Messages

1111

Gear Talk / Re: Help Choosing New Board

« on: July 16, 2015, 03:58:25 PM »

O.K., guys, time for me to wrap this up. First of all, thanks to all of you who helped me through this. I ended up buying a board this afternoon, and went with a different board than I thought I would. I ended up with a 12’ 6” x 29” x 5.5” board. I had thought I’d end up with a narrower board, but I just really liked the way this one felt. It has a recessed deck and the deck padding goes all the way to the back of the board which were both features I was looking for. What really surprised me, is that it is more stable than my 30” Red inflatable. I had it out for a test paddle last night in some pretty good chop. On my Red I was getting blown all over the place, but I could actually maneuver pretty well on the new board.

I’ll also put a plug in for Pure Life Paddle Boards. For anyone in the Vancouver area, they are a very good board, and Ken, the owner of the Company, is a great guy. Really takes the time to help you get the right board and it’s not just smoke with him. He really wants to make sure you are satisfied. Can’t say enough good things about him. And if you happen to look on his website, not all his boards are listed there. I know he has some 25" race boards that are getting some attention locally. I think he has them in both 12' 6" and 14', but am not sure about that. Anyway, if you are interested, best to get in touch with him.

I’m pretty excited about getting my first hard board and can’t wait to get some serious time out on the water. Thanks again everyone, and happy paddling to all of you!

1112

Gear Talk / Re: Help Choosing New Board

« on: July 15, 2015, 01:57:10 PM »

Thanks Eagle,

I never thought of adding more deck pad to the 27.5" race board. Great suggestion. As I said, I will be test paddling it again tonight, so I'll ask the fellow about adding more deck pad. Thanks again.

1113

Gear Talk / Re: Help Choosing New Board

« on: July 15, 2015, 11:43:36 AM »

I thought I would provide an update to my continuing search for a hardboard, and I also have a couple of other questions to ask.

There is a local fellow close to where I live who has his own company and has been manufacturing boards for a while now. He is a real enthusiast and is winning races on his boards. Tonight I’m going to test paddle a 12’ 6” x 29” race / touring board, and a 12’ 6” x 27.5” carbon race board. The carbon race board is used, but I can get a very good deal on it. I paddled it very briefly a couple of weeks ago, and really liked it. The only thing I didn’t like is that the deck pad does not extend to the end of the board, so he waxes the end so it is not slippery to stand on. That is about the only thing I didn’t like about the board. I’ll give it a much more thorough test paddle tonight.

I am also currently working with Blkbox to test paddle one of their production Uno boards. And this is where the question comes in. I’ve already made up my mind that whatever board I get, I want it to be 12’ 6” long. This is for a number of reasons, but predominantly because of storage. It looks like the only board I will be able to test paddle is the 12’ 6” x 26.25”. They don’t have the 28” wide available for me to test.

I’m at the point on my 30” wide Red where I’m quite comfortable on the board, although I’m still in the process of learning pivot turns. Can’t say I’ve perfected them yet by any means, but I am working on it. I only mention this to give you an idea of my capabilities at this point.

And although I know I’ll probably only know for sure with a test paddle, I just wanted any opinions you might have as to whether or not a 26.25” board is too narrow for me?

As I said earlier, I have briefly test paddled a 27.5” board, and it felt pretty good. I wasn’t doing pivot turns or anything like that, but in the brief time I was on the board, I felt pretty stable on it. I also however, tested a 12’ 6” x 25” race board, and that felt very unstable. I definitely crossed that one off my list.

So, given my size and my current capabilities, any thoughts on a 12’ 6” x 26.25” board vs. a 12’ 6” x 28” board for me? Thanks so much for any input.

1114

Gear Talk / Help Choosing New Board

« on: July 12, 2015, 08:23:18 AM »

I have been paddling about one year now, and currently have a 2014 Red Race (12’ 6” x 30”) and am thinking I would like to get a hard board. I am male, 5’ 8” tall and weigh about 150 pounds. I was wondering if you could give me your opinions on a couple of boards, and also provide any other suggestions you might have.

Whatever board I end up with will be used almost entirely on a lake. For the most part it will be flat water paddling, although the lake does get afternoon winds. And while I’m not often out in those conditions, there will be occasions when I will be paddling in some waves.

I was initially thinking I would want a board with a sunken deck and a squared off tail, but am not really sure how important these are in the long run???

One board I have thought about is the BlkBox Uno, 12’ 6” x 28”. Everything I read about this board is positive. The only problem is that I am located in B.C., Canada and currently this board is only available in the U.S. With the difference in the currency and also the duty I’d have to pay, it will make this a very, very expensive board. There is a rep in the U.S. not that far from me, and I do have a call into him, but I’m currently thinking this board will probably be too expensive.

The other board I was thinking of is the SIC Bullet, 12’ 6” x 28.4”. It looks like a nice board and I did spend just a couple of minutes on it a while ago. I wasn’t really thinking about a new board at the time, but the one thing I do remember is that I loved the feel of the deck pad. The other thing I noticed is that the tail is not squared off and I’ve been told that a squared off tail provides more stability. Is this something I should be concerned about?

I had also thought about Amundson, but have read that the boards are not very durable so I crossed those off my list.

So that’s as far as I’ve got in my search. Anyone have any comments on these boards given my size, experience and the conditions I'll be paddling in? Any suggestions for other boards? Thanks so much for any help you might be able to provide.

1115

Flatwater and Touring / Re: Bora Bora SUP - paradise!

« on: June 26, 2015, 07:44:44 AM »

Many, many years ago, when Club Med still had a presence in Tahiti, I had a vacation at their Moorea location. On the first day there they had a kind of orientation, and one of the things they did was lay out a number of excursions that were available. One of those excursions was a short trip to their Bora Bora location. It was either a one or two night stay and I believe it cost somewhere around $200 to $300, which in those days was quite a bit of money. I was single then, and although I was interested, I decided to think about it overnight. The next day I went to sign up and was told all the spaces were filled. I don’t have many regrets in my life, but that is definitely one of them. Since then I’ve had some great vacations to some exotic places, including three trips to the Cook Islands, but I’ve still always wanted to get to Bora Bora. And don’t get me wrong, Moorea was beautiful, but there is just something that pulls at the heart strings when you think about Bora Bora. Hopefully someday - it’s definitely on my bucket list! Thanks so much for sharing your pictures and your story.

1116

Gear Talk / Fins Make A Difference

« on: June 23, 2015, 04:57:01 PM »

I know that most of you already know this, but it was a bit of an eye opener for me. I’m a fairly new SUP’er and for a board I have Red Paddles’s Race (last years model). It’s 12’ 6” x 30” x 6”. I have been paddling with the standard fin that came with the board and had some difficulty keeping the board tracking in a straight line. I’ve taken a couple of lessons, so I was pretty sure my forward stroke was not the problem. The instructor I took my lesson from lent me his SIC “Weedless Carbon fin” (http://www.sicmaui.com/weedless-carbon-fin/ - the 8.3” one). It made a huge difference. Board tracks much straighter and is actually a lot more fun to paddle. I ended up buying the fin from him. I hadn’t realized how much of a difference the fin can make.

1117

Gear Talk / Re: Red Paddle's 2014 Race vs. 2015 Sport???

« on: June 16, 2015, 08:18:38 PM »

Thanks Jill.

1118

Gear Talk / Re: Red Paddle's 2014 Race vs. 2015 Sport???

« on: June 16, 2015, 02:48:36 PM »

Thanks so much to all of you for your replies. I think for now I'm going to stick with my board and maybe see what I can do at the end of the season. Maybe try for an end of season sale.

Also have a couple of quick questions for you Jill on the Uli boards. First of all, what pressure can you take the Uli boards to? And secondly, and I hope you don't mind me asking, can you give me just a ballpark figure what Uli charges to make a custom board?

1119

Gear Talk / Re: Red Paddle's 2014 Race vs. 2015 Sport???

« on: June 15, 2015, 03:26:52 PM »

Thanks again Julien,

This would definitely be a second board for my quiver as I have no plans to get rid of my current board. I guess I’ll have to test paddle the 2015 Race.

As for what kind of paddling I do, I’d say it’s probably split between wanting it for fitness and for touring around. I’m 62 years old, and although I’m a pretty active 62 year old, I still don’t see myself doing any racing. I would like something versatile that I can paddle for both fun and fitness. Also don’t plan on any huge long distance paddles. I also however, don’t want to go backwards. What I mean by that is that I want to continue to grow my capabilities and to have a board that I won’t grow out of.

Thanks again for your help. I’ll be taking a closer look at the new Race.

1120

Gear Talk / Re: Red Paddle's 2014 Race vs. 2015 Sport???

« on: June 15, 2015, 01:36:10 PM »

Thanks Julian,

For your response. Another quick question if you don’t mind. I spoke to one salesperson and he thought the 2014 Race and the 2015 Sport might be too similar. He suggested that instead of the 11’ Sport, I might be better off getting the 2015 Race, at 28” wide. He said he found that with a 30” board he found it harder to paddle in a straight line (found it harder to keep his paddle going perpendicular into the water) whereas that wouldn’t be as much of a problem with a 28” board. He did not seem to think stability on a 28” board should be an issue.

I have not paddled the new Race and my first thought would have been to be concerned about the stability, but this fellow didn’t think it would be an issue. And I have noticed that at times I do struggle to keep my current board going straight, although I think I’m getting better at this.

So, hate to put you on the spot, but for me, given I already have the 2014 Race, do you think a better choice for a second board would be the 11’ Sport or the 2015, 28” wide Race?

1121

Gear Talk / Red Paddle's 2014 Race vs. 2015 Sport???

« on: June 15, 2015, 08:18:10 AM »

I am currently thinking about getting a second board but would like some opinions. I currently own last years model of the Red Paddle Company 12’ 6” Race. This is the one that is 30” wide. I am considering getting this years Red Paddle 11’ Sport, but am wondering if there is enough difference in the boards to justify the purchase? Is there anyone out there who has paddled both boards who can offer me any insight?

I did get a very brief test paddle on the 11’ Sport, and it somehow seemed more “nimble” if that makes any sense. As well, most of my paddling is done on a lake that can get quite windy in the afternoon. On my 12’ 6” board, I get blown around quite a bit and I was wondering if the 11’ Sport might handle better in those kind of conditions?

As for me, I’m male and have only been paddling about a year. I am 5’ 8” tall and weigh 150 pounds.

Any opinions as to the differences between these two boards would be much appreciated. Or, are they really quite similar and I would just be wasting my money if I was to get the 11’ Sport?

Thanks so much for any help you might be able to provide.

1122

Gear Talk / Re: Red Paddle Co Cargo Net??

« on: April 09, 2015, 03:11:01 PM »

Had mine on the board and out in the water today. Not often you find a product that looks good, is well made, and is functional. I’d say the Red Paddle Cargo Net is all of these.

1123

Gear Talk / Re: Red Paddle Co Cargo Net??

« on: April 08, 2015, 06:49:25 PM »

I just bought one today. It looks really well made.

1124

Gear Talk / Re: Red 12'6" x 28" Race as a touring board?

« on: April 03, 2015, 07:11:57 PM »

Thought I should let everyone know that Red came through for me. They took a look and found a brand new, 2014, 12' 6" x 30" Race in their Warehouse, so they took my old board and gave me the new one. It was even in the original packaging. I'm pretty happy. I also found out that the problems I was having were not my fault. Apparently the plastic on the front fin was a different or stiffer plastic than it should have been. Not sure of the reason for that, but they said that was the problem. I also took a look at the new board when I unwrapped it today. It was wrapped way tighter than I had been wrapping my old board, so it definitely was not anything I was doing wrong. Unfortunately I won't be able to get out on the water for another couple of weeks, but I did pump the board up just to make sure everything was O.K., and it all looks good. So all is good at my end, and big thank you to Red for taking care of me.

1125

Gear Talk / Re: Advice on iSUPs to test

« on: April 01, 2015, 11:26:44 AM »

Hi DavidJohn,

Your board is obviously a Naish, but would you mind saying which specific Naish it is? Thanks.