Big BOY Need gear help......

[Bruizer343]

Hello,
first time poster been reading this site and blogs,you-tube WOW....thanks.

My wife and I Live in California on the Delta River System. Tidal water.
NO Break,No Barrels etc. Wind chop, wakes from boats, tidal currents
and our 5 month old lab are the Conditions.

My wife has Lifeguard exp. good swimmer
 but never surf,skateboard,snowboard,wakeboard, etc.
(123-128lbs and 44lbs Lab Puppy )

Me, BigBOY...5'10 270, 40y/o
skateboarded as a youth, spent 20 years thinking Lifting Heavy things was fun,
hockey as an adult 10 years, good balance, sinker not a floater.

We bought 2 Larid's, an 11-6 for her and a 12'1 for me.

She is having nothing but fun and improves everyday.
stands,sits,knee all with puppy off in on.

Me, I can stand,knee,and sit Paddle.
 deckwash to ankles and my lower legs get blown
out from tippy and fighting to stay level.
I paddle it everyday off....work

In the 2 weeks we have been paddling....my core feels
strong...back pains are leaving..SORENESS is LIFE.

after reading this site and it's links.....

I think I need a BIGGER BOAT ??

Is the "east coast" 14' x 34 x 5 too big ?

Our primary water is flat....i want to be HIGH n DRY..and paddle long
distances........

ok.....help me.


yea yea....feet are off center....i get more pics wit my ankles under ya.....


yes deck pads are off center,,,i was to excited to get out I layed em down
before watching how too on you tube......

[1tuberider]

My surfing sup floats me like that. 

More paddle time, work real hard and the weight loss will have you looking for something smaller.
It looks like you could use a little more board for float but once you get use to what you have, I think you will like it.  Spend another month trying it and if you are still frustrated then look at the bigger boards.

Enjoy those tight muscles. Welcome aboard.

[Byronmaui]

Personally I would not change. That Laird looks perfect for you and give yourself a couple of months then you will be dreaming of smaller boards to come. Just my 2 cents. Welcome to the dark side and unfortunately there is no cure for the addiction.

Aloha

Byron

[stoneaxe]

Give it time. I started 11 months ago on a starboard 12-6 x 30. The laird 12-1 is slightly more stable than my 12-6. I'm 6-4, (was 285 lbs), 50 yrs old, had no surf experience, water skiier many moons ago and snow skiier until 4 years ago. I struggled the 1st month big time...thought I wasn't going to be able to do it. Slowly improved and then one day realized the worst was behind me.

Push yourself in tough conditions...look for opportunities to get into chop. Lots of water time and watching what you eat will drop the weight...I'm 245 now. Your skills will improve drammatically with time on water. We just finished a 28 mile paddle across Cape Cod Bay... http://picasaweb.google.com/Lynnski93/CapeCodBayChallenge8908

Keep paddling.

[shapeshifter]

your dog's fat...
...yeah, blame the dog.

[Dwight (DW)]

I'd like to see a side view of how that floats you. It sure looks floaty to me. The nose is high and dry. I've owned boards where the nose was rarely above water.

If fact, once a board becomes too easy, I miss the workout and go smaller. I just went down to 27" wide and I'm 202 lbs.

Now if you're racing the wife, I can understand you wanting more float. My wife smokes my ass in a race. She's high and dry. But I'm fixing that too. She's going super small next. hehe 

[paddlesurf.net]

I think the Laird looks right for you too! My buddy is a big boy too 270lbs, and he rode a 12'1" Laird for awhile - board floated him fine (but he was in salt water, a little more buoyant in salt H20).

Just as a note- he's on a 10' now and loving it. There are boards out there for us big boys under the 12' mark- you just might have to have one made for you!

Big Chad's writing an article about his board journey right now for my blog (url matches my name) and he should have it up soon. Check it out- it might be helpful for you.

Good Luck!

[Poppy]

    that board looks good, just keep paddling, then when you think you got it  keep paddling..  keep checking in on your progress, in a few months you'll want a smaller board

[Davy]

Paddle, Paddle, Paddle. After a while you will be telling us
you'll need a smaller board.