Hey guys I tried to search for some answers but all I got was info on stand-up paddle surfing. Texas has the worst flat spells in the summer and I have been interested in shaping a paddle boards for ultra flat days for a few years. From what i have seen they have very thick noses, shaped a lot like a boat. But aren’t these for rough water?Should I make one like a 12’ gun about 3" thick with almost no tapering to the rails? Thanks–kevin
There are a few ways you could go, flat water, open ocean, hybrid surf/paddleboard. The most practicle length is 12’.
The longer unlimiteds 16’-18’+, are faster, but a hassle to transport and store. 12’ is stock length, cheaper to build/buy too.
I built a hybrid, Clark 12’3", made it heavy, great for training and in rough to stormy conditions. Surf’s O.K., more on the paddleboard end.
It’s good to have a board you can use for both, that way your covered. Still is hard to beat the speed of a stock paddleboard, lighter and easier to move around. Your call. Either way, I highly recommend having a big board, opens up a lot of days that you just wouldn’t be able to motivate yourself to enjoy. Aloha-----
Design wise, check out Paul Jensen.com, for hybrid style. Google- eatonsurfboards.com, plenty designs to chose from.
Bottom line, wider(20"-24") with flatter bottom more stable, narrow(19"-21")round bottom, faster but takes a while to get used to.
search here for --paddle/surf hybrid–
start some where
the design most suitable for your use will only be revealed in time.
That time is in the water.
wouldn’t it be nice to have access to a number of boards to test/try out before making an investment of time and effort and $
IT would also be nice to have a garage full of autos to drive before driving one off the lot to pay for for the next five years.
the Paddle board center has not yet evolved.
the Patagonia store seems to be pursuing that morphocology.
in the realtime world It migght be most realistic
to make something close
buy a used and repair
or borrow a couple
this way you can start to
mass a body of understanding
to make qualified judgements.
stop by the house when you are in town
I’ll take you paddling on a couple
you will be suprised.
other wise just make any example
including a tom blake plywood job
You Will Have A BLAST
and as a cross training implement
you will cherish every moment.
what design sure you can Intellectualise for hours days and years
but the go out will set your mind FREE
…ambrose…
quick do it
we all may die tomorrow
oh yeah make two
its more fun to do with a friend
it gets lonely
way out there by yourself
…ambrose…
Thanks for the advice. It would be for completely flat conditions, like a lake. For the summer I will be staying within spitting distance of a pretty big lake. How much harder is it to balance a round bottom board? It would probably help my balance in the long run right?
Round bottom for a lake, no pali rebound.
gotta agree ambrose
the deep blue to purple sets you free
just keep paddlin’ and don’t look back
we’re off again today, no mo swell…again…but we do have wind
Ive got 2 paddleboard blanks that I plan on scrubbing on here pretty quick. Like Ambrose said, its alot better motivation to have my girl up knee paddling right in front of me. I wont get dropped, but I wont be to far behind her behind either.
Im finishing up my SUP/tandem right now and will be moving right into my paddleboards. I plan to shoot the whole thing and post it here, as I had a bit of trouble finding info on shaping just a paddleboard here. Luckily, I live in SoCal and was able to try out a wealth of paddleboards of buddys.
I paddled a 18’ Eaton that was 19.5 wide with a very round bottom. I could knee paddle it all day inside harbors, but as soon as I hit open ocean, any little bump pushed me straight over. I it was veeeeerrrrrryyyyyyy fast though. I also got on a 19’ Richmond that was phenominal. Very quick, super stable.
So these blocks have a bit more nose kick than most, but I want to be able to take 'em out in crap conditions. The rails will run a bit in from the deck with a flat bottom under the middle third of the board.
Im going 14’ because Im a pretty big guy (6’0-205) and still wanted to be able to race. Im not a knuckle dragging gorilla like all the elite guys, so I have no hopes of being competitve, but it seems like you can always find someone on your level to race. A 12’ would probably be a bit too small for me to achieve the glide that I am thouroughly addicted to now. (You have no idea how utterly amazing it is on a 19’ unlimited 19" wide board)
I should get these started next week or so…
Short answer, if you just want to build arm stamina, a stock class 12’ is fine. If you want to be able to get a mile or 2 off the coast, where the sound of civilization just drowns away to an uncomfortable silence and the just cruise down the coast (my favorite) go bigger. 14-16 is good if youre a bigger guy. Paddleboarding is more like cycling than weightlifting if your training. Your not burning out in a few sets, your burning out in a few thousand sets.