Windsup Recommendations (more sup than wind)

Nicknovak · Joined: 04 Mar 2016 Posts: 1

I live in a mostly flat water area (think Great Lakes) and want to get a SUP that can also windsurf. Obviously, a lot of the suggestions on here are for people who want a windsurfer they can paddle, but I anticipate paddling 80% of the time and and windsurfing to always be less than 20 knots (probably more in the 10 knot range).

I'm 6'1" and 195lbs. Was thinking an inflatable for portability. I've taken beginner windsurf lessons and really want something for exploring and tooling around the bay and learning a bit more about using the wind. I tried kitesurfing, and it was a blast, but was turned off by the pretty strict need to not venture away from shore too far.

Would appreciate suggestions on board and sail.

U2U2U2 · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 10:53 am Post subject:

On page 1 , there are several threads that address, wind SUP, AND inflatables.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Don't think inflatables just because they're portable. The are serious, high performance boards that win paddle races so well that the hard-board mfrs are scrambling to modify their board flex patterns to catch up.

(When I "think Great Lakes", I think some of the gnarliest terrain I've seen (we've seen pictures of it). I guess it depends on where you live and what seasons you sail in.)

How far off shore you want to venture depends at least on how far you're willing to swim, how important the price of a kite is to you, and whether your winds are on- or off-shore. In the latter case, I'd probably tether myself to shore no matter what toy I was using (or drive to a sideshore launch).

Mike \m/

LUCARO · Joined: 07 Dec 1997 Posts: 661

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

lucaro said:

LeeD · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 1175

I have a couple of inflatable SUP in Puerto Rico on the East side of the island.
10' x 30" with a progressive rocker and a clean outline (Ten Toes), they work very well as SUP, horrid for surfing waves bigger than 1 foot (tail is too thick causing the middle of the board to stick), and would be fine for windsurfing if I just installed some straps to hold the mast base in place.
Pumped up to 12+ lbs., extremely rigid for my 150 lbs., meaning you'd be using the recommended 15 lbs air pressure.
We've used them around 25 days now, half of which they carried up to 300lbs. (two kids of 75 plus one of us), and seem stable and easy to paddle.

jam-1 · Joined: 23 Mar 1999 Posts: 81 Location: Redwood City

Hi, Simmer Style makes a line of inflatable SUPs.
http://www.simmerstyle.com/sup/Default.aspx

Cheers,
James

U2U2U2 · Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 10:52 am Post subject:

brynkaufman2 · Joined: 10 Sep 2002 Posts: 383 Location: Kailua Oahu

I have http://www.bicsup.com/products/ace-tec-sup,3,101/10-6-ace-tec-sup-wind,990.html.

I love it. Easy to carry with the handle. Tri-fin so the center fin is not long which is good for shallow water. Seems to be really well made. I paddle it 90% of the time, put a WindSUP sail on it about 10%. Reasonably priced and no vent plug to worry about.

Fun in waves if you get them some times. I had an inflatable and maybe it was just the brand, but after weeks sitting there it would lose some air and I would have to pump it again. For my situation I like something to just grab and go, but if you are planning on fully deflating it after your session, I guess that does not matter.

Any questions on this board just let me know.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Remember, all inflatable SUP's are designed for breezes less than 10, and light duty windsurfing only.
No riding 5' waves, no gusts much more than 10.
The Starboard is designed so the mast track pops off the board, a safety feature. Most other inflatable SUP's will just rip the glue right off the mast track attachment under planing loads.