Hello chapps

I was looking at getting a new paddle board or making one.
As the title says, what size board for a fast pace on flat river water?
I was thinking of 14' x 24" x 4"
What are your thoughts.?

Thanks

4" thick? That's not a very likely dimension if you want maximum speed and glide.

Just try as many different boards as you can. You'll soon find out what suits you. Buy a used board if you can.

You need to try some boards.

24" wide boards are uncomfortably tippy for a lot of people. Boards that narrow are usually favoured by young, light, experienced athletes, so if you don't fall into that category then you MUST demo before buying (or building).

I've found that I don't get any benefit going narrower than 25". I tried a 21.5" wide board. It was fast. But only if I was on my knees! Once I stood up it was so torturously effortful for me to stay upright that I'd have been faster on a 32" wide all- round board. But the owner has no problems on it at all. People vary HUGELY in their balance abilities. And you'll only know yours by trying a load of boards. It's usually quite a humbling process, unless you are under 16 and very athletic.

As Dave Kalama said in his commentary for the PPG, "falling is not fast".

scubaste said..
Hello chapps

I was looking at getting a new paddle board or making one.
As the title says, what size board for a fast pace on flat river water?
I was thinking of 14' x 24" x 4"
What are your thoughts.?

Thanks

Like everything else on water that isn't mechanically powered, waterline is your friend for speed and glide. The longer it is the faster it goes unless you're hydrofoiling. Parallel rails give you greater stability for a given width. This seems to be a trend amongst current board designs.

In terms of volume, a rough guide is body weight x 2.5-3 = board volume in litres for a flatwater board.

I've a 14' x 26.5" wide Flatwater Falcon in Carbon if you're interested. Brilliant flatwater board. Will carry your weight easily. Used probably 25 times in 2.5 years

Holmenkol race finish on the bottom. Moving house and I don't have room for it at the new place. Must sell!