my default choice, as I suspect that is going to break through bigger swell better.
Anyone ridden both and have any thoughts on what catching a bump is like on these/what their sea manners are like? Appreciate it’s not going to worry my hard board but I’d like to get as close as I can.
You know already that a multi-fin setup will give you more control in the surf, will track better but will create more drag than a single fin. With children or dogs on board, that might be what you need.
Not much help I know but that's all I've got.
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