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31

SUP General / Self-supported expedition board

« on: September 25, 2014, 01:57:06 PM »

Pretty interesting take on an expedition board. That's a big'un....wonder what it handles like (A bus?

).

Spotted it here...
http://boardworkssup.com/news/lake-powell-self-support-expedition-with-mike-tavares-and-zack-hughes

Will

32

Gear Talk / Wetsuit vs Drysuit for cold weather paddling?

« on: September 21, 2014, 12:45:48 PM »

So we've had some chilly mornings recently and it's got me thinking again about cold weather gear to keep flat water paddling through the New England winter. For those of you that do paddle when it gets cold out, what is your preference?

And for you taller/bigger than average folks, what brands carry wetsuits/drysuits for us big guys?

Thanks!

Will

33

Gear Talk / Leash plug/Loop/Vacuum cup

« on: September 16, 2014, 11:57:04 AM »

I've been paddling the Puma a lot lately, it's been fun but the one thing that bugs me a little bit is that this board has no leash plug or loop. Apparently some did, Ninja's Puma has one. Sure I can swim, but fall of on a windy day and getting back to it may not be so easy. I reached out to the Ding Shack (local) yesterday about possibly adding one. I also thought maybe on a temporary basis about using a Seasucker 4.5" vacuum cup with a "D" ring on it. I know the cup won't let go when it's attached, but I'm wondering what the salt water might do to the pump mechanism if it gets submerged? I reached out to them as well.

I haven't heard back for either of them yet but in the meantime, any thoughts or suggestions on the process or alternatives? Being a hollow carbon fiber board I'm guessing presents a few different challenges then foam core boards.

Will

34

SUP General / Coo but sunny day....

« on: September 15, 2014, 05:43:09 PM »

It was a great day for a paddle....I mean (ought cough) call in sick.

Will

35

Gear Talk / EPDC?

« on: September 12, 2014, 01:01:51 PM »

Every Paddle Day Carry:

Thought I would mention that I got tangled up in some fishing line the other morning. I was wading out to launch and before I hopped up on the board I felt something around my foot. Turns out it was some fishing line in the water. I got untangled, and followed it until it got too deep. Went back to the car to get my EDC and cut loose what I could. It got me to thinking I might start carrying my small Tekna dive knife with me when I'm out on the water. I'm thinking I would rather have it and not need then need it and not have it...though I might scare off some folks with a dive knife strapped around my ankle.

Crazy? Anyone else keep a tool on them when there're out there?

Will

36

Gear Talk / When is not enough, enough?

« on: August 06, 2014, 06:11:41 PM »

...Or, when is it too much?

The point to my rambling: I’ve been paddling a 14’ SIC Bullet SCC lately and I was finding that I was having trouble tracking straight. I knew it was happening but my son was paddling behind me one day and asked why I was moving so much left to right? I just didn’t realize how much I was moving myself and having to constantly correct after a few strokes. I was finding that with powerful strokes, I could generally only take four or five strong strokes, then I would have to switch sides because the board was tracking too far from side to side. I tried moving the fin back all the way but it didn’t really help. I then switched out the SIC fin to try out a bigger Gladiator fin which seemed to help a little bit, but I still found myself tracking off center quickly under power.

Today during our paddle I switched paddles (same brand, smaller surface area: 94 vs 111 ) with my buddy and found that I wasn’t going off course as much under power. Obviously I wasn’t pulling as much water, but once I got up to speed I seemed to track straighter. I had no problems pulling the larger blade physically, but obviously I seemed to be pulling myself off course. In this case it seems that going to a smaller paddle helped correct the problem. That seems counterintuitive to me though thinking you would want the biggest blade you could comfortabley handle when motoring along. At this point I don’t know how much is a technique vs equipment issue, but I would certainly appreciate any tip or pointers.

Thanks!
Will

37

Gear Talk / Big Guy paddles

« on: July 23, 2014, 04:23:59 PM »

Currently looking at the QB Big Mama Kalama, but also checking out the offerings from Ke Nalu and Werner.

I've searched the archives and frankly there is a lot of good info, but I didn't find anything necessarily for larger stronger guys. I'm a strong with a lot of reach, even for my height (which also leads to a tracking question but I'll leave that for another thread). What paddles do you bigger guys like?

Thanks!
William

38

Gear Talk / Boardworks Great Bear 14' (and the Raven 12'6)

« on: July 06, 2014, 12:30:01 PM »

In my travels yesterday, my son and I were passing a local SUP shop so we dropped in to look around a bit. Having been born and raised in the PNW the designs on one board immediately caught my eye: A Boardworks Raven 12’6”. I know buying a board just on the design elements on the exterior of a board doesn’t make much sense, but I have to say, I would be tempted, even knowing I could have vinyl graphics made up and stuck on any board I buy had if I wanted to. After the initial draw, looking over the board, it looked like a very solid, well made displacement board. Later on when I was home I found reviews for the board and they seemed to be pretty positive.

I also spotted their 14’ Great Bear but didn’t really find any reviews on that board. Both look like a solid contender for a “Big Guy” board if you were looking for a touring/recreational race & fitness board. Lots of tie downs, and plenty of volume

Out of curiosity, anyone try out the Great Bear 14’ yet?

Will

39

Gear Talk / Another Big Guy board thread :)

« on: July 02, 2014, 07:28:43 PM »

Last season I picked up a 14' Glide and have been cutting my teeth on that and having a lot of fun. I like the board but I tend to get the feeling that I'm a little big for it. I've been looking for another 14 that's a little bit wider just so I can see how I like a wider board....plus we just sold the 12'6" and need another one anyway. My son likes the Glide so I'll let him ride that. I'm thinking stay used until I dial in what I like in a board, then go new or possibly even custom down the road.

I came across a Bark Expedition that I've wanted to check out and consider, and now a Fanatic Falcon 14x30 just popped up on my radar as well. The Fanatic would be a road trip but that's not necessarily a deal killer, just a matter of how to fit that into my schedule with everything else going on in our lives.

Any thoughts or experiences from the bigger guys (or anyone who wants to chime in) on options?

For the record: I'm 6'6" and fairly lean 250 -260#.

Will

40

Gear Talk / Bark Deck pads

« on: July 01, 2014, 07:38:38 PM »

Came across a guy last week on a Bark Expedition 14 that had a deck pad that covered about 3/4 of the deck. Nice looking, seemed like a decent big guy board. I noticed on-line that the same board is sometimes pictured with a smaller deck pad. Is this an older version, or was it just and option going with the longer deck pad?

W.

41

Technique / Balance and footwork: Just observing...

« on: June 25, 2014, 05:28:53 PM »

I've been watching a bunch of Davidjohn videos today and noticing how much the paddle is used for balance in the water. Also picking up the differences in peoples stances and footwork as they move around. DJ seems to stay pretty bladed to the centerline of the board and is able to move forward and back pretty cleanly. Other riders take wider stances and don't appear to move around as much.

A lot going on in this one...

Anyway, my second season in so I'm still newbie bait but just wanted to comment that I can pick up a lot just from watching DJ's string of vids. Thanks for filming and posting them!

William

42

NorthEast / Custom builders in Souther New England?

« on: June 25, 2014, 12:29:31 PM »

Curious what custom builders are in the area? I'm contemplating something like an 18'6" for downwinding and some flats. Would appreciate some direction on who to approach?

Thanks!
William

43

SUP General / 2400 mile paddle

« on: August 26, 2013, 05:03:16 PM »

Down the length of the Missouri river:

Quote

Some people might think this is crazy. Well, we did, too, a little, at first. But 27-year-old Scott Mestrezat from Chicago is in the middle of an epic adventure, paddling the Kaholo 14 Stand Up Paddleboard he built for the purpose down the entire length of the Missouri River from southwestern Montana to St. Louis, about 2,400 miles....

http://www.clcboats.com/boatbuilding-news-events/scott-mestrezats-missouri-river-adventure.html

I think I would have tested the board a little more....but fun adventure I'll bet.

BW

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