Paddle Boarding
Discussion
RobM77 said:
markymarkthree said:
Hopefully come spring/summer i will be proficient enough not to need it, although i may get a shorty as i plan to use it in the sea.
Do be careful. There's a PHer whose son very sadly died a few years ago. He was a professional windsurfer, and a very good one at that (I windsurf, so knew of him). He was young, fit, and used to the water, but he went out on a jetski one June in shorts and a t-shirt, fell into the sea and had a heart attack immediately.In terms of sea/lake, you probably know this, but the main difference is their size, and therefore how they resist keeping up with air temperature. A lake will follow air temperature quite quickly, so in January when it's 1deg, a lake will probably be 1-2C; in July lakes can get up to 25/26C. The sea lags behind because it's so big, and it never gets a chance to fully cool down before the air gets warmer again. Minimum sea temperature here on the south coast is about 6C in March, 2-3 months behind the air, and then it starts to go back up. However, this principle also works in reverse so it barely gets beyond 17C in September before winter cools it down again. For me at least, this means the sea in the UK is always too cold without a wetsuit. Even with a wetsuit, at about 10 degrees I've had all my muscles freeze and been unable to swim. So be careful!
Thankyou.
Being a newbie & intrigued by SUP & lurker on this thread for a while, I have noticed a few apparently good deals (winter?) of late. Last night at 2130 I fired a speculative enquiry to South West Paddleboards via their website. Was shocked to receive an immediate reply (within seconds!) with a promise of a call this morning. My 'test' enquiry was passed with flying colours when Ian Warren called me at 1030 & listened to my requirements (90+ kg novice, likely use on a French lake in summer nothing too arduous & possibly on the famous, on this thread, Clevedon Marine Lake). The £349 package was duly purchased - the omens are good, enthusiastic small business man who isn't greedy on his margins.
Can't wait till the spring!
Can't wait till the spring!
Sortie 10 said:
Being a newbie & intrigued by SUP & lurker on this thread for a while, I have noticed a few apparently good deals (winter?) of late. Last night at 2130 I fired a speculative enquiry to South West Paddleboards via their website. Was shocked to receive an immediate reply (within seconds!) with a promise of a call this morning. My 'test' enquiry was passed with flying colours when Ian Warren called me at 1030 & listened to my requirements (90+ kg novice, likely use on a French lake in summer nothing too arduous & possibly on the famous, on this thread, Clevedon Marine Lake). The £349 package was duly purchased - the omens are good, enthusiastic small business man who isn't greedy on his margins.
Can't wait till the spring!
Well done Sir, i guess you are local ish to me. I have been having a weekly wobble on Clevedon lake for a few weeks now and some days have remained dry. Can't wait till the spring!
There are always swimmers in the lake and at the weekends a paddleboarder or two. If you have a wetsuit and fancy a paddle give me a shout as i live one mins walk from the lake. I do also plan a Christmas Day paddle.
Sortie 10 said:
Being a newbie & intrigued by SUP & lurker on this thread for a while, I have noticed a few apparently good deals (winter?) of late. Last night at 2130 I fired a speculative enquiry to South West Paddleboards via their website. Was shocked to receive an immediate reply (within seconds!) with a promise of a call this morning. My 'test' enquiry was passed with flying colours when Ian Warren called me at 1030 & listened to my requirements (90+ kg novice, likely use on a French lake in summer nothing too arduous & possibly on the famous, on this thread, Clevedon Marine Lake). The £349 package was duly purchased - the omens are good, enthusiastic small business man who isn't greedy on his margins.
Can't wait till the spring!
Congratulations on your purchase. You'll have to give us an update with some pictures when Spring comes around next year. Can't wait till the spring!
markymarkthree said:
I wear a Olaian surf 500 4/3mm & boots. Bear in mind 50% of the swimmers in the lake are in speedos, nutters. 
I’m swimming still but not in speedos.I think most ‘skins swimmers’ are just having a dip. I’m in a wetsuit with a neoprene vest under it boots and gloves plus a neoprene cap.
UK Lakes get pretty cold in the winter, most are sub 10c now. Plus getting out can be even worse with ‘after drop’ etc if you’re wet.
If I was paddlebording I’d be wearing what you have at least.
Update. Paddle board received today so the good service continues. Unfortunately no time to open it.
The company's website is https://www.southwestpaddleboards.com/10-6-paddle-... after advice from the company's owner as a newbie I went for the £349 package, which also included an electric pump & a seat when I ordered.
The company's website is https://www.southwestpaddleboards.com/10-6-paddle-... after advice from the company's owner as a newbie I went for the £349 package, which also included an electric pump & a seat when I ordered.
RobM77 said:
Do be careful. There's a PHer whose son very sadly died a few years ago. He was a professional windsurfer, and a very good one at that (I windsurf, so knew of him). He was young, fit, and used to the water, but he went out on a jetski one June in shorts and a t-shirt, fell into the sea and had a heart attack immediately.
In terms of sea/lake, you probably know this, but the main difference is their size, and therefore how they resist keeping up with air temperature. A lake will follow air temperature quite quickly, so in January when it's 1deg, a lake will probably be 1-2C; in July lakes can get up to 25/26C. The sea lags behind because it's so big, and it never gets a chance to fully cool down before the air gets warmer again. Minimum sea temperature here on the south coast is about 6C in March, 2-3 months behind the air, and then it starts to go back up. However, this principle also works in reverse so it barely gets beyond 17C in September before winter cools it down again. For me at least, this means the sea in the UK is always too cold without a wetsuit. Even with a wetsuit, at about 10 degrees I've had all my muscles freeze and been unable to swim. So be careful!
I’m not really up on English lakes but this doesn’t really ring true with the Scottish lochs. The sea is a much more consistent 6-10 degrees give or take but a 70+ meter deep Loch will be much colder when it gets the snow melt running in. In terms of sea/lake, you probably know this, but the main difference is their size, and therefore how they resist keeping up with air temperature. A lake will follow air temperature quite quickly, so in January when it's 1deg, a lake will probably be 1-2C; in July lakes can get up to 25/26C. The sea lags behind because it's so big, and it never gets a chance to fully cool down before the air gets warmer again. Minimum sea temperature here on the south coast is about 6C in March, 2-3 months behind the air, and then it starts to go back up. However, this principle also works in reverse so it barely gets beyond 17C in September before winter cools it down again. For me at least, this means the sea in the UK is always too cold without a wetsuit. Even with a wetsuit, at about 10 degrees I've had all my muscles freeze and been unable to swim. So be careful!
Not so cold you *need* a wetsuit but you need to work up to it like
Disastrous said:
I’m not really up on English lakes but this doesn’t really ring true with the Scottish lochs. The sea is a much more consistent 6-10 degrees give or take but a 70+ meter deep Loch will be much colder when it gets the snow melt running in.
Not so cold you *need* a wetsuit but you need to work up to it like
I'd say it's a bit of a generalisation. Clevedon marine lake and windmere will change temperature really quite differently. Similarly the sea off Cornwall or even patches of north Wales (portmerion) will be warmer than the North sea as a result of the gulf stream. Shallow/flowing water changes temperature much more than large deep largely still water. In deep enough lochs/ lakes there may be layers of temperature, thermoclines, as you go down, same as in the sea.Not so cold you *need* a wetsuit but you need to work up to it like
That’s the difference isn’t it with the thermocline, it’s always there in the sea but a lake often has it disappear in winter. Due to there being less surface heating.
Obviously this all depends on the size and depth of a lake.
My local swimming lake goes from about 5-22c over the year but the south coast lags much more and has a much narrower temperature variation.
Obviously this all depends on the size and depth of a lake.
My local swimming lake goes from about 5-22c over the year but the south coast lags much more and has a much narrower temperature variation.
mcdjl said:
Disastrous said:
I’m not really up on English lakes but this doesn’t really ring true with the Scottish lochs. The sea is a much more consistent 6-10 degrees give or take but a 70+ meter deep Loch will be much colder when it gets the snow melt running in.
Not so cold you *need* a wetsuit but you need to work up to it like
I'd say it's a bit of a generalisation. Clevedon marine lake and windmere will change temperature really quite differently. Similarly the sea off Cornwall or even patches of north Wales (portmerion) will be warmer than the North sea as a result of the gulf stream. Shallow/flowing water changes temperature much more than large deep largely still water. In deep enough lochs/ lakes there may be layers of temperature, thermoclines, as you go down, same as in the sea.Not so cold you *need* a wetsuit but you need to work up to it like
As a cold weather paddler I got used to the fact that sometimes you'll have to overdress and be a bit sweaty but think of it as insurance
zax said:
Remember folks, you're not just dressing for immersion in cold water. You also need to retain/regain warmth after you climb back onto the board! Sure, a few minutes in very cold water wearing board shorts or thin clothes is doable but paddling many km back to your launch point in a cold wind afterwards is going to be quite unpleasant if not dangerously cold.
As a cold weather paddler I got used to the fact that sometimes you'll have to overdress and be a bit sweaty but think of it as insurance
More than once I've got back out of 'warm' water at a mere 2-3 degrees into an air temp of 0!As a cold weather paddler I got used to the fact that sometimes you'll have to overdress and be a bit sweaty but think of it as insurance
Sortie 10 said:
Update. Paddle board received today so the good service continues. Unfortunately no time to open it.
The company's website is https://www.southwestpaddleboards.com/10-6-paddle-... after advice from the company's owner as a newbie I went for the £349 package, which also included an electric pump & a seat when I ordered.
Nice one, looks a good set up especially with a lecy pump, mine takes about 500 pumps. The company's website is https://www.southwestpaddleboards.com/10-6-paddle-... after advice from the company's owner as a newbie I went for the £349 package, which also included an electric pump & a seat when I ordered.
There was a good crowd of SUPs (7) at Clevedon lake yesterday, plus a load of swimmers. A few of us were chatting about a Christmas Day paddle.
zax said:
Remember folks, you're not just dressing for immersion in cold water. You also need to retain/regain warmth after you climb back onto the board! Sure, a few minutes in very cold water wearing board shorts or thin clothes is doable but paddling many km back to your launch point in a cold wind afterwards is going to be quite unpleasant if not dangerously cold.
As a cold weather paddler I got used to the fact that sometimes you'll have to overdress and be a bit sweaty but think of it as insurance
It’s an Important point. You see swimmers in the winter lake or sea and think they’re/were mad but we 100% know we’re going in the water and are prepared for it plus have warm dry stuff ready for as soon as we get out. As a cold weather paddler I got used to the fact that sometimes you'll have to overdress and be a bit sweaty but think of it as insurance
What gets people is things like thermal shock (sudden immersion in cold) , hypothermia or after drop (when you get out of the water and temperature keeps falling) swimmers are preparing for these all year and each swim,
A paddle boarder in winter is still hoping they won’t end up in the water but hopefully preparing for the worst.
I always wore neilpryde wetsuits when I was windsurfing. Usualy a 5/4/3. I remember going windsurfing when it was snowing and being warm.
They differ from surfing wetsuits as when you fall in they didn’t get flushed through with cold water. They are designed to be more waterproof than regular surfing wetsuits. Plus they protect you better from windchill.
They differ from surfing wetsuits as when you fall in they didn’t get flushed through with cold water. They are designed to be more waterproof than regular surfing wetsuits. Plus they protect you better from windchill.
zax said:
mcdjl said:
Disastrous said:
I’m not really up on English lakes but this doesn’t really ring true with the Scottish lochs. The sea is a much more consistent 6-10 degrees give or take but a 70+ meter deep Loch will be much colder when it gets the snow melt running in.
Not so cold you *need* a wetsuit but you need to work up to it like
I'd say it's a bit of a generalisation. Clevedon marine lake and windmere will change temperature really quite differently. Similarly the sea off Cornwall or even patches of north Wales (portmerion) will be warmer than the North sea as a result of the gulf stream. Shallow/flowing water changes temperature much more than large deep largely still water. In deep enough lochs/ lakes there may be layers of temperature, thermoclines, as you go down, same as in the sea.Not so cold you *need* a wetsuit but you need to work up to it like
As a cold weather paddler I got used to the fact that sometimes you'll have to overdress and be a bit sweaty but think of it as insurance
I’d say a wetsuit is the wrong answer though, for winter paddling, as they just wick heat out of you when there’s a breeze. I think ski touring is a good model to follow - lots of layers that work when wet with a wind shell on the top.
This thread will prove useful I hope. Looking to get a couple of inflatable sup's to mount on our sailing boat for the next season.
As an avid windsurfer it's a rather slow activity but when there is no wind and some beautiful Scottish shoreline to explore at anchor I can't think of anything better.
If your going out to sea or anywhere remote consider getting a PLB, I have had one for windsurfing. They work when needed!
We had so many stunning evenings at anchor this year, would have been perfect for a paddle.
As an avid windsurfer it's a rather slow activity but when there is no wind and some beautiful Scottish shoreline to explore at anchor I can't think of anything better.
If your going out to sea or anywhere remote consider getting a PLB, I have had one for windsurfing. They work when needed!
We had so many stunning evenings at anchor this year, would have been perfect for a paddle.
Disastrous said:
This is true also.
I’d say a wetsuit is the wrong answer though, for winter paddling, as they just wick heat out of you when there’s a breeze. I think ski touring is a good model to follow - lots of layers that work when wet with a wind shell on the top.
A dry suit might be a better answer: they'll keep the wind off, but will also stop you getting soaked if you do fall in. If you expect to fall in a lot (eg surfing) then a wet suit is a better.I’d say a wetsuit is the wrong answer though, for winter paddling, as they just wick heat out of you when there’s a breeze. I think ski touring is a good model to follow - lots of layers that work when wet with a wind shell on the top.
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