kayak like plastic SUP... Anyone seen this?

[finsider]

Being more into the surfing aspect of Stand Up, I am not a big fan of being compared to kayaking.  Ive been looking for a cheap used board for my friends/relatives to use when they visit, and found this stand up board made by emotion kayaks, the traverse.  Its got that rotomolded plastic kayak look to it, but I know that means it should be plenty strong and abrasion resistant.  Its 10 ft x36in with a single fin, a dry storage area which looks like a good idea, and grab handles.  What really got me was that I have found some for sale for under $400 bucks at a local kayak dealer! It seems perfect for the beginners who would be riding it in the back bays and small (ankle high) beach break.

I searched but couldnt find any user reviews from them and wanted to know what everyone here thought about them, and if anyone has rode one. For the price I'm impressed. here is a link to the kayak website and ill post a picture from the one I saw as well.

http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/traverse.html

[finsider]

Reading more from their website, it says it weighs 48 lbs and its max thickness is 8 inches! Thats heavy, and really thick, although it seems it tapers to pretty thin in the tail section.

Again any thoughts or reviews would be appreciated

[D-man]

Check the Market place forum under Imagine.  Tons of info there.  Then check the Whitewater forum.  Should be all you need to know in there as well.  Great boards for what your after at that price.

[PaddleAnything]

That sup is designed for whitewater so it doesn't track and very slow.  Supper stable but zero glide and requires knowledge of paddle strokes to go straight.  Fun yard, pool, pond toy or whitewater sup.  Other plastic sups may be more appropriate for your touring/surfing desires. 

[finsider]

Thanks for the replies.

PaddleAnything - I kind of figured that at 48lbs and 36in wide it would have a hard time getting enough speed to really glide, but this should help when fighting wind and small chop? most of the videos I found were in whitewater and I assume they had the removable fin out for that.

as far as tracking, maybe it would help my newbie friends learn a good stroke more quickly?

[PonoBill]

Probably only in the sense that a firm beating might help.

[outcast]

there were a bunch in a discount store (Ocean State Job Lot) here last fall
$300
I did a double take, thought for two seconds and then took a pass....might be good for something

[PaddleAnything]

It requires the same stroke as a whitewater canoe, C-stroke.  Not really applicable to paddling a board.  It feels like a floating dock and there are better beginner surfing and touring options.  As far a wind or chop, no problem as long as it is not upwind.  That board will not go upwind into chop unless you are on your knees with a kayak paddle.  Based on you comment, I don't think you will go that direction.  I have one for whitewater and a kid's water toy.  It is perfect for a 6 year old with either a kayak or canoe paddle on flatwater.  In the surf, it could hurt someone and do you really want to put a leash on a 50 pound board in strong surf?  Basically, it would suck for touring and would be dangerous in surf for beginners.  Other than that it is only really good for moving rivers where strokes are for direction not distance/speed.  Hell, you could put a person in a wheelchair on that board and give them a paddle.  Now that is an ideal application for it other than its intended purpose, whitewater. 

[robon]

Check out the wizard from Imagine if you are thinking of getting a plastc sup to tool around on. The wizard has fishing rod holders, a fip up seat and looks to be better for touring on because it is longer and sightly narrower than the model you were looking at.  It is in the same price range too, which is a bonus. The speeder looks like a good option as well.

[finsider]

thanks for the quick responses everyone. I will go with my original thoughts of staying away from a big plastic board.  like outcast stated, I couldnt help but ask when seeing them for such a low price. Im sure they would be very cool in whitewater, but there isnt much of that here in South Florida.