Topics

1

Technique / Couple Questions on Technique - lower hand and recovery part of the stroke

« on: August 27, 2018, 08:27:07 PM »

lower hand placement – curious how you guys think  about how wide  to  grip the paddle?  Also, I realized this weekend  I was gripping  a bit lower with my right hand vs left  hand, going to put some tape  on the paddle as  a reference point.  Do you change your lower hand position much?

Recovery part of  the stroke –I feather  my blade into the wind but swing it  out to the side before placing it for the  catch.  Played  around with lifting the paddle higher and still feathering on the recovery but bringing the blade forward much closer  to  the board  – was a lot more up and down  body motion and exertion but faster to get back in the  water – curious if  one or the other is  considered  better?

Thanks

2

Gear Talk / Kenalu Mana

« on: August 26, 2018, 08:16:20 PM »

Just got Mana 82 with ergo T handle and 90 flex shaft.  Had a werner trace 85 prior.

What a  difference, not sure I can explain exactly why, but love the kenalu.  Swings  easy.  The ergo T is a great handle, could not figure  out what to do with my fingers when  it arrived  and as soon  as  I started paddling, it became obvious it kept my  fingers and hand more loose.  Liked it quite a bit, thinking about getting a 90 as well.

3

Gear Talk / Bullet 17.4 - SIC Inflatable

« on: August 06, 2018, 11:29:26 PM »

Anyone  have one of these?  I  have  RED  boards but like the idea of the longer board for downwind runs.

4

Gear Talk / My first unlimited board

« on: June 26, 2018, 09:54:34 PM »

Just bought a used King's carbon board 19' long.

Couple of questions:

- Know I'm not supposed to let the board get hot - its black, any tips for when I'm traveling with it outside of carrying in bag?

- Harder pull when paddling, do most go down a bit in paddle size?

- My stroke rate is about the same, but stroke distance is longer - is that to be expected?

- Any general advice for paddling an unlimited?

Thanks

5

Gear Talk / Werner Trance 85 vs Kenalu Mana 82

« on: May 18, 2018, 03:14:23 PM »

I have a Werner trance 95 and want to go to a smaller paddle. Also like the easy adjustability of the length.  I've heard great things about the Mana 82 and am wondering if the difference between them is a little or a lot?  Also Kenalu does not appear to have the same easy adjustability.

Thanks

6

Technique / Stroke Rate for Distance

« on: May 08, 2018, 12:58:32 PM »

I'm currently seem to be paddling around a 30 spm and about 10/10.5 feet per stroke on my red 13'2" inflatable according to my garmin. Research I'm doing on the web seems to imply that is a very slow rate.  It doesn't feel particularly slow or fast to me.

I have no idea if my distance per stroke is good, bad or average, be great to get some thoughts?

I have zero interest in racing, I'm interested in building the strength and conditioning to paddle long distances.  Do I need to work at getting my SPM up or my distance per stroke?  I'm assuming I should do some higher SPM work for shorter duration as part of training? 

Thanks for any insights.

7

Gear Talk / The value of an extra foot....

« on: April 16, 2018, 09:33:34 PM »

Production 14' board vs benefit of a custom board that is 15', 16'?

Does the longer waterline make much of a difference?  Less maneuverability vs more inherent speed?  More or less stability with longer length?  I would assume same board shape, just difference of adding length.

Wondering if I should look at going custom given I have no interest in racing, just want a board that makes covering long distances easier and have space in the garage?

Thanks for opinions

8

Gear Talk / Best Board for crossing the San Pedro Channel - not racing

« on: January 28, 2018, 07:40:58 PM »

Been thinking about taking a crack at going from Two Harbors, Catalina to San Pedro (approx 20 miles).  Have my own boat and kids can shadow me so can do whenever, don't need to be part of a race.

I've gone all inflatable because they work so well with the boats and I like the portability.

Thinking about what kind of board would be best for a 5'10' 195lb guy who normally paddles a 30" wide board to make the attempt.  Would check for weather, leave catalina early, etc.

Was looking at the SIC FX tour with the rudder, thinking that might make it easier to paddle on both sides if I get cross swell and wind.  Wondering if going to a longer board (eg 16-17') would make much of a difference or if there is another 14' board that you all would recommend?

My goal is just to do it, not looking to race, go for time, etc.  But do want to find a board that is going to give me as much advantage (as I can buy). 

Will be fun to have something I can tell the kids to do when they are 50!

Thanks for any ideas.

9

Gear Talk / Best way to pump up an inflatable SUP....without the manual pump

« on: January 21, 2018, 12:14:28 PM »

I've now got three RED boards and I think they are great.

Current way I pump them up is to use the floor pump, then connect schraeder adaptor and top off at the gas station to get to 20 PSI (by the way, can I go higher with the red boards?).

I bought a portable tire pump from Amazon, but pretty quickly realized the CFM (cubic feet of air pumped per minute) was so low that I could not take the board from flat to high pressure in any reasonable period of time.  It was also cheap and I smoked it.

So, I'm thinking I buy a high volume electric pump for toys - something like this - https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Inflatables-3-Times-Mattress-Replacement/dp/B015G1RYGK to get the board into its shape quickly, then buy a high quality, high pressure pump like the ARB 12v to get it up to 20PSI +.  https://www.amazon.com/ARB-CKMTA12-Board-Performance-Compressor/dp/B004P9A35E?th=1

Challenge is I need both pumps (ideally) to run off both 12v and 120 as sometimes I fill the boards at home and sometimes from my car (and I don't want to have to put batt clips on, would want cig adaptor), and I want speed so I'm not sitting around forever.  I've got multiple boards and when taking friends don't want to spend forever filling boards.

I'm not really price sensitive as I have a few grand in the boards and if I need to spend a few hundred to get a system that just works, and works well, that's fine.  I like the portability of inflatables and this is the missing piece for me to make it all fast and easy.

Have any of you done something similar?

And I know I can use the manual pump, but I paddle for fun and manually pumping up the boards is not my favorite way to spend my time...

Thanks

10

Gear Talk / SIC Wide Glide vs Amundsen TRT vs Custom

« on: August 07, 2016, 10:21:03 PM »

Just stumbled on a great deal for a red 12'6" for my boat, time to shop for my hardboard.

200 lbs, 5'10", intermediate paddler.

Looking for a hardboard for ocean paddling.  Want to train to do a relay segment of the rock to rock (Catalina to San pedro here in LA), and maybe one day, the whole thing.

Stability in side chop, ocean swells, and speed.

Been looking at SIC wide glide and Amundsen TRT.  Other option would be to look at having something built custom, if that could get me a meaningful difference beyond the factory boards.

To be clear, I'm not looking to place in any race, I want to be able to paddle long distances on the ocean with as much ease as my wallet can give me :-).

Thanks for any advice.

10gen

11

Gear Talk / Red Inflatables - 2015 12'6" Race (28") vs 2016 13'2" Explorer (30")

« on: August 03, 2016, 06:07:50 PM »

Hey guys,

Looking at buying one of these boards.  5'10" 200 lbs, intermediate paddler.

use is touring - flat and choppy ocean waters.

Wondering about the differences in:

Speed - does the additional 6" offset the 2" in narrower width of the race?

Stability - would I notice a big difference?

Overall feel, anyone who has paddled these - be interested in opinions.

Thanks

12

Gear Talk / Stable & Fast board for so cal ocean paddling - Eliminator vs SIC X14

« on: September 07, 2015, 12:35:34 PM »

I'm looking at getting a 14' board for paddling in flat water and so cal ocean swells and chop.  Not downwinder, more for longer distance paddles in all conditions.

I'm 210 lbs, prob be 190 in a few months if I keep up the training.

Two that seem to have strong stability and be good gliding fast boards are the bark eliminator and the SIC X14. 

Wondering if anyone has paddled these boards, how they would compare them?

Thanks

13

Gear Talk / Red vs SIC vs ULI 12'6" iSUP - Which to get?

« on: August 16, 2015, 02:15:40 PM »

I'm looking to buy another inflatable SUP.  Currently looking at a 12'6", but if there is a 14' I'm missing, I'd be interested.

Want something that paddles well, is fast but stable.

I've narrowed my search down to the three models listed in the subject line.  They seem relatively comparable in that they all have high PSI, good reputations, and a strong track record.

Hoping someone has owned one or more of these and can give current real world feedback.

I'll be using the board for a mix of flat water (inside long beach - naples, CA) and on the ocean (I often paddle from my boat around catalina island).  My priorities are stiffness (hate the flex you sometimes get on an inflatable), stability, and speed.  I weigh 220 and have been paddling for a while.

I'm looking for a 27-30" board, 26" would probably be too much for me, learned a while ago that I'm much happier having stability and being able to paddle well in ocean chop.

Ideas, opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Links to the specific boards are below:

https://www.uliboards.com/product/126-race#prettyPhoto

http://www.sicmaui.com/air-glide-x-12-6/

http://redpaddleco.com/usa/board/126″-race/#.VdD8aem7Fbx


Thanks very much!