Topics

1

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Questions about paddling around North Island (San Diego)

« on: November 04, 2023, 09:19:31 AM »

A friend I paddle with has asked me to go with him on a paddle around North Island with him. We would launch into the ocean from Stan's Beach - beside the condo towers in Coronado. From there we'd go North around the North end of the Naval base and then along the West side of San Diego bay, under the Coronado bridge and finally pull out at park on Glorietta Bay.

So here's my questions\concerns - first, I have only done an ocean paddle once - usually we paddle in San Diego or Mission Bay. Ocean paddling - for me at least - is a bit more physically challenging. Also, it looks like we'd have to paddle a good ways West to get past the end of the Zuniga jetty. From past experience in a boat, the water can be pretty crazy around that jetty - I don't want to do any rock climbing! Last but not least, although I've been paddling for 8+ years, my normal trips are 4 to 6 miles and on relatively flat water. How far would this loop be and has anyone on this forum made this loop?

I don't want to disappoint my friend but I also don't want to have to call for a tow!
Thanks

2

SUP General / Don't want to create a flying car

« on: May 24, 2018, 07:24:47 AM »

I have recently retired and one of my goals is to get more time on the water. Since my pickup is a gas hog, I am thinking of getting a rack for my wife's 2011 CRV but I'm concerned about a large board on a small car. I'm not really worried about the car flying but I do worry that with only 48" between the front & rear crossbar and an 11' board that the board may get damaged when traveling on the freeway.

Just wondering if anyone has a similar setup and can make some recommendations. Saving a few bucks on gas would be great but not at the expense of screwing up my board.

Thanks!

3

SUP General / putting an old phone to good use

« on: April 24, 2017, 05:17:40 PM »

I get a lot of good info off this site and I always look for ways to give back (as a rookie paddler, I can't offer a lot of paddling advice  ). However, I do like my gadgets and a few months ago I bought the Gaia gps app for my Android phone. The reason I bought it was so when I was out 4 wheelin' in the dessert with no cell phone access, I could still use may GPS on the trail. Well today it dawned on me that I had an old Galaxy S2 phone sitting around in the drawer and that it might let me have a way to have a GPS when I'm paddling without worrying about losing/wrecking my regular phone.

I charged up the old S2, hooked it up to the WiFi in the house (this phone was from an old provider so no current SIM card) and downloaded the Gaia app. Once I downloaded it, I fired up the GPS, logged into the Gaia site to download my maps and VIOLA! I have a GPS that I can track my paddle trips with and it didn't cost me anything (well, if you don't count buying the app previously...)

Anyway, I've seen some posts from people asking about what tracking apps they use so I figured I'd share. If you've go an old phone laying around, you're half way there - and I believe there are some free GPS apps out there if you don't need a lot of features.

4

SUP General / another "which board" question

« on: April 23, 2017, 03:01:46 PM »

I have been looking for a new board to give me something that will be more stable on choppy water. My current board is an  Isle Glider - Flat Water which has an almost boat like nose to it. The boards I have a line on now are both from Vesl and are all around boards. They are identical except one is 10' 6" and one is 11' 0"  - the 11' board is 1" wider (32" and 1/4" thicker. I'm an intermediate paddler and I'm 5' 10" & weigh 200# (which is coming down thanks to paddling).

The purpose of getting a new board is to have a more stable board so I can get out more - including moving from the bay to the ocean beyond the surf line. So the question is, which board would seem to be the better choice - longer & wider or shorter and narrower? I'm leaning towards the longer board thinking the extra width - more stability and the length should/could make it a bit faster though I'm not trying to win any races. Both boards weigh roughly the same thing - within a pound.

What are the learned paddlers opinions on this?

5

SUP General / looking at a new board and wants some feedback

« on: April 07, 2017, 07:32:20 AM »

First some background - I've been paddling for about 3 years now getting out 3 or 4 times a month and feel like my skills are at the intermediate level. I currently own an Isle Glide flat water and my previous board (and 1st board) was a good ole Costco Wavestorm. The Glide FW is a displacement board and on a calm day it is really nice but when the chop kicks up, it becomes a bit more challenging for me. I'd like to get out of the bay and paddle out with the big boys  beyond the surf line (maybe even try to SUP surf at some point - but cruising is my goal) but with my current board, that really doesn't seem like a good fit.

So I have been looking for a more all around board and my son (a proner  ) has a line on a Naish Nalu 11' 4" that is in good shape. The board is at the upper end of my budget but if it's the "right board" I can stretch the $$'s a little. The thing is, I doubt I'd be able to get a test ride on the board before laying down the cash. So here's my question - would the knowledgeable folks on this forum consider this a good all around board and a step in the right direction for where I want to go with my paddling? I hear only good things about Naish boards and if this one is in good shape I would expect it to last "forever" - is that realistic? I think I can get the board for around 800$ - if the condition is really "excellent", is that a good deal?

Thanks to all and I know this is one of those opinion questions but that's what I'm looking for - opinions..

6

Gear Talk / portable showers for my SUP

« on: April 03, 2017, 04:48:51 PM »

I've see someone with the Rinseskit down at the bay washing his board down and I really like the idea of rinsing my board before I put it up on the rack and drive home. The Rinsekit isn't terribly expensive but there are other similar products out there for about half the price. One thing I noticed is that most of those have a "dish sprayer" type nozzle and some of the complaints in reviews were about the cheap nozzles.

So my question is, is the Rinsekit worth the extra $45 or should I buy the less expensive version and share my savings with friends, a few burritos and some cold beverages? 

Rinsekit https://www.amazon.com/Rinsekit-Mens-One-Size-Black/dp/B00UGA4DRA?th=1&psc=1

BTW, what's the trick to getting a word to be a hyperlink? Usually I just highlight the word, hit Insert Hyperlink and paste in the url. That didn't work here...

7

Technique / Which fin would be best?

« on: December 27, 2016, 04:18:01 PM »

Sorry if this is a double post - it looked like i got bumped off before it went out the first time and it isn't showing up so here goes...

I have searched a bit looking for info on fins and stability but nothing seems to hit the nail on the head for me so I'm just going to show a picture and ask. I'm going out tomorrow and I anticipate it will be windier than usual in the bay so plenty of chop. My SUP is an 11.0 Isle Flat Water Glide (didn't fully understand the FW designation when I bought it). I want to make the board as stable as possible and i have 2 fins. I've been using the Isle fin but as you can see, the other fin goes a couple inches deeper into the water but has a bit less total area.

Which one do you think would b more stable? I plan on trying them both but I just wondered what the experienced folks think about fin size & shape relative to stability. Thanks!

Picture won't show up for some reason - I'll get it to work somehow...

8

SUP General / Hauling your board in short bed pickup

« on: July 30, 2016, 10:16:08 AM »

I have an 11' 0" Isle Glider that I have been hauling down to the bay on roof racks with my Explorer. Yesterday I traded the Explorer for a short bed F150 (our pre-retirement upgrade) and I'm looking at how I'm going to haul the board now. I bought a Dakine tailgate pad but with the tail of the board tucked into the front corner of the bed there is still 5' of board sticking up in the air.

I can lash the tail down so it can't fly out but I'm worried about this much board sticking up in the air at freeway speeds damaging the board.

Anyone have any experience with hauling a board like this? I am trying to avoid buying a rack for the bed but I'll do that if I have to...

9

Gear Talk / New board, rookie questions

« on: May 17, 2016, 06:48:55 PM »

Last weekend I upgraded from a foam board to a used 11" Isle Glider. It's in great shape but I have a couple care & feeding questions. First off, I have cleaned all the tape and scuffs off the board with mineral spirits and for the stubborn ones, a bit of goof off (it appeared to have old sun dried packing tape on the rails in a couple places). I washed the board after that but I am wondering, should I use something like Aerospace 303 to give some protection at least on the top side? I use this on our RV which has fiberglass sides and it seems to help resist sun fading and makes it clean up easier.

I am also wondering about the Gortex vent plug - is it really maintenance free? Nothing to check or worry about ever?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes on but that's what crossed my mind today. Thanks!

10

SUP General / Novice old guy looking to replace his 1st board

« on: May 13, 2016, 02:25:21 PM »

Hi all
I started paddling about 18 months ago when my wife & son bought me a board for Christmas (lesson to all - when you tell your family "that really looks fun" they might make you do something about it!). The board they got me is a 10' 6" Wavestorm from Costco and for the most part it has served me well. However, several months ago I started to notice that where I stand on the board was starting to get some pretty significant indentations. I called Costco and they are willing to work with me on this since the board only has about 20 or so paddle sessions.

If we work a deal they have two boards that I think I would be interested in - one is a 10' 6" SUP USA Trestles board (180L) and the other is a Jimmy Styks 11' 2" Hybrid 208. Reading all I could on size, volume use and experience, I think either board would work well for me but the Hybrid 208L board is a good bit more volume than the "calculations" say I would need.

So here's my "specs" 5' 9" 205# and I would say a novice paddler. I currently go out into San Diego Bay near Coronado or in Mission Bay - so fairly flat water unless you count boat wakes and chop. I do want to progress to the point I can do some open water paddling (watching paddlers from our campsite at San Elijo is where the "looks like fun" came from). At some point I'd even like to try to surf a small wave or two but that would likely be a pretty low percentage. So I think I'm looking for an all around board and that's where my question comes in - I'm looking for feedback from the community on what people think - pluses/minuses. I don't think Costco offers test rides so I want to try and get it right.

What do you think?
Thanks!