I'm sure, like any hobby, the answer is yes. But I'd rather not if I can get by.

I am 75kg, and I reckon a beginner intermediate SUP. Mainly on the Swan River and aim is for fitness. The last few sessions, I would go for an hour paddle and end up doing about 7km. I have tried a low wind (5-8kn) downwinder for about 11km and that was fun, but not hugely exciting. I am currently on on older (2005-2010?) Starboard Cruiser 12'6" x 30".

Now I really like this Cruiser as it has a windsurf attachment which I use often for low wind practice, it seems to glide well going faster than a mate who's on a shorter new SUP, and it seems to be tough! It lives on my roofrack all the time.

Right now, I am thinking I want to go a bit faster for my paddling. I can't see myself going on the surf soon, but I may enjoy beginner races if they exist in Perth.

My main aim is to be able to paddle when there is a light breeze, and to go faster for the same effort. At the moment, with my board and skills, I am afraid to go SUP whenever there is more than 3-5 kn of wind as it is too much effort. So, is there another board I should look at? Would a touring board of 12'6 x 31.5" be faster than my current board? How much faster?

Try doing a local race. You will then learn whether you are constitutionally inclined to enjoy putting in the effort required to go fast. At the moment you are stuck in a cycle of going out only when conditions are boring because that's all the effort you are willing to expend, and then complaining when it's not very exciting. Exciting stuff (like downwinding) *will* require physical effort. If you do a race, that will get the adrenaline flowing and you'll find out something about yourself. A new board won't make you go significantly faster unless you are willing to put the effort in. Maybe you just will never be particularly inclined to do that. That's fine: most people just bimble around on their SUPs just enjoying taking it easy. But if you want excitement instead then that is going to go hand in hand with physical exertion. Going faster is going to require physical exertion no matter what board you are on.

I suspect that since you are taking the time to post on a forum, you are just about to start upon a more serious paddling career. But only you can know this. So go do a race on your present board and see how you enjoy that. Meet other people to paddle with. See if you are willing to commit the time and effort it will take to make getting a new board worth it.

I didn't need to read your post. The answer to that question is always "Yes."

I think you've thought it out all wrong. It's not about " Needing" a new board. It's about "Wanting" a new board.

You don't need a new board is something my wife tells me.

I personally doubt that going a little bit faster on a lighter/narrower/expensive board will become exciting, especially once the novelty of paddling a new board wears off.

Excitement may come if:

1. You paddle in stronger winds (up or down wind)
2. You set yourself speed or distance goals
3. You paddle in different locations
4. You go out in the surf
5. You paddle in front of boats and see if you can get out of the way in time.

#5 is not recommended but it will be exciting

See if you can try out a 12'6" x 28" rather than 12'6" x 31.5". At your weight, you could definitely handle the skinnier race board width rather than the tourer. The Perth shops should be able to help you out with a demo board.

The tourer will be a bit faster than the old cruiser, but not mind blowingly faster. What you find when you get down to the 28" and narrower boards is that the speed increases significantly, but also, compared with the old cruiser shapes, the way a race board cuts through the water actually feels substantially faster and it offers you more encouragement to keep working.

Flog the old one and get a race/downwind/touring- heaps better performance and there has been heaps of good second hand ones around, if you play your cards right you could probably make the transaction with just a couple hundred out of pocket

If your on the swan. Rudder Steer will allow you to go out in windier days and enjoy it.

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carbine said...
If your on the swan. Rudder Steer will allow you to go out in windier days and enjoy it.

In real winds a rudder makes f*$k all difference. It's more effective to get right forward on the board to loosen the tail. If you've got a rudder you can't do that because you need to stand on, or in front of, the rudder mech and the boards are not designed to be used like that.

But yes, it sounds like the OP only goes out in mild breezes, so a ruddered board might help, IF he can find one.

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rockmagnet said...
I think you've thought it out all wrong. It's not about " Needing" a new board. It's about "Wanting" a new board.

You don't need a new board is something my wife tells me.

The correct number of boards is ALWAYS N+1, where N is your current number of boards.

You do have one big problem with the way you look at it I never have my bike my sup or any other toy I just buy for someone else to have and he give me to us it like wife kids mother they need more.I look at the cruising board of nap 14 on 28 coconut build I now think they would love it it's look fast very lightweight and beautiful

Thanks all for your responses...

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Area10 said..
Try doing a local race. You will then learn whether you are constitutionally inclined to enjoy putting in the effort required to go fast. At the moment you are stuck in a cycle of going out only when conditions are boring because that's all the effort you are willing to expend, and then complaining when it's not very exciting. Exciting stuff (like downwinding) *will* require physical effort. If you do a race, that will get the adrenaline flowing and you'll find out something about yourself. A new board won't make you go significantly faster unless you are willing to put the effort in. Maybe you just will never be particularly inclined to do that. That's fine: most people just bimble around on their SUPs just enjoying taking it easy. But if you want excitement instead then that is going to go hand in hand with physical exertion. Going faster is going to require physical exertion no matter what board you are on.

I suspect that since you are taking the time to post on a forum, you are just about to start upon a more serious paddling career. But only you can know this. So go do a race on your present board and see how you enjoy that. Meet other people to paddle with. See if you are willing to commit the time and effort it will take to make getting a new board worth it.

Hi Area10, for some reason (maybe the bloody cold), I am not seeing any gathering of SUPers around at the moment. I have joined Facebook groups and Meetups and they have been cancelling meets more oftem than not. Anyway, I can SUP on my own - it is just harder to learn without seeing how everyone else does it. I'm not interested in just "bimble around" but want a workout without injury.

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cantSUPenough said..
I personally doubt that going a little bit faster on a lighter/narrower/expensive board will become exciting, especially once the novelty of paddling a new board wears off.

Excitement may come if:

1. You paddle in stronger winds (up or down wind)
2. You set yourself speed or distance goals
3. You paddle in different locations
4. You go out in the surf
5. You paddle in front of boats and see if you can get out of the way in time.

#5 is not recommended but it will be exciting

I am up for #1,2,3. And have tried #5. Just not yet interested in surf.

Select to expand quote

PTWoody said..
See if you can try out a 12'6" x 28" rather than 12'6" x 31.5". At your weight, you could definitely handle the skinnier race board width rather than the tourer. The Perth shops should be able to help you out with a demo board.

The tourer will be a bit faster than the old cruiser, but not mind blowingly faster. What you find when you get down to the 28" and narrower boards is that the speed increases significantly, but also, compared with the old cruiser shapes, the way a race board cuts through the water actually feels substantially faster and it offers you more encouragement to keep working.

Thanks. As a complete impulse I have gone and bought a used Starboard Allstar 12'6 x 25". I like it! but more on that later.

Select to expand quote

Area10 said..

carbine said...
If your on the swan. Rudder Steer will allow you to go out in windier days and enjoy it.

In real winds a rudder makes f*$k all difference. It's more effective to get right forward on the board to loosen the tail. If you've got a rudder you can't do that because you need to stand on, or in front of, the rudder mech and the boards are not designed to be used like that.

But yes, it sounds like the OP only goes out in mild breezes, so a ruddered board might help, IF he can find one.

I never knew SUPs can have rudder. But I don't think that's for me. I have had kayaks before and that's not my thing. I can't imagine having a perfectly steerable single paddle board needing a rudder to steer.