Hi all,

I'm about 5' 11", fluctuate from 80 - 90kg and have a high centre of gravity (curlew legs, big upper body).

I've paddled fat, slow (10' 34") SUPs in flat water a dozen times or so. I've been working on my stroke and am confident but still a beginner. I'm a reasonable all-round waterman but not really good at any of it. I'm keen to get into DW paddling over winter in Cairns, FNQ, taking advantage of our consistent SE'ly trades.

I'm definitely going to get a 14' DW dugout - Probably 'One Storm' or 'Sunova Ocean Faast'.

I'm undecided on width... 26" or 28" (slightly different in Sunova)

I'm travelling and unable to demo before I buy.

I've done heaps of online research and have spoken to a few knowledgeable people and am keen on the community's thoughts. I was leaning towards the 28" but have noticed it is about the widest DW dugout available and most brands aren't even making them that wide anymore.. I'm concerned about 'outgrowing it' after a few months. Maybe the 26" would be better.

I have no intention to race but would like to be able to pull onto DW bumps.

Thoughts appreciated.

If you are a beginner, go the 28.

If a board is more stable than you need (and downwinding really tests your balance) then you can still use it. But if a board is narrower than you need, it is totally unuseable.

My guess is that you'll find a 28 quite challenging enough, though.

28 if you can put up with slow learning curve and keep the board long term or 30 easy to learn and put a smile on our face then later on buy a 26 or 28 and smiles everywhere.

Go the 28 DW is not easy and you will get sick of falling off and getting back on during a run and up your way you have crocs and Tiger Sharks so being out of the water is the best option.

If in doubt between two widths ALWAYS go with the wider of the two IMO..

Are you sure about a dugout ? if you haven't paddled one before they can be a little tricky . There are plenty of really stable flat deck DW boards to choose from including the SIC Bullets V1 & V2 , Jimmy Lewis Rail , Blue Planet bump rider , Naish Maliko & ONE Evo etc . Yes you have to move around a little on the board more than a dugout but thats' all part of the enjoyment of learning how to DW IMO )

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Nlakes said..
Are you sure about a dugout ? if you haven't paddled one before they can be a little tricky . There are plenty of really stable flat deck DW boards to choose from including the SIC Bullets V1 & V2 , Jimmy Lewis Rail , Blue Planet bump rider , Naish Maliko & ONE Evo etc . Yes you have to move around a little on the board more than a dugout but thats' all part of the enjoyment of learning how to DW IMO )

This is absolutely right. Dugouts are a love-em-or-hate-em thing. Personally I hate them: if you want to paddle a canoe then why not go all the way and get an OC or surfski? But some people like them. So best to try before you buy if you haven't already paddies a range of DW boards, both flat deck and dugout. If all SUPs were deep dugouts I'm not even sure I'd bother with the sport at all.

if you are a win-at-all-costs racer type then dugouts can be a good idea. But ownership and usership is usually harder (eg. transport, carrying, fragility, risk of dings, getting back in after a fall, dugout area getting flooded in heavy seas etc), surfing them is generally harder, and they get away from the "surf feel" of downwinding, where the footwork is half of the fun.

Thanks for the tips guys... I'll either go the 28" dugout or a good DW flat deck such as Evo... I'll try to demo both.