OK so I'm reading lots of info on board 'volume' and although i can understand that more board volume = more buoyancy and bigger/wider/thicker boards have more volume than short/thin boards I'm not sure how 'much' buoyancy is needed. I can also see that differnt styles of sup will need different flotation, eg boards for surfing may not need as much as flatwater paddling boards

Is there a simple conversion system to work out how much buoyancy is needed for various paddlers weights?

Eg does a 80kg paddler need a minimum 160l volume, will a 100kg paddler need 200l volume etc?

Any help would be great. Ta. Dave

105kg on a 130l board. Some guys will be closer 80kg to 100l just depends what you value performance or stability.

In windsurfing speak, change your weight in KGs to ltrs (95kgs = 95ltrs) and then add 10% to cover the weight of the rig.

So at 90kgs (me) I need a 99ltr board (90ltr+9ltrs or 10%).

That answers your volume versus buoyancy question but doesn't equate to stability!

Cheers

I agree design is key, volume, width, thickness, length etc on there own is no means for selection particularily as one goes for a more specific board. Any beginner can get on an 11, 12 ft plus and be happy but bordom will set in quick IMO.

I am new to this sport but have extensive experience in other water/surf activities and now tested numerous SUP boards.

I started in March 2011, weigh 76kg and am not young.

My initial aim and desire was for surfing and still is.

At the start I went to ESS on Central Coast NSW and tried many boards as a real beginner, Mark was excellent with his coaching and advice so bought an Oxbow 9' 4' which I found excellent. Then bought from ESS a 12' 6" Fanatic Race board to develop paddling and SUP fitness, this still needs lots of work but this board will help a lot.

Now have a 9' Coreban Fusion which has now got me going in good waves but for me is a struggle in onshore choppy conditions, I am getting there.

To help in difficult conditions I have tested a few boards and to my surprise my initial thoughts are now out the window. At 76kg and now a bit more skill the design that suits is lower volume ie less than 140 but 130 even better about 30" wide, 9 ftish so try Angulo 9' Surfa and Jimmy Lewis 9' 1" Kwad both surf well very stable in slop and are light good value boards.

I still like my Coreban Fusion but the others are better in slop and for me surf different style which I think suites me a bit better at this stage.

Bottom line there are numerous combinations as to what will work for each person so demo and be patient.

I am not patient so have in a short time bought too many SUPs.

I always go 20 ltrs on weight as a bare minimum for use in most conditions. You can go lower if your in perfect waves, but it'll be challenging. Up from there, everything is more stability. from there to 1.5 x your weight and your riding something that will perform well but be easy enough to paddle and maneuver well for an intermediate. Everything upwards from there great for beginners and just having fun.

JB

im currently 115kg and my board is 172L, which is pretty much on 1.5, when i eventually get my next board i will probably get the rails thinned out a bit or my board a little skinnier, but i wouldn't take to much off of it, i wouldn't want to go down below 150-160L which is 1.3-1.4 and on the lower end of hat scale would be for nearly perfect glassy conditions,
the key is to not go to little volume when starting off because you'll yave a hard time staying on the board and that will put you off real quick


Jarryd

1L will float 2.2 pounds is the conversion I use.

Body Wt + Board Wt + Paddle Wt + Suit Wt = 210 #'s for me and I SUP ~120L (floats 242 #'s) board. Depending on ability / conditions, go with 10 to 30+ additional L of volume.

Too right Sameh!!

i agree with leroy13 customs were the way to go and i believe still are the way to go, when i got my DTM about a year/2 years ago the only boards 10foot and under were really the mana's so i went with a custom, because i wanted more performance,
but now there are alot more boards that are high volume beformance boards like the allwave, widepoint etc that are more suited to lighter beginners or larger guys looking for performance, i believe that they will still make the normal boards but boards like this will become more of the norm as they suit a large audience


Jarryd