So, I've cruised through probably thousands of posts on this site trying to make up my mind, but I really need input on this one. I spend most of my time on a SUP in the surf, but I used to paddle all the time on an old windsurfer and would like to get a new board to get back into the distance paddling / training side of things. So, here's the facts:
I'm 5'9" and 170 lbs, beginner - intermediate paddler with pretty good balance. I hope to spend about 60% of the time paddling in the open ocean, 20% of the time messing around on flat water (or letting my wife have turn), 10% of the time surfing tiny waves, and 10% of the time on a downbreezer type paddle (because its Santa Barbara and the conditions don't really work for anything more serious).
THE CATCH - My garage space for this board is exactly 12 feet long! That means I can get a hard board of about 11 feet like Blend or a One World, or I could get an inflatable like a Red Elite 14. Sure, Hard boards are better but I can get an inflatable in any size I want!
Discuss...
diagonal mount a 14' hard board in the garage. Top corner down to bottom corner, on the wall
:D
That would work but I'd lose two surfboards (including my SUP) and a lot of other stuff, life's too short for just one hobby after all. ;)
SIC Bullet 11
Sic Recon 11'11", nothing like a tight fit
I'd go with the RPC 14' Elite Race iSUP. The 2016 version is the new lighter material and will IMO be more durable than the old material. However you might be able to pick up a new 2015 one at a good price. The only issue is the inflation / deflation. The new Titan pump is good, but it is a work out just to pump up every time you use it. In that case I would invest in some sort of durable electric pump to at least get the bulk of the air in the board and finish off with a manual pump..
Otherwise if diagonally along the wall does not work then diagonally across the ceiling may be an option and get yourself a 12-6 SB AllStar.
Why can't you store your boards outside ? I have 7 boards and no garage at all !!
Here is a pic of my 14' Naish Glide and 11' Bic
Great ideas everyone. I was seriously thinking about an SIC bullet 12 before I remeasured and realized it wouldn't fit. I forgot that SIC made it in an 11' model.
Outside would be sweet, but there my wife and I have a "treaty"about these things that limits my acquisitions to the area of the garage. It probably sounds silly to some of you, but it lets me turn around my collection of bikes and surfboards on a very regular basis without having to explain why I "need" a new surfboard each time. :)
Also, thanks for the input Off Shore. I was hoping you'd give some feedback, I already knew that an electric pump would be required because the pumping seems to take a pretty long time to be doing it every time.
if your garage is drywalled you might be able to gain 4-5" on each side by making a little cut-out. :) if you do it right it might even form a rack?!
hole your wall and put a 17 footer in, no compromise, go hardcore :)
Welcome to the Zone!
Fun to see another SB face on here--there's a few of us.
FWIW, I do have a 14ft Naish Glide 2013 I don't use much. I know you can't go that long but if it helps with research glad to let you paddle it for a bit. Lemme know.
Not a huge fan of inflatables although I know they've improved a great deal. Three reasons: 1) Can't quite crank as fast as you can on a hard board. 2) I'm out by myself most mornings a good distance from shore and, though I know it's unlikely, don't want to risk a deflation of any kind. 3) Time is at a premium before work and I don't want spend any with inflating/deflating. I've got it down so I can be on the water paddling about 4min after I pull into the lot.
If I were local and looking, I'd give this one a paddle. Not sure on any dynamics but it's 12' and the price is right. http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/for/5472230583.html (http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/for/5472230583.html)
Quote from: TeachSB on March 30, 2016, 07:57:01 AM
Great ideas everyone. I was seriously thinking about an SIC bullet 12 before I remeasured and realized it wouldn't fit. I forgot that SIC made it in an 11' model.
Outside would be sweet, but there my wife and I have a "treaty"about these things that limits my acquisitions to the area of the garage. It probably sounds silly to some of you, but it lets me turn around my collection of bikes and surfboards on a very regular basis without having to explain why I "need" a new surfboard each time. :)
Also, thanks for the input Off Shore. I was hoping you'd give some feedback, I already knew that an electric pump would be required because the pumping seems to take a pretty long time to be doing it every time.
How about leaving the garage door open :o
Quotedownbreezer type paddle (because its Santa Barbara and the conditions don't really work for anything more serious).
Say what?????
Oops, my bad here's monday's chart as well;
Quote from: TeachSB on March 30, 2016, 07:57:01 AM
Outside would be sweet, but there my wife and I have a "treaty" about these things that limits my acquisitions to the area of the garage. It probably sounds silly to some of you, but it lets me turn around my collection of bikes and surfboards on a very regular basis without having to explain why I "need" a new surfboard each time. :)
Sounds like your treaty needs to be ratified. ;) I too have a small garage, here's what I just finished doing out on my covered patio to get them up out of the way. The yellow 9' 6" will also be going up in the air in the next day or two.
Starman - I know! Why do you think I've been wanting a longer board? Honestly, that statement was just false humility. I didn't want the Maui crew jumping in here with their "that's not a REAL downwinder" nonsense :D not that they would do that. I hope somebody is taking advantage of the conditions this week, cause the surf is pretty weak.
SDsurfer - I think your patio is bigger than my "garage!"
Anyway, so it seems like most people would rather ride a shorter hard board than a longer inflatable?
An esoteric C4 Holo Holo 12'0 "cruiser," not the new one this is from like 2009, or something similar. Was my first board, learned a lot on it even though I'm a bit too heavy for it, but for someone your weight it would be a blast. Wobbly but stable, if that makes any sense. Maybe a SIC Recon would be similar.
http://www.standupzone.com/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=109&cat=all
Bulky - I will probably take you up on a couple paddles with that glide. Have you every tried a Downwinder around these parts? Also, that board does look interesting. I keep seeing it on CL, but I've been ignoring it for a while... not sure why.
I recently found a sweet deal on an 11' PSH WAA. I know it isn't the fastest board but it fits and would be GREAT for the wife / other newbies, so I'm considering that as well.
"Honey, you know that space in the side yard..." ;D ;D
PM me and I'll be happy to let you paddle it.
I haven't done much downwinding on account of most of my paddling is at dawn and I can't chase wind like Starman can ;).
Funny--I actually had a clear day last Friday and went out from Goleta beach into a pretty steady wind and thought I was going to get a downwind treat as swell and wind were lining up. Took me an hour to get to Devro but I was getting excited as I was pointing straight into it. Made the turn home and started to catch some bumps only to have the winds shift about 10 min into it. I basically had to paddle the rest of the way home right back into the wind again.
When upwinding becomes a thing, I'll be legend.
Bulky, it's the curse of the working man. If there is going to be wind around here it's almost always on a Monday.
Quote from: TeachSB on March 30, 2016, 05:14:13 PM
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Anyway, so it seems like most people would rather ride a shorter hard board than a longer inflatable?
I dunno, that depends on priorities. You need to decide whether speed or turning is more important to you.
There are 3 good reasons for speed:
While you can train on any old slug a board that goes faster allows you to go further per outing, which certainly makes things more interesting. A faster board means you can hang with a faster crew. A faster board is better for downwinding, especially marginal conditions, because it will plane earlier.
The 11' Bullet will be more fun to ride waves on, but slower on flats and downwinds than a RedPaddle 14' elite (or race). Length does matter. One part about downwind i love is turning and certainly a hard board is way better than an iSup for that, but you'd need regular sturdy conditions for the 11' to come to life.
Up to you: speed or carving
I think bulky's anecdote is helpful, it would be great to have good DW conditions but how often will that REALLY happen? I have ridden mountain bikes for years and in SB lots of people shuttle on downhill specific bikes, but I've only done it a couple times. Why? You need a crew of people and lots of time. I think I should forget about DW as one of my criteria, because it's just not likely that it will really happen.
You and I might think alike. Back when I used to ride, I pretty much only rode down whatever hills I climbed up. Same with paddling, by and large--I'm out there for a workout so going into the wind gives you that.
As it is, since you're limited to 12' you probably aren't going to get something with DW performance anyway. Along the lines of what Starman shared, it may not be that DW conditions don't really happen, it's just that some of us don't have the flexibility to go when they come up.
I've settled on good open ocean boards because the conditions I ride in are whatever it is when I have the time in my day (dawn). Crappy conditions don't stop me--just look at it as a chance to build different skills.
I looked into that yellow 12' on Craigslist. It's a Liquid Shredder, which makes a couple of displacement style soft tops. I think it's 31.5" wide which is a lot and it's probably pretty heavy.
Aloha Teach,
You started this thread when I was on a camping trip up north and off the grid...welcome to SB...
Have you had a chance to demo our 11'1" or 11'11" One Worlds at my shop?
http://supsports.com/standup-paddle-boards/one-world-series
The 11'11" One World Surfari has crossed the SB Channel on a crappy day...and, the 11'1" One World surfs 25' waves and has beaten 12'6" race SUPs in GPS testing...
https://youtu.be/5ACvsPN2GII
Welcome back Wardog. Yes, I've tried most of your boards and love them. The One a World is high on the list if I commit to an 11-12' surf shape.
Update: I picked up a sweeeeet PSH WAA 11'1" from Craigslist. It will give me an idea of how that fits and help me decide if I should just punch a hole in my garage.
-Teach