Boards for 300lb folks?

[robcasey]

Any tips on boards for folks in the 300lb range. Seeking advice from those that have seen success with boards vs manufacturer specs.  I've had success with the Aguero Hooked SUP, but seeking other suggestions. 

[stoneaxe]

Success for what? Beginner to stand on comfortably? All around? Lots of those....budget?

[SUPcheat]

My Red Paddle Mega is supposed to support in that range, even more, it is an inflatable at 293L and weighs 28 lbs.

It is a fun board and glides well for a non-racer, and it also will surf waves. I knee paddle surfed with it a lot, and did my first stand up surfing with it.

 I am not a fisherman, but I imagine it would be great for fishing, too.

One of the nice things about inflatables for heavier people, the inflatables bounce, it is very hard to damage them if at all, and they are really easy on the knees for knee paddling.  They also will tend to bounce off others without hurting them.

[Fog City Rider]

I have sold the following 2 boards to guys pushing 300 w/ good results:

Starboard Atlas Extra, 12'0 x 36
Pau Hana Duo 14 x 32

And the guy who purchased the Atlas Extra ultimately invested in a Jimmy Lewis Searcher, 12'6 x 33.

[AJR]

Joe Blair all the way - search my other posts and check his website and/or give him a call. One if the best performance for dollar boards out there IMO.

[robon]

If you want to stick with a fishing platform that can definitely float 300+ pounds, then the 14' Bote Ahab is worth a look along with their 12' model. Yolo has a fishing 12 footer and the plastic Yak with a listed 320 pound limit. Planing/surfboard hull designs that are well over 30" wide and in the 12' range+ can generally support a lot of weight.

With displacement hulls, you will want over 300 litres, and width to be 30"+. The Great Bear 14" has 342 litres of volume at 30" wide and will float you easily. The 12'6" model will also float you, but I would want the 14 with more volume. The Jimmy Lewis Searcher has been mentioned, and for it's overall size, is actually very light and one of the best options available imo.

You don't just want a board that will float you. You want a board that you can paddle well in ALL conditions. Think about a board that can handle 300 pounds and then some. Many displacement boards in that 280litre range will float you and even paddle half decent in calm conditions, but will paddle like absolute garbage in unsettled waters and you will be swimming. Guaranteed. 

[Sup-position]

Starboard
Big Daddy, 11'2" X 39", 280L
Fisherman, 11'2" X 37", 250L
Atlas Extra, 12' X 36". 253L

Coreban
Mammoth, 11’0 x 36” x 4 3/4”, 245 L

[JimK]

Since I am 300# this is what works
Flatwater (racing & DW)
Fanatic Falcon 14X 30" Not only does it have volume it has RIGIDITY and trustme here Rigidity is critical to us Clydesdales.

Touring
Fanatic RAY 12Ft plenty of width GREAT GLIDE HRS is stiff and reasonably light but DURABLE These even sail/kite good and I've been known to ride waves with them too

Waves
JP Widestyle 10'2 (wood sandwich or wood gloss) Great all around board and SUPER FUN in the waves
Fanatic AW 9'10 (You know I was gonna say THAT!) but as a pure wave ridding board there is NOTHING LOOSER and faster down the line. Plus the rails are thick enough to give the 33" plenty of stability and grab

All Around (less wave more flatwater)
Starboard Avanti
Fanatic Fly 11'6

The KEY thing for a Big guy is stiff enough construction and proper width Length is a function of style of ridding

I'd be happy to give more specifics and why if you wanna contact me or PM me

JimK
www.extremewindsurfing.com

[SUP Sports ®]

"Fanatic AW 9'10 (You know I was gonna say THAT!) but as a pure wave ridding board there is NOTHING LOOSER and faster down the line. Plus the rails are thick enough to give the 33" plenty of stability and grab"

BS!!!
Please post up pics of yourself proving your statement...show me (us) real pics of wave riding that proves that statement...quite frankly, I haven't seen it...just saying it doesn't make it so...sorry...BS filter in effect...

Real pictures...not graphical representations from big Euro based corporate windsurf companies add credibility where I come from...;-)

http://surfingsports.com/hammer.asp

Here's Big Will at 265# on my production 9'5" x 33" Hammer...carbon construction...under 20#...$1799 with my custom bamboo CoreFlex fins...and, we build a MADE in the USA custom versions in carbon for same price...hybrids are even less...

I'm not claiming that there is "NOTHING LOOSER and faster down the line"..I could...but, I'll let an actual paddlesurfer that rides this board say it...;-)

Here is his session report…

“Had a fantastic session on my new carbon production HAMMER 9’5″x 33″ @178L yesterday and needed to report out to my comrades… As of today, just after a nice healthy breakfast, I weighed in at 260lbs…uuugh, I need to lose a few lb’s! But yet, I now have a board that rocks!

I am an advanced paddler, and the board felt as stable as my 10’3″ x33 SUP SPORTS MAHALO…but it surfed significantly better in terms of cut-backs and overall speed on the wave face. The Mahalo surfs well – but for me, this is a significant improvement as the board seems perfectly sized and matched to my large frame.

I was fully suited up with my 4/3 and booties, plus a little clothing to save others from looking at that huge blob of rubber standing up in front of them Wink
Dropping into some fast sections yesterday at a fav beach break with overhead set waves – I was a little unsure if the board would come up to speed with me on it Smiley quickly enough – super stoked that it did – and then just “asked” to be thrown around!
The wider tail allowed me to keep up speed during transitions, and keep on rolling down the line after off-the-top smacks!
By the end of the session I was confident enough to walk up to the nose right after the initial drop and just “claim it”…board kept pace with the wave – and then I just walked back and cranked a nice cutback into another BT/OTL sequence before having to bail from being too greedy! Oh I love that…. A great finish to an outstanding 1st session…
If any of my fellow heavyweight (250lbs+) need any advice, just let me know…

Wardog can make ANY size of this board, basically complete custom capabilities are available to us.
Never thought I’d go any shorter than 10′ – have a 9’5″ board is just so sweet! Swing weight is greatly reduced – and the hydrodynamics of the board’s bottom cannot be understated – very, very intelligent use of proven technologies put to use in the smallest package possible (at least for now Wink The
Chisel Tail is amazing – definitely releases easy and effortlessly…wow!

Thanks again Wardog for making gear that allows us to go off to the best of our abilities! Can’t wait to really learn how to max this board’s performance capabilities! I know I can go vertical and snap it 180 – just wants to scissor right around!
Floaters off the lip will now be way easier – plus more fun nose rides!
Man, I am so addicted to adrenaline! Windsurfing gave that to me EVERYTIME I went out – now I have a way to release it once again Wink

Stoked for Life! boyz!”

Big Will

My 10'3" x 32" and 10'6" x 33" at 188 liters and 198 liters, respectively...also offer even more volume...in custom we can easily build the Hammer at 11'6" x 33" @ 225 liters...

[Sup-position]

JimK @ www.extremewindsurfing.com
Is a respected and reputable Dealer and person.
He is not prone to BS.

He has a large following (Global) that have put their faith in him for years.

Assertions in the last post are mean spirited and counter productive.

Desperate is as desperate does.

We can ignore the barking or perhaps put a shock collar on it.

Good on Will.
Of coarse IF he is an advanced surfer he can ride anything that floats him enough.
Perhaps he can post for himself?

[SUP Sports ®]

Cut the BS Ralph...you don't like the guy across town selling my boards...
People here, I hope are astute enough to call BS on a statement such as this FANATIC reference...give me a break...since when did a German windsurf company claim that?

No...they didn't...just a dealer...so prove it...in ALL CAPS...for extra emphasis...;-)

"as a pure wave ridding board there is NOTHING LOOSER and faster down the line"

REALLY! Based on what criteria?!?!
Just saying it, doesn't make it so...if that 's "mean spirited"...so be it...but, please simply prove it...I'm a scientist by education...it's SUPer easy...simply post pics to back up your hypothesis...it's how it works...;-)

As far as posting on forums...hmmm....an infinitesimally small number of people will actually ever do that...0001% possibly...

FWIW, we have around 15 years of testimonials like Will's...people that spend time and energy writing back to us...with pure stoke and no dog in this fight...;-)

http://surfingsports.com/customer_testimonials.asp

[supthecreek]

Oh man.... I want in on this  ... but I just drove 400 miles... I'm going out for a drink. Back later... 

[DavidJohn]

Any tips on boards for folks in the 300lb range. Seeking advice from those that have seen success with boards vs manufacturer specs.  I've had success with the Aguero Hooked SUP, but seeking other suggestions.

You should also consider one of these.. The new Naish Odysseus 9'8'' x 34''

I recently bought one for my daughter and been taking friends out on it for their first taste of sup'ing.

It's super-duper stable.. paddles flat water great.. and I've heard it surfs great.

[SUP Sports ®]

Seriously?
She needs about one sesh on that board with appropriate instruction...finis...move on...Odysseus does not resonate with wahine...;-)
That board will float a 300# guy...that wahine is 1/2 that from what I can see...double overkill...and, what if you don't like yellow...are there other colorways offered?..;-)

IMO, she could/should be on a 150-160 liter carbon board at ~17#...or less...
That's almost like back 10 years ago when shops put wahines and anyone else that walked in the door looking for a SUP, on the 12'1" Laird by default...because, that's all they could supply...anything to make the sell, I guess...;-)

Oh...and, let's see some pics of it's surfing pedigree...;-)

[hbsteve]

I like yellow.  My truck is yellow.