Coastal run board

[dingfix]

Hi, Ive got a good 11' crossover board, 180l.  It's fine for my weight (205 lb), and does most of what I want it to.   

My question is;  how much faster would a 12 or 12'6 flatwater board really be on coastal runs.  And why has this sort of board got way more buoyancy?  What would be a good move up to a board in this size range, not intending racing, just longer cruises.

[Area 10]

Not as much faster as you'd probably think. An average weekend warrior should manage something like 4.4mph over a couple of miles in flatwater on an 11ft surf-style SUP. The same paddler will probably manage an average of say 4.8 mph on a 12-6 race board. So it's about a 10% increase in speed. Some people might well only notice a 5% or less increase. In a race this makes a huge difference, but if you are out on your own cruising, it doesn't really, unless you are starting to take it seriously with GPS etc.

However, a really good paddler will manage to make the most of the extra waterline and other features of the race board, so may manage to get proportionally more out of it. So the difference in speeds between the boards for him/her could be larger. A really good paddler will exceed the maximum effective speed of the surf SUP quite easily, but the maximum effective speed of the race SUP will be more than 10% greater, so the difference for them might be larger (depending on the board, the paddler, and the conditions).

As long as you don't let vanity persuade you into buying a tippier board than is right for you, you will usually find paddling the race board a more pleasant experience. They tend to track better, and can cut through chop making the paddling smoother. Speed is only one aspect of the experience to consider.

As to your other question, race boards have more volume so as to (a) keep the rails from catching in the water; (b) prevent water slopping onto the deck and slowing it down, and (c) to help the rider stay in a more horizontal plane, which will make the board track better and be more efficient. Surf SUPs need for the rider to be able to sink a rail in order to turn on a wave. You don't generally need this feature in a race board.

Hope this helps.

[dingfix]

Big help thanks. Am going to paddle a couple of demo boards next week, you've given me some great things to check out.

[Bulky]

As long as you don't let vanity persuade you into buying a tippier board than is right for you,

Words to live by.  Vanity is persuasive. So is the one-two punch of the wave-jock salesman and his voluptuous sidekick.  So says the guy spending far to many paddles in the water next to his 27" board.