Dave, the starboard actually looks like some canoes I saw guys use in the shallow mangroves and swamps in parts of florida years ago. ( I think they were actually tending their "veggie patches" in the swamps!). Very little draft so they could chase the mullet, etc. up into the shallows allegedly............ Kind of funny, but the way the boards are lined up from left to right it seems as though they are showing an evolution in the development of boards.

These "boards, boats, canoes" remind me where Sailboards went quite some years ago with their boat front, the Lechner board was an Olympic board that quickly faded, too one purpose, very good for what it was designed for but that was it. I'm sure these paddle "boards" will appeal to thoses coming from canoes etc (isn't that an outrigger on the right of the pic?) Coming from a surfing background they don't do much for me........but then again Horses for courses

displacement hulls, hollowed out decks, they are far more like canoes...(SUCs)........Stand Up Canoes???

pehaps tom wegener could go to sepik river and copy a paddle craft in pawlonia and become standup shaper of the year.

Just add a bilge pump

mac

aussiewahine said...

Well put Stuey !!

That's my girlfriend Vicki Mills winning again over there. This time on the new Starboard K15. Can anyone tell me..is this boat/board for flat water only? I'm thinking so as what would happen out at sea when a swell crashes over it and fills it up?

Prolly pretty obvious that it's flatwater optimized,huh?...;-)
We have built up the sidewalls...added a spray skirt...and, it does have 4 drain holes...



We are working on a rougher water version...and the new 12'6" "Pin" is nearly there...


In the meantime, for more open ocean paddle racing, we have Vicki racing the Starboard 14'8" "Point" and a 14' BARK...






Warm winds ,good waves, & strong strokes...{:~)

WARDOG

Hi DJ,
I think the trend is towards smaller blades...both, in the surf and on the race course...increased strokes and cadence...

Far less torque on your shoulders and joints at the end of the race than paddling with "snow shovels"...and, the next day you're not inflamed and hurting...minimizes NSAID's and ice for some...faster bounce back...

We recommend bigger blades for bigger guys on bigger boards that NEED to move tons of H20 out of their way...

We will be getting a shipment of the new carbon Werner "Nitro" around the 1st of April...
It will also be available in a new 3 piece configuration...

http://surfingsports.com/werner_paddles.asp

Warm winds ,good waves, & strong strokes...{:~)

WARDOG