I have a couple of questions for those of you who continually bring up paddling prone as the solution to making progress in a head winds.
First, how far are some of you paddling and what type of board is being used? There seems to be an obvious surfing bias here and I'm guessing most in this discussion are using planing boards that are under 11 feet and under in length. Surfing sups are easy to paddle prone on and usually the distances involved are quite short.
What happens when the SUP being used is over 30" wide with an instep deck of over one inch? GOOD LUCK paddling prone for any length of time on touring/expedition/race SUP like this on several hour excursions. Not everyone is paddling planing/surfing style SUPs without instep decks. Some paddlers are going out for an entire day, covering large distances, and sometimes paddling prone just isn't going to cut it. My board is 31.5" wide, with a sunken deck and it's very uncomfortable to paddle prone to say the least. Throw in a sustained headwind on a paddle that lasts several hours in variable conditions, and having a two piece kayak paddle is actually a very wise investment. Not just for making progress in a headwind either. When you are many miles from home and your primary paddle breaks, then it's not a bad idea to have an extra paddle.
you could also read a weather map so you don't have to paddle into headwinds for hours
The people who figure it's a good idea will buy one.
The people who figure it's not a good idea won't buy one.
Strikes me as a another piece of equipment that would be good to have as a safety precaution along with the buoyancy vest, radio, etc.
The back up paddle is a valid point.
If I was forced into having to paddle my 11'4" with my hands to make headway I'd be more inclined to paddle it in a kneeling position to get better reach like on a surf lifesaving rescue board.
Should be able to do that on wider boards with inset decks.
Not going to be fun if you're not accustomed to paddling surfboards and the like though.
i don't wait for perfect weather conditions, i just want to know what the conditions are and if the conditions are that radom on the lake why don't you take the safe option and use a kayak
if you don't want the safe route- then STAND UP - just because something gets invented dose not mean it's wortwhile or progresses an activity or skill
byehttp://www.life.com/gallery/25371/image/3270485#index/0
fo·rum/ˈfôrəm/Noun
1. A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
2. An Internet message board.
or these
after my "Hey DJ stay on topic" but those smilies are so small on the netbook I use I can hardly see them and so didn't bother.
thanks i will to stick my SUPing and surfing for what they where intended for, which you spend too much time wanting to change
Welcome to "the Breeze". Robon. Quite frankly I think that all healthy discussion about watercraft is fantastic. You seem to be getting quite personal and dismissive of others opinions.
Please don't let your obvious passion cloud your ability to argue rationally. No thread is ever "hijacked", the discussion does hovever sometimes diverge from the core topic. Keep the great ideas coming but don't expect people to have to agree with them. I personally look forward to the great explorative work that people like you and Kaigyr are engaging in.
PS. Sorry Cuttlefish- definitely not directed at you, just a general observation of the animosity that was developing.
Please don't let your obvious passion cloud your ability to argue rationally. No thread is ever "hijacked", the discussion does hovever sometimes diverge from the core topic. Keep the great ideas coming but don't expect people to have to agree with them. I personally look forward to the great explorative work that people like you and Kaigyr are engaging in.
