Back when we started paddle boarding in 2010, we picked up two fiberglass Naish boards https://naishusa.com/. One was a cross over that had a track for adding a windsurf set up, and the other was more of a wave style. They were great! We used them in Mexico on our second cruise for exercise, transportation, touring bays, and surfing. We had a custom rack on our 40 foot monohull for day use, and lashed them under the boom with the dinghy on top for offshore passages.
When we returned to France for season 2 on our new-to-us boat in 2017 2017 Season two: 2 week update, we found a local fabricator called Redwood Paddles in Perpignon France https://redwoodpaddle.com/en/, and they delivered a new board to us at the dock, which was really the only way we could have gotten it there! There were a lot more inflatable models around but we weren’t ready to make the switch. This board has been used for all all the above except surfing..not much surf to be had here in the Med!
The big advantages we found with the hard boards were their stability and tracking, when compared to the early inflatable models. Mates of ours were using 2 of the first generation inflatable boards in Mexico in our 2011-12 season. They noted difficulty getting them pumped up to sufficient rigidity and they weren’t any good for surfing. I think they referred to them as their “Big Bananas”.
The down sides to a hard SUP are basically storage and fragility. Although we haven’t had any issues with the one’s we have, and both of our 10 year old boards are still going strong back in the PNW. The 5 year old French board is doing well too, although it doesn’t get used as much due to the nature of our seasonal cruising. The other thing we’ve noticed is that our hard SUP is quite a bit slower in the water than the new generation inflatable boards. As we look forward to getting off the dock soonish, we are starting to look around for a more current inflatable SUP that might work for us.
While there are many brands out there, we remain enamored with the Naish brand. We find their gear last’s well and have had Naish windsurf boards through the 90’s and early 2000’s, as well as our original 2 SUP’s which are going on 11 years old.
Naish Brand offer an extensive range of Inflatable SUP’s for guys and gals, from a one design race model all the way through touring, wave riding, cross over for windsurfing, kiting, and basic beginner models. Check out their inflatable SUP line up with photos’ here https://naishusa.com/collections/inflatables
Five Reasons to Consider an Inflatable SUP
1. They can be Cheaper
As you know, good sporting equipment can come with a hefty price tag. Fiberglass surfboards and paddle boards are no exception..enter the inflatable paddle board. Because there isn’t the foam core and two-part epoxy construction like with the standard boards, the time to construct an inflatable paddle board is much less, which in turn makes it cheaper to produce. This type of construction also translates to a lighter weight and lower shipping costs, compared to the hard shell predecessor.
2. They are Easier to Lift and Carry
I bet you have seen people struggle with their canoe as they try to get it from their car to the water, or someone carrying bulky windsurf gear down the beach, or folks fighting to lift their bikes up onto a roof rack. With a lightweight inflatable paddle board, most people can easily maneuver their gear from their vehicle to the water and get to the fun part quickly! Although there are many sizes of boards available, depending on if you want to wave surf or paddle on flat water, the weight range is 15-40 pounds, averaging around 30 pounds. The placement of the hand holds disperses the weight so the board is balanced when you carry it. In windy conditions (which aren’t great for surfing or paddling sports anyway), you can use a strap to help control the board from moving around.
3. They are Easier to Store
Even on a Catamaran this is still a big plus, and one of the reasons we are considering an inflatable board.
If you are lucky, you have finally moved into that house/apartment near the beach that you have been dreaming about. (Or you just bought your dream boat!) Yes, you had to sacrifice size for location, but you made it! Guess what? An inflatable paddle board is easy to store. Imagine trying to fit a 12 foot fiberglass board into any apartment without bumping into doorways or knocking light fixtures and fans. The inflatable paddle board can be deflated, rolled up, and stored in an area the size of a medium backpack. (No problem leaving your board inflated if you have a double garage with tonnes of storage space either.) Oh, and it’s great for sailors too. You can imagine there isn’t much space on a sailboat for extra gear once the dinghy, Jerry cans, BBQ, and extra sail bags have been stowed. Storage problem solved!
Oh, and lets not forget that it makes traveling with your board possible! Airlines have limits on luggage allowances and size so an inflatable SUP really shines for the adventurous travelers out there!
4. They can be More Durable
The newer models of Inflatable Paddle Boards have superior construction and are much better at holding their pressure than the earlier generations. In addition, if the wind catches your board and you bump it on the asphalt when walking across a parking lot, you aren’t going to have to break out the ding kit. The chances of serious injury if you get rolled in the surf is also lessened. The added durability will allow you to spend more time on the water while you become comfortable with handling your board, and avoid down time with repairs during the learning curve.
5. They are Fun!
If you have always wanted to be out there gliding smoothly over the glassy surface of the water, enjoying the quiet and seeing nature up close and personal, then an inflatable SUP might be the way to go. If you aren’t sure that you can teach yourself, no worries, there are local paddle board training schools in most communities near a body of water these days. After an hour or two, you will be confidently slicing the water as you paddle off on your first adventure. Even better, sign up with your friends or family, paddle boarding can be a new fun activity for everyone!
We have begun a Products Review page and will be posting these sorts of articles over there in the future, Cheers for reading!