Messages

1

SUP General / Re: Southern, East Coast guys, what do you do to prepare for a hurricane?

« on: August 31, 2019, 01:15:58 PM »

For perspective; Floridian since the late 80's, prior to that grew up in South Jersey, been through a bunch of Hurricanes. I think Bell was the first one in Jersey when I was a kid on LBI. I'm also in the post disaster business so I'm often in early to the impact zone. I entered the Keys on a government pass through the Matecumbe road block 24 hrs post the last storm there.

Depends where I'm living and the strength of the storm. I don't pay much attention unless it goes above cat 3. I prepare mostly to compensate for the over preparers who can suck up day to day resources in a panic. I top off the cars, buy extra beer and few gallons of water if I think we may get some real impact, although I have never had to use any reserve water. Having a generator is nice and when I lived on the East coast I had a bang up one. Funny story once with FPL coming to my house once knocking on the door post storm. I had the whole place lit up, fridge running, window shaker humming, etc.  They knocked and asked if I had power somehow, was the only house lit up. Power was out 2 weeks, no power is a PITA.

The sand bag thing cracks me up but hey whatever makes you feel better I guess. If you live in a river flood plain maybe it will help. I have good windows, plywood isn't going to help anything.

Beach front versus just inland a short distance can be a big difference. Each storm is different but just a small distance outside of the actual eye wall zone will have totally different impacts. If you travel through an impact zone the travel of the edge of the eye is very easy to see in the impact to the landscape. There could every tree knocked down then a distinct line where it ends and all of the trees look untouched.

Nothing fleshes out poor construction like a hurricane either. If you saw the pictures form Mexico Beach it was very easy to see how construction quality played a part in structure survival. Same thing down in the Keys. I prefer to live in block houses myself.

Looks like this one is staying off shore which is good, our local guy called that almost 2 days ago when the forward motion was predicted to slow down. We have some good local Meteorologists here who report reasonably on storms as opposed to a National like CNN, those guys are way out of hand on the over hype run for the hills at all costs BS.

Not to say if you are looking at a strong 4 or 5 right on the head with the eye wall coming right over top or very close to you, water front or on a barrier island you shouldn't back out, that's a different deal. If you live in a mobile home well you've got no choice.

Hope you East coast guys get some clean surf out of it next week.

2

Gear Talk / Re: Need Paddleboard Advice

« on: August 16, 2019, 10:25:00 AM »

Welcome to the zone.

I can see how you could get close to 4k in a retail store easy getting setup for 2 people. Couple boards at 13 or 14 hundred, 2 good paddles, couple of PFDs, 2 leashes, throw in 2 whistles, tax and bam you are right up against it. You can do it for less if you shop around. It's nice to be able to put hands on the inventory, especially when starting out but take your time and look for alternate outlets/options. I know the used board market in Florida isn't spectacular, I look at the whole state every day just for fun. You can get new/old inventory for good deals in a retail setting if you look around and with good guidance internet order can be the way to go.

Just some general guidance.

If you stick with it, it's very unlikely these are the only 2 boards you will ever buy, accept it and enjoy the ride.

Spend real money on your paddles. You might not appreciate it now but you will eventually. Get guidance here and spend some dough, it's worth it.

If you're not into surfing at all you are on the right track with displacement touring boards as the direction over planing boards

Weight sucks and boards feel heavier after a long paddle. Typically you pay a premium for lower weight.

In general longer boards glide better than short ones, wider boards are more stable but glide less than narrow ones. Get a length/width that's easy to handle and suits the need.

Nice paddle area there, enjoy.

Good luck, there's alot of knowledge on here.

3

SUP General / Re: Quick dry sun shirts

« on: August 01, 2019, 09:58:04 AM »

My choice, well made

https://www.speedousa.com/men/mens-swimwear/mens-rash-guards/easy-long-sleeve-swim-shirt-style-7482183

4

Gear Talk / Re: Go Pro Knoock off Recs

« on: July 22, 2019, 09:40:41 AM »

I bought the Polaroid cube unit someone posted about on here a while ago. Everything is just OK. Image stabilization - OK but has definite limits, image quality just OK, sound quality OK muted some in the waterproof housing.

But.....I paid about $75 on Amazon with shipping for the camera, a bigger memory card and just about every single mount they make for it so you know, how can you complain.

We have had some fun with it.

5

Gear Talk / Re: review of the 8’10” Sunova Steeze by an intermediate

« on: July 22, 2019, 08:52:28 AM »

Nice review...I have the 9-6 and really like it.

I dropped 40 liters coming down to my 9-6 and had some similar early experiences with choppy conditions as you describe. I'm about your height but was 216 and in a 3/2 when I got the board (208 now) so that was as far down as I was willing to go. Definitely rewards with time put in.

I find with the thin nose it punches through strong wash going out rather than pop up over it. It will pop over unbroken waves for me no problem. Haven't had any paddling issues in chop with the nose going under and I'm a little forward using the wide point for stability but I'm always in some sort of offset stance.

Have you been able to hang it in the face of a wave yet? That really sold me on it the first time conditions lined up for it. The rail just hung the board there for me to walk forward. I run a 7" Smith/Parish cutaway with the stock Sunova 83s.

I'm finding it really versatile also. We had chest to head high here week before last from the storm (rare) and I had a blast dropping it over the lip as late as I could, handled it fine and super fun.

Enjoy!

6

Gear Talk / Re: NSP 9'8" Elements Review

« on: July 11, 2019, 12:51:41 PM »

Templar, I haven't had any paint flaking issues with the current Elements layup unless you smack it against something or land it on the hard stuff.

Hard paddle strikes on the rails haven't cracked the paint finish off and I have whacked them hard beyond the rail tape. I have cracked the rail paint from couple of instances described above.

I always quantify my comments on the Elements construction with a price point perspective. Hell I paid $700 new plus tax in the local shop for my 10'11" so it's hard to complain. It's still going strong and it is used by everyone in the house so it has been used and sometimes abused and used a lot.

The 10'11" was right on the advertised weight when I got it also. Same board you are looking at in 10' so similar but different.

My son is the owner now as we are doing alot more paddling together. I liked it so much I received my Cocolax replacement version of the same board this morning and got lucky enough to get in a mushy/shifty 2 hour surf session. Reliable as always, catches everything, stable as a table.

IS Congrats on the new ride!

7

Gear Talk / Re: Another "What board" beginner question

« on: July 09, 2019, 12:31:17 PM »

"<<<<The Creek, when I got the idea of buying a SUP some weeks ago, I typed "SUP Portugal" on youtube and one of the first video that was listed was one of you surfing on our beatifull SW Algarve coast. I watched some more videos from your channel, including the one you posted. I know Parede beach but I  usually surf in Caparica (south of the river few miles from Lisbon). I will give a call to those guys and tell them that it was you that forward me to them

So we have already two new options:

NSP Allrounder 10 or Gong Karmen 9'8''. I Believe there is a 2nd hand NSP Allrounder 9'8 listed for sale and will look into it also.>>>"

Creek is talking about the NSP "Cruise" in 9-8. Looks like NSP doesn't make it in Elements at that size anymore but they do make it in the Coco constructions at that size. Once you go bigger than 9-8 it loses the round tail. Something that could change the way the board surfs. NSP looks like they often take a size out of a line and mix it up to perform differently on occasion.

I have an elements Allrounder (different model) board and the layup is soft, great design, not so great construction, built to a price point so it is what it is.

Haven't been exposed to the coco materials but will have one in hand this week as I bought a lighter replacement for my Elements NSP Allrounder.


My board, great big board, small wave groveler and flat water cruiser.
https://surftech.com/nsp-coco-flax-allrounder/

The Cruise
https://surftech.com/nsp-coco-flax-cruise/

8

Random / Re: This is what my dream surf vehicle would... will be.

« on: June 25, 2019, 07:23:12 AM »

.

9

Random / Re: This is what my dream surf vehicle would... will be.

« on: June 25, 2019, 07:15:46 AM »

246,000 mi and still counting...

but I do like my GTI 

10

SUP General / Re: Things Ain't What They Used To Be

« on: June 07, 2019, 12:02:26 PM »

<<Quote from: Scallop on June 06, 2019, 09:56:20 AM
Bikes are good therapy though and you can rocket down the causeway! We used to do that all the time as kids there.
Wow, Scallop! You have LBI roots?!>>>>

Lookin good, even with a bad wing....

Heck yeah, I could go on for hours about the awesomeness of growing up there. Even before we moved there permanently we would come over every weekend from just over on the PA side of the Burlington Bristol Bridge in the warmer months. Fish for fluke on the Barnegate Light bay beach all day, camp in the station wagon on the causeway catching crabs all night. Dad would save up and we would rent a house on the beach block in Surf City for a week every summer for his vacation.

Grandparents moved to Ship Bottom in '73, lived in a 45 foot Garvey that was put up on blocks and turned into a house in the 50's. We moved there permanently in '74 to Manahawkin in the "new section" of Beach Haven West at the time.

Graduate of Southern Regional HS '83, Stockton State '88.

Hell I practically grew up on the bay. I had a commercial clammers license at 12 years old piloting my own skiff solo on the bay. Paid for my first car, a couple of boat upgrades, and 2 years of college.

Like I said could go on forever....

Oh and a buddy and I once shot the causeway on junk a** tandem bike, rattling rusty fenders, coaster brake and all.

11

Gear Talk / Re: Having trouble choosing a board...

« on: June 06, 2019, 10:12:49 AM »

.

12

SUP General / Re: Things Ain't What They Used To Be

« on: June 06, 2019, 09:56:20 AM »

That stinks...

All I can say is good luck and don't wait too long. You put it off and work around it and it may just get worse over time anyway. My father in law needs both knees replaced, has for years but put it off and now is too old and scared at his age to go under the knife and can barely get around.

Bikes are good therapy though and you can rocket down the causeway! We used to do that all the time as kids there.

Wish you well..

13

Gear Talk / Re: Having trouble choosing a board...

« on: June 06, 2019, 09:46:02 AM »

Maybe check out the Steeze?

I'm 53, 210 and have only really been surfing on a regular basis for a year and have a limited amount session access here and it's an easy fun ride.

Really versatile; rides mush, nose rides, small stuff, you can turn it off the tail  or be more glidey like I often have to in the low power stuff around here. Wouldn't hesitate to take in larger either.

9-6 145 liters

14

SUP General / Re: Grade A carnage

« on: May 21, 2019, 12:15:18 PM »

Hah!  That was the precursor.  The epic folding takes place at 9:55 but the worst of it is a bit obscured.  This one deserves full motion. 

Here you go, feet meet back of head, he is Gumby, then the roll after, woo.

15

Classifieds / Re: 9-6 Sunova Steeze

« on: April 26, 2019, 04:40:10 AM »

Off the market.