Can I suggest if your aiming at under $900 just take a look at some used boards of the better brands.

pandahill said...

what would be your list of the 'better' brands?
At the moment I have no clue what may be an expensive but bad brand, or a cheap and great brand. (if they exist)

Good 2nd hand board brands to look for if you are in QLD
Naish
Starboard
Fanatic
Corban
Surf teah
Simon Anderson
NSP

There are a few more but these are the most sold boards in QLD IMO i'm sure someone will add anything i might have missed on this list!!

Will you find these boards 2nd hand for $900? If you are lucky but if you do you will be way more stoked than buying a New board for under a $900. They will last longer proform better and hold there resale value waaayy better and you can sit back knowing that the board you are buying has been tested before it is put to the market and will do what is is ment to do. You will also be supporting the industrie buy supporting the companys that put money into the growth, develoment and all round keeping this amazing sport alive!!

Cheers Jacko

You are getting good advice here.

Since you are 99% going to be paddling flatwater, I'd suggest that you try to get as long a board as you can carry and store. Longer boards are generally more fun for paddling distance. You might find a secondhand Starboard 12-6 Cruiser for 900 which would do you well. It's nice and stable and when you do decide to try small waves it will cope fine.

It's best for your first board to get a really beat up but serviceable secondhand board from one of the upmarket manufacturers if you can - it will take a thrashing in those first few months and if it is well dinged before you get it you can always blame the rail chips on the previous owner!

It's easy to know which are the top brands - just google them and look at their prices...

But if you have to go new, DJ is right, the 11ft or even 11-6 NSP are great value. I've got an ex-demo beat up 11 ft NSP that I use for lending to family and friends. It cost me next to nothing when I bought it from a rental place at the end of the season, and is as tough as old boots, so I don't mind when the kids ram it up the beach or play SUP joust with it...An old Jimmy Lewis 11 ft all-rounder would do as well.

Inflatable boards are useful, safe, and fun (I have an ULI, which I've even surfed on double-overhead waves). They paddle distance reasonably well, if you can pump them up enough -it's in the surf where they show their weaknesses most. But the ones worth having are pretty expensive - about the same price new as an ordinary hard board, really. Some of the cheaper brands are just not stiff enough, and despite being full of air they are still heavy - again, about the same as an ordinary board (or in some cases heavier).

Hope this helps.

pandahill said...

Thanks for all the tips guys, very much appreciated!!

I'm still looking for those "cheap as chips" beat up but good brand boards...

They seem a bit rare at the moment. The cheapest "decent"? 11' board in Qld on the forum at the moment is still over $900..

I'll keep an eye out.

Keep looking mate and you will find one, have you checked your local SUP shops for and deals?