Stand up paddle boarding
Discussion
But stumbled on this thread, I had forgotten I started it.
I purchased a Jobe 11'6 isup from getonthewater.co.uk which is a company local to me. So far I'm really enjoying it. I've taken it out on sheltered beaches and estuaries in West Wales, explored the coast on a calm day in Cornwall, I've tried to surf the thing with out success but plenty of laughter and fun, and I've explored the local rivers where I live.
I think it's one of the best toys I've bought to be honest. I can anchor it in shallow waters at the beach and the kids spend hours jumping off and on, I can paddle it with my 6 yr old sitting on the front down a river, I've had days out with friends who own them. I honestly can not recommend these enough.
They're definitely not as efficient as a kayak, but what they lack in efficiency they gain in comfort, flexibility and fun. I can jump in and climb back on with very little drama and I can hop on and off at the beach as and when. Kayaks can be a bit of a palava to load on to the roof and store etc. I have kayaks and the paddleboard and at the moment it's the ease of use of the paddle board that draws me to it.
I purchased a Jobe 11'6 isup from getonthewater.co.uk which is a company local to me. So far I'm really enjoying it. I've taken it out on sheltered beaches and estuaries in West Wales, explored the coast on a calm day in Cornwall, I've tried to surf the thing with out success but plenty of laughter and fun, and I've explored the local rivers where I live.
I think it's one of the best toys I've bought to be honest. I can anchor it in shallow waters at the beach and the kids spend hours jumping off and on, I can paddle it with my 6 yr old sitting on the front down a river, I've had days out with friends who own them. I honestly can not recommend these enough.
They're definitely not as efficient as a kayak, but what they lack in efficiency they gain in comfort, flexibility and fun. I can jump in and climb back on with very little drama and I can hop on and off at the beach as and when. Kayaks can be a bit of a palava to load on to the roof and store etc. I have kayaks and the paddleboard and at the moment it's the ease of use of the paddle board that draws me to it.
prand said:
Well, Sportpursuit outdid themselves and delivered my board in just 4 days, though I wasn't able to get out on the water till the weekend.
I was pleasantly surprised that a 10'6" and 33" wide board rolls up into a smaller back pack than I was expecting (say 100cmx20cmx20cm)- including paddle and pump, so easy to get into the boot of the car even with other luggage- about the size of a large holdall.
I went out on the Thames near where I live, there's a riverside park with a landing stage to get the board into the water easily. It's also got a a car park close by so I could stash the gear I didn't want to take out with me. Conditions were warm and sunny, although quite windy on Saturday morning which made going upwind a bit of a challenge. It took no more than 7-10 mins to pump up to 15psi, which was a nice warmup and all I had to do was fit the middle fin to the base and I was ready to go.
After my last experience in the sea, I was expecting a bit of a shaky ride, but on the river the board was as solid as a rock. I was out for over 2 hours and was pleased to say I didn't fall in, with narely a wobble!
All in all I went up and down the river for around 5km pootling about, finding all sorts of interesting backwaters I had no idea were there. My wife turned up after a while and i took each of my kids out for a ride sat on the front of the board too. We got a few waves from people on the bank and cruisers going by, though I don't think the rowers were too impressed with my big slow, undynamic craft
Really great fun and easy to use. Although I have to say for me it doesn't feel like too much of a workout, I can still see myself using it a lot though, ideally on warm mornings or evenings.
Where about on Thames are you? We went out from Sonning on Thursday which was really good. Only fell in once, but loved it. I was pleasantly surprised that a 10'6" and 33" wide board rolls up into a smaller back pack than I was expecting (say 100cmx20cmx20cm)- including paddle and pump, so easy to get into the boot of the car even with other luggage- about the size of a large holdall.
I went out on the Thames near where I live, there's a riverside park with a landing stage to get the board into the water easily. It's also got a a car park close by so I could stash the gear I didn't want to take out with me. Conditions were warm and sunny, although quite windy on Saturday morning which made going upwind a bit of a challenge. It took no more than 7-10 mins to pump up to 15psi, which was a nice warmup and all I had to do was fit the middle fin to the base and I was ready to go.
After my last experience in the sea, I was expecting a bit of a shaky ride, but on the river the board was as solid as a rock. I was out for over 2 hours and was pleased to say I didn't fall in, with narely a wobble!
All in all I went up and down the river for around 5km pootling about, finding all sorts of interesting backwaters I had no idea were there. My wife turned up after a while and i took each of my kids out for a ride sat on the front of the board too. We got a few waves from people on the bank and cruisers going by, though I don't think the rowers were too impressed with my big slow, undynamic craft
Really great fun and easy to use. Although I have to say for me it doesn't feel like too much of a workout, I can still see myself using it a lot though, ideally on warm mornings or evenings.I live in Maidenhead, there's some good water to paddle around in, especially the Jubilee river flood relief channel, and they're opening up the small tributaries that run through the town centre, which will be interesting. I usually do a 4-5km paddle up river from the small park (which has a car park 30 m from a landing stage) near Brunels railway bridge up to Boulters lock and back.
However I'm just coming the the end of two weeks in Ibiza, I took my board checked in hold luggage (board and accessories came to 16kg).
Its been absolutely brilliant. Have been on it every day, and it's been great fun paddling about and investigating hard to reach places. Or just taking it out and checking out the boats anchored up in the bay. The kids have had a great time with it, as the OP said you can anchor or tie it up and use it as a platform to jump off or sunbathe, we've had the whole family of four on board at various times. It's helped that the sea has been 28C so no issues about going in the water!
It has been great for me as unlike my wife, i cant do a full day shift lying on the beach, so when I get bored I grab a kid or two and go off to find somewhere good to snorkel. The water is so clear here you get to see a lot of sea life even just standing up. The kids have been lying on the front with their faces in the water as we go along.
Managed to get out into the bay to watch the sunset too.
Apologies for posting the pic the wrong way round. Not sure why it did that.
However I'm just coming the the end of two weeks in Ibiza, I took my board checked in hold luggage (board and accessories came to 16kg).
Its been absolutely brilliant. Have been on it every day, and it's been great fun paddling about and investigating hard to reach places. Or just taking it out and checking out the boats anchored up in the bay. The kids have had a great time with it, as the OP said you can anchor or tie it up and use it as a platform to jump off or sunbathe, we've had the whole family of four on board at various times. It's helped that the sea has been 28C so no issues about going in the water!
It has been great for me as unlike my wife, i cant do a full day shift lying on the beach, so when I get bored I grab a kid or two and go off to find somewhere good to snorkel. The water is so clear here you get to see a lot of sea life even just standing up. The kids have been lying on the front with their faces in the water as we go along.
Managed to get out into the bay to watch the sunset too.
Apologies for posting the pic the wrong way round. Not sure why it did that.
Edited by prand on Saturday 1st September 04:27
Couldnt find a dedicated thread, but this is one of the ones that came up in the search function.
Just ordered this, which is arriving on Friday. Amazon also allow paying in instalments so can split it over 5 months for free. Anyone else got one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aquamarina-Thrive-Paddle-...
Just ordered this, which is arriving on Friday. Amazon also allow paying in instalments so can split it over 5 months for free. Anyone else got one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aquamarina-Thrive-Paddle-...
Google [bot] said:
No but I am interested in these, had a couple of goes renting them and enjoyed.
Am I reading this correctly that it all fits in a backpack? So I can take it on my motorbike?
If it’s anything like mine the backpack is pretty cumbersome and large. Really wouldn’t ride a bike with it on, dangerously too large for that. Am I reading this correctly that it all fits in a backpack? So I can take it on my motorbike?
alistair1234 said:
Couldnt find a dedicated thread, but this is one of the ones that came up in the search function.
Just ordered this, which is arriving on Friday. Amazon also allow paying in instalments so can split it over 5 months for free. Anyone else got one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aquamarina-Thrive-Paddle-...
I'm onto my third summer with one. I bought mine from Sportpursuit for about £250 and it has been a great investment.Just ordered this, which is arriving on Friday. Amazon also allow paying in instalments so can split it over 5 months for free. Anyone else got one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aquamarina-Thrive-Paddle-...
Mostly used on the Thames near where I live, but also the south coast of England, and to Spain and France for summer holidays by the Med.
For me the bigger the better - get something as close to 36inches wide and over 10ft long and you get a nice stable platform (staying away from big waves also helps), plus you can take passengers too. I'm thinking of getting a second, smaller one for my 10Yr old .
Any more recent recommendations on these? iim considering one of these and or a 2 person inflatable kayak. use would be on creeks of east anglia as well as the forth at Joppa.
i see paddle boarders on the forth often and here in the east too as its flat as a millpond mostly and i have good river access, not sure how a inflatable kayak would go on the forth though given the wind.
i read an article in the weekend times supplement and the expert said lots of people buy cheap too lightweight boards, but it doesnt give any advise what a non cheap non lightweight board would be...other than 33-34inch wide and 12-14 feet long.
any recommendations folks?
i see paddle boarders on the forth often and here in the east too as its flat as a millpond mostly and i have good river access, not sure how a inflatable kayak would go on the forth though given the wind.
i read an article in the weekend times supplement and the expert said lots of people buy cheap too lightweight boards, but it doesnt give any advise what a non cheap non lightweight board would be...other than 33-34inch wide and 12-14 feet long.
any recommendations folks?
theplayingmantis said:
Any more recent recommendations on these? iim considering one of these and or a 2 person inflatable kayak. use would be on creeks of east anglia as well as the forth at Joppa.
i see paddle boarders on the forth often and here in the east too as its flat as a millpond mostly and i have good river access, not sure how a inflatable kayak would go on the forth though given the wind.
i read an article in the weekend times supplement and the expert said lots of people buy cheap too lightweight boards, but it doesnt give any advise what a non cheap non lightweight board would be...other than 33-34inch wide and 12-14 feet long.
any recommendations folks?
I bought one of these as a portable board. Last year's model but essentially the same apart from the colour. Sort of mid range for an inflatable I guess? https://www.jobesports.com/en/jobe-neva-126-inflat...i see paddle boarders on the forth often and here in the east too as its flat as a millpond mostly and i have good river access, not sure how a inflatable kayak would go on the forth though given the wind.
i read an article in the weekend times supplement and the expert said lots of people buy cheap too lightweight boards, but it doesnt give any advise what a non cheap non lightweight board would be...other than 33-34inch wide and 12-14 feet long.
any recommendations folks?
Pretty happy with it, I'm doing longer paddles on lakes and the sea. It's a bit narrower but still pretty stable. I find the wind more of an issue on a SUP than in a kayak, but then again I'm 2 metres tall so I make a very effective sail. Downwind is great but upwind can be pretty hard work...
theplayingmantis said:
thanks, surely though 700+ is going to be a very good one...i was thinking 300ish or are they the lightweight ones they warn against
I've got this one - https://www.amazon.co.uk/AQUAPLANET-Pressure-Adjus...It's about 18 months old, no problems at all and gets used 2 or 3 times a week in summer.
My kids love it, I'm hopeless
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