Distance Board Recommendation

[Bald Brother]

Facts:

1) Live in Florida

2) Looking to paddle 5-20 miles most of the time

3) 5'10, 185 (<- goal weight, 204 right now)

When I hit my goal weight, I'm going to buy a race/distance board. What do any of you recommend and why? Mind you, I have my 12'1 Laird which I very much enjoy surfing and I'm going to hold onto. This next board will be my training/racing board. Paddle mostly on flat/slightly choppy days.

[tautologies]

in the same boat..
I'm looking at the 14' naish glide...but I really would like to try some boards first...and I need to build some kind of storage for it first...

[Bald Brother]

Thanks for the feedback.  I'd like to know what other boards people have ridden or shapers' recommendations for their own boards. 14' seems like an ideal length unless I lived on a lake and then I might go longer. What say you experts?

[Brian]

Joe BARK makes an outstanding 14 custom to your specifications.

[SUPerman]

I ride a Ron House 14' Race board with a displacement hull and a concave deck that makes it more stable.  It is 29" wide and has a diamond tail.  I ride it in flat water and open ocean.  It is an EPS foam and epoxy board.  He does make carbon boards as well.  His epoxy 14' board starts custom at $1700 and goes up from there depending on what you want.  His 12'6" starts at about $1600.  In my opinion Ron's boards are the best overall.  His price is hard to beat, his shapes work great, and he has many years of experience.  I hope this helps.

[Pureadrenalin]

Joe BARK makes an outstanding 14 custom to your specifications.

Yep he sure does. One of the best foam core/carbon SUB's money can buy.

[Reef Rocket]

I'm satisfied with my Florida 14' George Robinson (GR Designs) downwinder. I'm 5'10" and between 180-200lbs most of the time. Haven't been putting the distance on it that you want but hope to increase distance each paddle. Keys Waters. If you are on the east coast and near Melb. you could bang heads with George easy enough. Give him a call.

[Bald Brother]

Know George a little. Didn't know he was making SUP's. Makes sense though. I've seen some nice paddleboards shaped by him.

Thanks for all the replies and please let me know what you ride.

[chad19]

that's a long way. having said that, i'm planning on doing the round-Key West in May.

i like touring type boards. paddled the hobie 12'6" recently and will probably race it in Key West.

otherwise, i'd like to check out some 14s.

can't see myself going unlimited because of the rudder, cables, pain-in-the-ass factor.

bark 14? Naish Glide 12 or 14?

[Pureadrenalin]

that's a long way. having said that, i'm planning on doing the round-Key West in May.

i like touring type boards. paddled the hobie 12'6" recently and will probably race it in Key West.

otherwise, i'd like to check out some 14s.

can't see myself going unlimited because of the rudder, cables, pain-in-the-ass factor.

bark 14? Naish Glide 12 or 14?

Yeah but the rudder can be a real advantage at times. Trust me we are learning that right now and with no rudder paddling on one side majority of the time can be brutal.

[Easy Rider]

See if you can find a Starboard Point some where.
I have one with a rudder and totally love it.  Great touring / fitness / distance board.
They are not made anymore - so you might be able to find one for less money.

[venice mace]

IMO Joe BARK has the corner on 14 custom race.  and they put the best finish on, which not only looks nice, but adds to the life of the board

[PonoBill]

F16 V2. It's gonna be my next downwind board. Great in the flats, tremendous in the swells. Decent price, great construction. SIC is a beehive of R&D and creativity. More going on there in a week than anywhere else I've seen in a year. It's partly because of the talent level, but also because they gained critical mass for innovative racing design before anyone else, and so became the epicenter of feedback from many of the best racers, swellriders, downwinders, channel crossers, etc., etc..  It's like Lightning bolt in the early Sunset days.

[teamalty]

I have a Naish 14' and a 17' glide because long distance, fitness and racing are my goals.  I'm 5'8" 150 lbs. and love both boards for different reasons.  I paddle most of my 70 miles a week on Lake Natoma in Sacramento going from OC-1/OC-2/ the 17' and the 14', and I use a HR monitor and GPS to check progress (technique & speed). The 14' is fast enough, steady in all conditions, but into the wind without the steering can be a pain.  The 17' is a kick into the wind: allows me to paddle evenly on both sides, cuts through bumps easily, and is faster because, I'm sure, of the steering system. Having both boards gives my options, but the 14' could be the only board because it's fast enough, fun to paddle, but into the wind can be a workout.

[Bald Brother]

Thanks for all the feedback. A great deal to think about and consider. I'll figure this out as I continue to get in shape.