infaltable windsup's

[skyking1231]

anyone one out there have experience on them ? I am thinking of maybe getting on for next season...mainly for portability...and a good training board for my kids...so ultimate preformance is not really an issue..(although the strboard looks to go pretty good). kind of like the straboard deluxe, but have no idea what size would be best.....naish looks pretty good too.

I would be looking at onse with the dagger board or center fin.

anyone ?

[gregnw44]

I think they're awesome... and will be a great way to help build some "grass-roots windsurfing" !!
I don't have much experience with them. HOWEVER, was adequately impressed when I saw an acquaintance's new Naish, that he got (I think) last year.

It was about 11' if I recall... and had either a centerboard or a center-fin.
Sorry, can't remember the details... but we pumped it up in his front yard. I'd like to sail it... but haven't stayed in contact with him to try it out.

Anyway I liked it, and I think it'll be perfect for him. And also for you, and what you want it for. Portability... light wind messing around... for training, especially kids (or lightweights)... etc.

They're lighter and stiffer than I imagined.
I figured they'd be very heavy, trying to build stiffness and durability into them. Or very flexible (not the best for windsurfing).
But really, checking it out in his front yard... and standing on it... and tossing it around... It was stiffer AND lighter than I thought it'd be. Certainly adequate for how they should be used!

So as far as I know... with limited experience with them... I think they're pretty cool.
Greg

[nw30]

Don't forget the blow up sail~

[skyking1231]

oh my lord..... blow up sail ?

yeah i was amazed at how stiff the starboard was...i keep thinking of an iflatable raft for a pool...when i think of infalatable SUPs. some of these BIG sups are pushing 400L of volume.... can take the whole family out...BBQ and cooler....

[beaglebuddy]

Stay tuned, they are working on prototype shortboards with footstraps and all.
They can get more buoyancy from an inflatable than a similar dimension conventionally constructed board, won't ding etc.. Coming soon.

[brynkaufman2]

I have paddled an inflatable, and for paddling I prefer it.

The ease of carrying it and not worrying about it being dinged are awesome.

However, when it came time to buy a WindSUP for more windsurfing use, I was concerned about the performance, so I bought the hard board instead.

You mentioned performance is not an issue, so I think you could have a lot of fun with it. The kids would love it.

[brynkaufman2]

NW30, that inflatable sail I assume is discontinued, and that is too bad.

To me the idea makes sense in light wind situations.

If I am surfing in light winds with my WindSUP I prefer my http://www.aerotechsails.com/sup.html vs. a high performance sail.

The problem with that sail though is if the winds come up it is not stable. If they could allow it to wrap around the mast and instead of the vertical battens use horizontal battens that you can inflate quickly, it might be more stable.

The 30 second rigging on the WindSUP is really fun, and provides more time on the water!

I am still hoping for a 30 second rigging sail that is stable in high winds and light in the waves.

[skyking1231]

yeah...if it is preformance...hardboard....

but the fact that it is in a backpack..(maybe a little heavy)...but i can throw it in the boat...and if no wind....the kids can have at...take the centerboard out..and it is raft.

[isobars]

The inflatable race SUPs are faster than the hard ones, to the extent that some of the more progressive marques are developing inflatables to stay competitive. Source: The Gorge SUP shop, Big Winds.

[nw30]