I'm fairly new to sup - 6mths, about once a week on a Naish 11'6" - both flat water & small waves. I'm currently in the market for a smaller sup for the waves, and something that the wife & kids can muck around on. The wife is reluctant atm, and I can't see much chance of me enjoying sup if i don't get the whole family involved/interested in it - w/surfing has already caused that, I don't need another sport that creates a bigger gap.

At 110kgs, I've been offered a s/h Walden 9'4" for a pretty good price locally, and took it for a play in some very small waves yesterday...at about 140lts and my weight plus wetty on it I was surprised at the stability, (although I had to keep paddling for balance).

LENGTH WIDTH THICK VOLUME FINS APPROX WEIGHT RANGE
9'4'' 29'' 4 1/2'' 141 ltr Walden 9" + FCS GL Sides 80kg / 176lb or less

I also had a play on a Starboard element (9'8") a couple of weeks ago & enjoyed that too.

My question is - should I consider a board like the Walden? Will I eventually get the balance needed, or will it too much hard work in wind/chop (none yesterday) & I'd be better off looking at a board with more length/width/vol? I'm hoping that by the year's end, I'll be <100kgs, so that might make a diff also.

Also, any suggestions at what would be a good board for what I want it for?

I don't mean to hijack this post, but I am in the same boat. I also recently started SUPing and am enjoying my 11'6" Naish Nalu in small surf and doing the odd down-winder on my own while my wife drives up the coast to pick me up and usually has enough time to pick up an ice-cream for the kids along the way. We're all getting involved while on the beach. The kids are happy catching waves on their foam boards and my li'l 9-year old is ripping. The only drawback is that my wife is finding the board simply too long and too heavy to carry from the ute to the beach. Ideally, and I think I'm still along your line of thought, a second board is in order to get the wife involved but something we could also steal to have a couple of short-board style waves on our own. Am i on track?

I've just re-read your original post. Why isn't the family climbing on board that big 11 and a half footer of yours? If they are older and/or heavier than my scrawny 24kg 9-year old who sits and surfs tandem with me then you could always pick up some cheap 7" foam boards from BCF at less than a $100 a pop and get them on the water.

mooty, don't worry about hijacking, there's another thread started here that I nearly hijacked, but decided to start my own. Feel free to jump in!

Btw, after waiting a few hours I also posted here - www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Volume-revisited/

Some good answers. I reckon I'll demo some boards that are recommended, and talk to the shop owners for advice also.

My wife is around 55 kg. I'm aiming towards a 9'5" or 9' Naish Mana. All the fellow SUP folk around here in Cairns reckon I should keep hauling the big 11.5 foot board down to the beach for her until she gets her feet under some of the little swells that occasionally come through. The problem is that she is unable to enjoy some quiet paddles while myself and kids are at work/school throughout the week.

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mooty said...

Why isn't the family climbing on board that big 11 and a half footer of yours?

Wife doesn't like the cold or being 'told' (asked) to try anything new! She's from a farm background & would jump on a horse bareback in a second before trying sup.
8yo boy is slowly getting into surfing & we've tandem'd on the 11'6" a few times - fun!
6yo girl is prob the most likely, loves fishing, practicing w/surfing by hanging onto my thumbs when I'm sitting down on a chair, stands on my legs & jumps around...but she's got a bit of a phobia about waves at the moment - working through that!

Both kids do what their mum says (which is good), but if I don't get her out, they generally don't come either.

Hey Mooty
I was in the same situation and I sold my wifes 11'4 and bought her a 9'6
which for her at under 50kgs is good for DW coastal cruiser and surfs
you and your wife are welcome to try Ai's 9'6 (older version of this years 9'5)
you could also ask Robyn she has 9' mana and she is doing really well on it
just FB message me