can you tell me am I making the right choice???

Hi Andy,

Just a few suggestions to think about?

If you're going to be using the board mainly in the bay, I'd suggest thinking about getting a second hand 12'6" race board (Starboard, Naish, DC etc.), if you can find a bargain (there's usually a few in the buy and sell on here). It would be great for cruising in the bay and they can be loads of fun in small surf too.

There's also a few brands starting to do smaller/scaled down 'race' shapes for cruising and small waves now which could be another option. I'm pretty sure DC has made a few of these and there's an 11'4 Amundson too.

If you're not keen on something that big and want to be able to surf in some bigger stuff, then 10'6" to 11'6" would be a good size to look at. You will lose a little glide on the 10'6" but it's probably a little easier to throw around in the surf, so really up to you, but from what you're saying you would be using it for, i'd recommend going the longer board.

Also would recommend looking around for a good condition second hand board from one of the major brands (Starboard, Naish, NSP, Fanatic, Surftech etc.) they have proven strong/lasting construction and if you get a good 2nd hand board from a reputable brand you will lose a lot less if you decide to sell it and upgrade than if you get a new Sideways board and want to sell it down the track. Just my opinion, but i'm sure (based on a lot of similar questions in the past) that plenty of others would recommended the same thing.

Best to demo as much as you can before you buy so you can feel the differences between different boards and what feels best under your feet.

Hope you enjoy whatever you decide to buy and have plenty of fun on the water this summer as you get to love this sport as much as many of us here on the forum do too.

Thank you for all of the advice ill take it all in!!!

not really keen on a race style board to start with leaning more towards the all round style, 11ft sounds like the best idea for me..

get yourself a psh 12,6 , best all round board out there.

AndyR

Agree with Alicat and Billboard 100%

I live in Wynnum and paddle most of the time in the bay.

We went through the same process as you when new to the sport, and bought cheap "no-name" boards first up, all round 11foot plus styles. Great to learn on, and good for kids, but we outgrew them real fast.

Now have a Javelin 12'6, Fanatic Flatwater 14 (these 2 are the wifes), Naish Javelin 14 and Starboard Coastrunner. To be honest the Starboard gets the most work in the bay due to the chop and windy conditions most of the time. The starboard is super stable and loves the choppy/windy conditions.

Like the others said, my advice is buy a 2nd hand stable race board. Javelin is a bit tricky in chop, so I would say a Starboard or Fanatic. Try and test both, and maybe in 12'6 and 14. Once you have these boards you won't look back. Haven't ridden the PSH, so can't comment.

Billboard is spot on with the resale value too !!!!!

There a stacks of boards around for under a grand, the paddle though is the exxy bit. If you really must buy a cheap board at least get a decent paddle and a shlt board otherwise your paddle is gunna break and your board is gunna be worthless when you sell it - thats not good economics. You can get a decent paddle for around $300 - a naish makani or similar is I think around that, and they are excellent paddles.
That then leaves you around $700 to spend on a board and that will get you a half decent second hand board.
You will also find most good sup retailers are now carrying some sort of range of "cheap" boards and that may also allow you to trade it back for better $ when you upgrade. I know roar industries on the goldy do this and it works well- so ring around.

Hi Andy

I'm also new to the sport & have a similar situation as you - after an allrounder (I'm prob more 50% surf / 50% flat water - and want to be able to have a kid on the front) & about the same weight and an inch or 2 shorter. I also didn't want to spend the $$$$ for a top line board and I was also after a 2nd board for the wife so I was on a budget of around $1000 per board.

I have riden both shortboards and mal's for about 20 years so I have an understanding about shape/design etc. and what different features will offer but as I said no experience in the sup world (where all dimensions are much bigger). I decided to buy a couple of 'Atlantis Halo' from the surfboard warehouse after having a chat with both the owner and shop manager (they both surf and have good knowledge). They have a shop on the Gold Coast & 1 on the Sunshine Coast, or you can get them online, so it would be easy for you to check them out (they also have other boards around the same price). If you drive to the GC you could also check out the Gulliver at the same time & see which best suits you. I liked the shape of the Atlantis Halo and felt it offered good value for money as a starter board, and if I get hooked and the shortboard starts getting dusty, I can alway upgrade to a 'high performance brand name' board down the track. . The way I looked at it was if I paid $1500 - $1700 for a brand name board & sold it for $1200 - $1000 I've lost $400 - $500. If I pay $900 for a new board I only need to sell it for $500 for the same result (or my kids inherent them).

Was my decision a good one? - time will tell, but it's what suited my situation at the time and it has given me the chance to get into the sport. I've only had 1 quick paddle so far (15 mins shared with wife) on flat water and it felt good but not enough usage to give any reports at this stage. (I did a few demo days on the Starboards , Naish etc so I do have something to bench mark against.) I won't get the chance to spend anytime on it till next weekend but more then happy to give you a report if you want one (I have done a few lessons but my lack of technic may cloud the results some what!). As I stated earlier I'm no expert and others on here with knowledge and experience may have a different view!

I went for a 10'6 for the wife (it the biggest board I could get that will actually fit inside my Prado so she can go for a paddle without me & not have to put the board on the roof, and no doubt drop it) and a 10' for me (a bit easier in the surf and slightly less glide then the 10'6 so I don't have to slow up for the wife as much when on the flat water).

Husky

Thanks I'm heading down the coast to do just that check out the Atlantis and the guliver boards at the end of the week...

My answer to the last comment...
All I have done for the past week is research research and research all boards... Still no expert what so ever but think what I have to say has some merit..
I don't see how you can say all cheaper boards are crap... These two brands Atlantis and guliver are both made is AUS (support locals first) and by genuine people, watch the you tube clips of Damien guliver and tell me he doesn't know what he is talking about and makes crap boards.
I've spoken to him over the phone and from first impressions you couldn't get a more honest talking guy about the industry..

Naish boards are made in Thailand how do you even know the makers in Thailand care about the boards they are making I'm sure some do but sure some its just a job no true passion about what they are doing, when a local guy on the Gold Coast this is his lively hood if he makes **** his reputation goes **** and he's out of business.

At this stage my budget is $1000 I want an all round board including paddle for $1000 I haven't found anything that has got my attention second hand from (overseas brands) yet.. I want to get into the sport and start having fun,
I'm not after a world class performing board that I need to keep for 10years. I need something that is within my budget and will get me on the water learning this sport ASAP

hold on I have asked for advice and I have been very thankful for everyones input which is all great and I am taking it all in.

I haven't refused anyones advice at all... I haven't said anyone is wrong I am in no position to say that as I am on the outside of this sport at present.
my last comment wasn't saying he is wrong I was simply trying to give my opinion back about one particular aussie made boards manufacture and the people that make them. from my research and talking to people who have used guliver boards they are up there with the big named brands coming in from overseas.
the surfboard making industry is getting killed by mass produced overseas stuff in recent years and I personally know a couple of top board makers run out of business because of this which is sad there talents and passion are now going to waste, I am a big believer in supporting the aussie market in what ever way possible and if I can find a half decent aussie made board I would be stoked to help the industry stay alive.

I know I said I would be paddling in the bay most of the time which may end up being true but the reason I would like a little shorter than a 12foot is 10'6 will fit inside my car for travelling and I am pretty keen to learn to surf the thing as I come from a bit of a surfing background.

please keep the advice coming I am taking it all in and it is ultimately teaching me more and more about the gear used in this sport and I appreciate every bit of it..

Gulliver boards are made in china just like most other sup brands. As with everything from china you get good and bad. The country that manufactures the sup isn't important. Its what company/factory it came from.
As was said all the top brands are made by Cobra including naish, fanatic, jp, etc.

HI Andy

Hate to let you down but The atlantis halo is made in china but is designed in australia and made using australia materials and I would be surprised if the gulliver is any different but I've never looked into it.

I think you will find most boards are made in asia some where - global surf industries make a heap of brands in china, starboards made in thailand I believe, and the list goes on.

Its the machine thats shaping these boards the same time and time again and they are made with the materials specified by the designer, so if the materials are of good quality and the design is good it doesn't matter if this happens in china, Australia, or where ever (excluding supporting the local manufacture view). Its the local labour that finish them off and this is where you take the risk - some are comfortable with this and others aren't. My personal view is that any worker pumping out a mass produced board, whether its a 'name brand' or 'no name brand' can do a good job or **** job. The quality control in the brand name board is probably of a higher standard and less **** jobs slip thru, who knows!

The reality is that boards such as Gulliver and Atlantis are not constructed to the same standard as the Naish/starboard due to designers spec, not the fact they are made in china, but they are also in a different price point. Take a look at PSH range - I believe that the 'ripper' range is made to a higher standard then the 'paddle' range (which has the similar construction standard as the Halo) and is accordingly priced dearer, but both carry the same brand name.

In the end your choice of board is... your choice of board. We all have different situations to juggle (fulltime/part time use, advanced rider v someone having a bit of fun, budget, etc). I also couldn't find a 2nd hand brand name for the price I could afford to pay and wanted a board sooner then later, so I chose the board made in china. I'm the one who is going to suffer if it was a bad decision and I am comfortable with that. Make the decision you feel comfortable with and live with it whether its good or bad. Its not life or death and you can always upgrade if and when you improve. Good luck with your decision and I hope you get joy out of your new toy!

P.S remember I'm as new to this sport as you!

Now from what i see Fanatic, Starboard and now DC(NSP) all have a large Aussie presence in development and made in the best factory!! I would be looking at this stuff!! There must be something in the buy and sell on here for $1000 and if theirs not then it shows how well the boards hold their value.

Cheers Jacko

Or contact this guy?

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/Help-Wife-bought-me-the-WRONG-SUP/?page=-2#lastpost

Well guys I made a purchase, couldn't resist waiting any longer for a brand name 2nd hand to come along that was right for me so I grabed a 11foot atlantis halo 2013 model.
Atlantis rrp is $1650 seems a little inflated but surfboard warehouse doing a special for $999 for 11" but talked it down to $899 then grabbed a brand new "big Betty" 9" full carbon solid paddle on sale for $200

Had a good long chat with mike the store manager on the sunny coast about the board and all, and spoke to a couple other atlantis board owners
Also before buying I managed to go demo a naish 10"6 to see what that felt like.

Honestly all good reports about the quality in the new models, all said super tough and a good ride with a nice shape. Obviously no one has had one that long to see how the hold up over time yet.

I took my board out for a good paddle almost 1hr and 30mins out in Moreton bay this afternoon was really windy and choppy so paddled into the wind as long as I could before turning around and crusing back to the beach. Glad I got the 11" and not the 10"6 for these choppy days (I'm sure intime if I am going to mainly just paddle in the bay I will want more of a race style board but I was stoked with how this board handled the chop, nice and stable and it felt it had good glide, don't really have anything to compare the paddle to but being a wide paddle it felt like I made the right choice to help with pushing along the water for an inexperienced paddler.

So now I guess time will tell will the board hold up? I think it will and hope it will but hey if 3 or 6months down the track it's falling apart ill happily eat my words and say " I should of listened to you all and held out longer for a *brand name board*"

One decent paddle and I'm hooked cant wait to get out on the water a couple of times a week. also thinking of getting some coaching as I'm sure my paddling technique can do with a lot of fine tuning!

Can I thank everyone again for the advice and input you all gave I really appreciate it!!

I totally agree mate, I am just a novice and more than happy with my board so far, will be using it plenty over the summer months!!