Hi All,
First time poster. I have been paddling for 1.5 years and love both surf and flat water and am wondering if anyone knows if there is a board available for SUP touring. I am thinking 14+ foot with plugs on the deck for attaching gear. Any ideas?

BWDave...welcome...I don't think you need a whopping huge 16-18 footer to do some SUP touring...Where are you planning to paddle?

I reckon an 11'6" Naish or a 12'6" Starboard wound be fine..even the 11'6" Kalama will do the job.

Did you see this?.. www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39752

I'm planing to do some serious SUP touring and have ordered a new Naish Glide..It's 12' and I would never go any bigger than that..Besides..anything bigger wouldn't fit on my little car.. ..I don't want to have to hang a flag off the back..Check this big'un.



I plan to put deck plugs in like Oliver just did to his 11'6" Naish.



I don't want a board that you need two people to carry it to the water..

DJ

I own the red board on the pic above

Whoops.... No one likes having their board bagged on the forum. Pretty amazing that it weighs only 12kg - is it hollow?

Your board still looks like a surfboard though, many of the boards over 12" look like sea kayaks to me, the only difference being that you have nowhere to store your gear on long trips.

Simon,

Do you have any pictures of the underside of the hull? If not a description would do. The Dale Chapman site didn't have any information. The Laguna Bay has a rounded hull, which looks tricky to paddle.

Steve

How much is a DC 16?

Yep sweet board but a bit rich for me.

Welcome Dave. We're paddling on Tuesday night if you're interested.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39977
A few of us are planning some good trips in the near furure, and some longer ones in the summer. Lots of good ideas are being tossed around. You're welcome to join us.

I currently have a 10.6 and an 11.6 C4. Both are great surf tools and the 11.6 paddles well for long runs( up to 20K)

Just wondering, if your C4 is good for up to 20km how much further are you planning on touring? I would think the 11'6 C4 with the carry holder in the front would be the closest thing to an ideal touring board.

BTW is this your board BWDave?



Can't believe that we have another Dave stand up paddling in Melbourne I hope your middle name isn't John - could get really confusing if it is. Look forward to meeting you on one of the adventures. Hopefully we will do the Rip next.

DavidJohn, Yes that is my board and BBQ shot. Keen to try the Naish glide when it arrives. Yes we did have an oily flat paddle out to the Faulkner beacon which was great though we did get VERY close to a BIG ship.

The reason I want a touring board is that I am keen to do some over nighters carrying camping gear etc. I have even thought that the Murray river marathon would be possible with a good board and team. Though at over 400kms it is well beyond anything I would consider to be fun.

Oliver, You may be right about a gear fastner on the C4, but I would love to take on of the long boards out for a spin. Also would love to paddle the rip. I have paddled out to Quarantine a couple of times and out to Popes eye. It is certainly magic water to paddle in. Just have to get the right tides and wind of course.

BWDave, a trip I'm planning this summer is to paddle out to Pope's Eye and go snorkelling. maybe we can organise a group paddle for that.

Is this what you are talking about.... Still not any room for storage. Don't really think there is a sub out there suitable for storing tents, sleeping bags etc.



This could be a good touring board: The 15" inflatable ULI. Just need to arrange something to store your sleeping bag and a cover. At the end of a hard day paddling deflate the board slightly and lay on it at night. When you get sick of paddling and lying on your board at night deflate it fully put it in your backpack and catch a bus. pfffft

The ideas are coming thick and fast, thanks to everyone.
The laguna looks sweet and very long, Im sure there is plenty of room for storage on it.
The standmaran looks fast but not so good for storage. Maybe I should put some plugs in my 11'6 and see how I go to start with. I have waterproof bags from my sea kayaking days.
Any recomendations as to were in Melbourne I can get plugs inserted and the cost? Also how does plugging a board effect the integrity of an epoxy board?
One consideration is placement of gear. You don't want to affect the paddle swap over or foot movement in a swell...
NewcastleSUP, Next time I go north I would love to take the DC16 for a spin

Hi Dave, I think the Starboard 12'6" may also be an option. It's 30" wide so very stable but the length really gives it very good glide. Comes with 8 screw holes in the nose already, not that that is a huge factor, it's pretty cheap new but I think there are some already coming up second hand as people move onto smaller boards. Fantastic board to teach people on and quite tough, just a great all rounder, they are selling quite well in Maui as downwinder boards that aren't super tippy like many of the really dedicated longer boards. Why don't you just borrow mine, load it up with some gear and head for Geelong! I'll PM you with my contact details, it's not precious anymore after hitting the concrete on the tail from roofrack height DOH and me repairing it myself. Cheers, Jonathan