if you are looking for a board just to stand on and paddle on flat water cheap . look out for an old sailboard they are called one design just remove the centre board and your away . there are some others from that vintage TC runner and windsurfer brand all these are between 11-12 foot and work well for paddling should pick one up for around $100 or less . but on the other hand if you are looking to build a board , there is a lot of cost envoled in materials as this would be a stand up there would be alot of material . my advise would be start very small make some proto types say 1 foot long and see if you can shape and glass first of all , then work out rocker line and vee and tail rocker before you go full size and then decide on polyester or epoxy and do a short course on vacuum baging . once you got all that worked out go for it nothing beats riding your own builds .i have built all kinds of boards (short boards,kiteboards , sailboards and longboards )for over 9 years all epoxy ones but have never built any SUP but have built 14ft balsa longboards . i don't make customs anymore but i do make them for myself when i have the chance and i have enough balsa to make a SUP and after watching all these board camera videos i think i want to SUP

Thanks for the input.
I have built all sorts of boats for donkeys years, the building is of no concern whatever.
I was hoping for a few design tips, rather than generalities.
The "craft" in the photo seems to me to "negatively address" one of my major concerns, being above the waterline windage. Or is my concern not relevant? The time I have spent on a commercial board, windage (even about 10 knots of breeze) seemed a major issue.
Any comment?

Sorry Kiwi, I think you miss understood my post. The photo is of my new racing dinghy without it's mast and sail, it's not supposted to be a SUP board. I was paddling it to check on flotation. I was referring to the photos on the chesapeake site.

kiwi307 said...

I have seen on a few US sites mention of home builds. I am not looking to surf, just flat water, and as SUP's are so expensive I figure why not?
Has anyone any advice to offer?
Thanks

If you want to get on the water SUP'ing and think SUP's are too expensive I would also suggest picking up an old windsurfer board.. See my recent post..

You should be able to pick one up for less than $100.. But do yourself a favor and buy a good paddle.. The paddle is more important than the board imo.

Making a home made SUP sounds like a lot of fun if you're into that and have the space/time/equipment but not something everyone can do and it will be pretty heavy.

Good luck with it all.. If you do insist on making your own and want some info just ask if it's things like dimensions and stuff that you want.

DJ

Jethrow said...

Hi Kiwi

Yes, that's exactly what it is.

Good luck with which ever direction your SUP construction takes you...

Hi, I sail them too!

Kaos, thanks for your thoghts, constructive. As regards vaccuum, I was building Tornado cats over 20 years ago that way, it's dead simple!
Resin infusion tickles my fancy now!

Lfish said...

Yeah,......I was a bit intrigued by the
"Making a home made SUP sounds like a lot of fun if you're into that and have the space/time/equipment but not something everyone can do and it will be pretty heavy" Comment made by DJ......
Come on DJ, just because it doesn't have an Hawaiian Label on it & doesn't come from Thailand or China, that it's gonna be some heavy weight.!!
I'm not a pro board builder but I've made my own boards for quite a while now & the performance & weight is equal that of ANY commercial boards, There is plenty of info on the net regarding ESP/Epoxy building, for anyone interested in having a go
Kiwi307........if thats your interest................DO IT !!!!!

I'm no expert but I have seen some home made wood paddle boards and they can be pretty heavy.

Here's a link.. www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=19;sa=showPosts

Check out this beauty.. 11'6" x 28 3/4" x 4 1/2" 40 pounds with pad. "what a chore to lug down the stairs".

Hand built hollow wood construction, Redwood planking over plywood frame, 4 oz glass set in epoxy.

Thanks for the further interest.
Regarding "it will be heavy".
This does not need to be the case. If you look at the photo Jethro has posted you will see a vey lasrge surface area of ply, the area of wood is directly related to the weight. That boat, an IC has massive sailing loads to be dealt with, and with a lot of other stuff, mast boom, sail(s), sliding seat etc etc has a minimum of 50kg.
In the context of SUP this is a lot, but the hull is only part. Bear in mind the loads to be dealt with on an SUP, I can easily see 10kg as an easily achievable weight.
The frame layout shown of the homebuilt, why so many frames towards the ends? No load, no frame needed. Why have the all not got the guts cut out so they are only "ring frames", like wise the centre frame. That frame on it's own could easily lose 50%!

hey kiwi now your talking resin infusion great for boats but an bit of an over kill for boards . i have used it myself and found it interesting and useful . i have also made framed boards and hollow with bladders and moulds ,all where very unique builds . but i WOOD have to say WOOD is good and great to work with . good luck with what ever way you go with your build .