Hey guys I’m pretty new to shaping and building boards, I’ve done roughly 10 start to finish on my own now. I’m getting ready to do a pair of SUP’s for my wife and I. Do yall have any good suggestions for Touring SUP templates? The boards are planned to be around 9’0” x 30 and 9’6” x 32 (I’m 6’0” 140ish, she’s 5’3” 100ish). I downloaded the sup template from greenlight but it’s pretty basic no frills and was wondering if anyone knew of any better ones. I messed around on AKU and Shape3D and was able to squeeze one out but I really struggled with the programs being it was the first time I ever tried.
The Greenlight template does not look like a bespoke touring shape, which is often more boat-like than surfboard-like. A surfboard-like shape will be draggy paddling for long distances.
I would do some more market research and try to attend a demo ride day with some boards that interest you and yours.
“Touring SUP shapes are designed for speed, tracking, and efficiency over long distances on flat water, typically featuring a pointed nose, a displacement hull, and a long, narrow profile. Ranging usually from 11’6" to 14’0"+, these boards slice through water better than all-around boards, with added width for stability and bungee storage for gear.
For beginners in calm conditions, a 30-32 inch wide touring board is recommended, while more experienced paddlers can opt for narrower widths under 30 inches for maximum speed.
Key Touring SUP Shape Features:
Displacement Hull (Pointed Nose): Unlike surf-style planing hulls, touring bows are shaped like a kayak or boat to pierce water and chop, reducing drag and increasing efficiency.
Longer Length: Generally 11’6” to 14’ or more, providing improved glide per stroke and better capacity for gear.
Narrower Width: Usually 28–32 inches, enhancing speed but requiring more balance than all-around boards.
Rocker Profile: flatter rockers allow for maximum water contact and speed, while subtle nose rocker helps handle chop.
Volume & Rail Shape: Higher volume, boxier rails provide stability, often with wider tail options to improve steadiness for longer, slower journeys.
Variations of Touring Shapes:
Adventure/Touring: Wider and more stable, often featuring more cargo storage for multi-day trips.
Race/Touring: Longer (14’) and narrower for maximum speed, designed for fitness and covering ground quickly.
Rounded V Nose: A hybrid style that offers stability in choppy conditions while still maintaining speed on flatwater.”
Yea I searched all around for an available templates and came up with nothing. I think my aku template might be closer than I gave myself credit for. I tried to strike a balance between a “all around” and a touring shape. I also used ChatGPT to aid in designing so this wasn’t just me winging it. I exported the file last night maybe I’ll send it to a print shop and just go for it
I’m in South Carolina so there is very little surf industry here and doubt there’s anyone doing demo days. I’m pretty much on my own for this one. This is the template I came up with AI’s help. Ignore the foil thickness and rocker I’m only using the outline as a template
Okay I was wondering what a hull style bottom would look like on something like this. That makes alot of sense.
I also use AI to help come up with basic build sheets and tailor different style boards to different sized people. So far it’s been really good, I’ve been using it for 6 months or so. It’s not perfect but it usually can get me to the point where I can rough out my shape, foil, and then use more traditional practices from there to dial it in. As an amateur it’s been huge and most of the boards have gotten great feedback.
I think AI can be a lot more useful for these types of projects than a lot of people give it credit for. You obviously can’t blindly trust it but for someone new to the game living in a part of the country where there is zero shaping infrastructure to learn it’s definitely helped me skip a ton of guesswork.
Touring SUP’s are typically more kayak like than surfboard. Longer sometimes wider. The most prominent aspects are the bottom contours especially the front portion. More like the bow of a boat. Try The Marko Foam website. I have a couple of touring SUP blanks that I got from Marko. They cut a couple of nice ones. PM me if you decide to contact them. I have a cell #.
