Need new board advice

[Jupsurf]

First of all hey guys. I've been browsing the forum and finally joined. I'm newer to paddle boarding but surfed growing up. I'm looking to buy boards for my wife and I and need some advice. Available local are Synergy, Riviera, Sup Love , Bogaert, NSP, Nu Wave and Core Ban. Any reasons I should stay away from a particular brand? Wife wants Nu Wave cause they're cheap and look awesome. I want Bogaert cause they're supposedly made locally. I'm in Jupiter, FL so if you know of other makes sold locally let me know. Please HELP. Don't wanna spend a few grand and be dissapoonted

[Old School 213]

What type of paddling are you going to be doing? Flat water touring (Fitness), Racing, Surf. (BTW if you say 75 surf and 25 flat water, go 100% surf.)

Buy it right the first time and get the crying out of the way. And, you first board won't be your last and quality seems to hold value better than pop out junk.

[Jupsurf]

I'd say more like 75 flat 25 surf. I'm leaning towards 9'9 nu wave if I can get any kind of good words on them. I'm 5'8 175 and would like to be able to bring my 5 year old daughter or dog on front. Does that sound realistic on 9'9? If not, I may just go with a couple surf style and a third family board. $$$$$

[SaltH2Opaddler]

Have you gone to Blueline?

They sell Tom Neilson and Cannibal, both made in FL for FL!

Blueline also carries, Starboard, Imagine, Mistral, Naish, Boga, Totora, GUSU, Riviera and Bote.

997 Florida A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477
(561) 744-7474

[Jupsurf]

Yeah I checked them out. I couldn't remember all the brands they carried. Seems like they had a lot of surf specific boards and pricey. I'll check back with them to see if they have any demos. Does a USA board really have $600 more quality than a Thai board? I'm willing to spend the dough just don't wanna waste it.

[coldsup]

if you can....buy second hand to start with as if you are like most others (including me  you'll change your board soonish....then you will start to know more what you really want

[Bean]

+1.  

Get a nice 10'+- all arounder that you can keep forever as you grow your quiver, or sell-off with minimum pain.  From my experience, I still get out on my 10 footer enough to warrant keeping her around.

[Old School 213]

Go with Bean. I'd look for a used 10+ if you want to paddle flat water with daughter or dog. Graigslist or maybe Distressed Mullet?

As for the quality thing, I have a Starboard that was my first board and it's in really good shape. I surf almost exclusively which can be rough on equipment. I feel like the construction (sandwich) is really robust and the quality from the Cobra factory is really good. I could just about buff my board and sell it as a one session board when it has ~60-80 sessions on it. One the other hand there are Chinese pop outs around that are not of the same class as far as construction, quality and ultimately durability.

[Jupsurf]

I just looked at 10'6 Boga I like. May get that and a 10'2 for the wife. Anyone have good or bad things to say about Boga? I'm not gonna carry this thread on and on. Just wanna make sure I buy decent

[mrbig]

Used is good. Long is good. No need to buy the latest and greatest starting out. Who knows where it will go?

[Weeble]

Boga's have been getting popular in South Florida.  One of our closest friends and fellow paddle club member is a Boga Team rider.  She's not as popular as some of the Boga Riders from the West Coast, but she have been given several Boga Boards.  She and her husband have two of the green carbon fiber and one of the regular construction Tsunamis, a surf style called a Deep 8, and some soft top surf styles.  My fiancee also paddles a tsunami as well and she prefers it over her Candace Bark when paddling open water like a bay, or the ocean.  There is also a rep in the area named Jorge.  From what I have seen, the boards are as built well as any others.  Not sure if they are made at Cobra, but if not, they are getting solid quality.  If you are up near Blueline, they are supposedly the best shop up there and I've only heard good things about them

[Jupsurf]

Yeah I was in there today. I'm buying from them. They have a variety and quite a few demos. I'll post pics if what we get

[SaltH2Opaddler]

 10'6 Boga Mahina is a great board. Fun to cruise on and great on a wave. Glad to see you made it over to Blueline.

[Jupsurf]

I ended up getting a Tom Nielsen 10'6 for myself and a Totora 11'5 for the wife. Bought kialoa paddles as well. Gonna take em out tomorrow. If you have negatives about either brand please keep it to yourself at this point  Too much $$$ to be second guessing

[SlatchJim]

Did your wife demo the Totora?  That's a really big board for most ladies, and I say this after starting my 5-10 wife out on a 11-1 board.  Even my 6-0 tall daughter thinks it's too big.  Mama learned just fine but in a year wanted a big down step to something easier to handle in and out of the water.

On second thought, go big.   We still have the board and I'd recommend getting a huge board for teaching everyone you know, big to small.  Stability is the key in starting out.