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Choosing a Stand-Up Paddle Board

When it comes to selecting the perfect stand-up paddle board (SUP), the choice often narrows down to two types: fiberglass and inflatable. Each type has its own set of advantages, and the right one for you depends on your specific needs, preferences, and intended use. In this post, we’ll explore the differences between fiberglass (also called rigid or hard boards) and inflatable paddle boards, and provide tips on how to properly store your board using the Docksider Paddle Board Dock Lift and Storage Rack. 

Fiberglass Paddle Boards

Pros:

  • Performance: Fiberglass paddle boards are known for their superior performance in terms of speed and maneuverability. They offer a smooth, stable ride, making them ideal for more experienced paddlers and those looking to cover long distances.
  • Time Saver: Since you don’t need to add air to a fiberglass SUP, you are good to go when you get to your destination. 
  • Aesthetics: Fiberglass boards often have a sleek, polished appearance and can be customized with different designs and colors. 

Cons:

  • Weight: Fiberglass boards are typically heavier than their inflatable counterparts, making them harder to transport and carry.
  • Durability: While they are a more solid board, they are easier to dent or scrape than inflatable paddle boards.
  • Storage Space: They require more storage space due to their rigid structure, which can be a drawback if you have limited storage options or want to travel with your SUP.
  • Cost: Generally, fiberglass paddle boards are more expensive than inflatable ones.

Inflatable Paddle Boards

Pros:

  • Portability: Inflatable paddle boards are lighter in weight and can be easily deflated and packed into a compact size, making them convenient for travel and storage.
  • Ease of Storage: When deflated, these boards take up minimal space, allowing you to store them in small areas such as closets or car trunks.
  • Durability: Modern inflatable boards are made with high-quality materials and can be surprisingly durable, often withstanding bumps and scrapes that might damage a fiberglass board.
  • Cost: Inflatable boards are generally more affordable, making them a great option for beginners or those on a budget.

Cons:

  • Performance: While inflatable boards have come a long way in terms of performance, they still don’t quite match the speed and responsiveness of fiberglass boards.
  • Inflation/Deflation Time: You’ll need to spend time inflating and deflating the board before and after use, which can be an inconvenience.
  • Maintenance: Inflatable boards require careful handling to avoid punctures and need to be thoroughly dried before storage to prevent mold and mildew.

Storing Your SUP with the Docksider Paddle Board Lift & Storage Rack

Regardless of the type of paddle board you choose, proper storage is essential to maintain its condition and extend its lifespan. If you have your own dock, stop lugging your SUP to and from the water. The Docksider Paddle Board Rack is a versatile and convenient storage solution for paddle boards, making accessing your board at your dock easy. Simply choose from a water entry or dock entry rack and install the lift and storage solution to your dock. The next time you are ready to get out on the water, simply lower the lift assist lever and slide your SUP out. When you’re done using it, just load and lift it to store your board.  

If you live somewhere with all four seasons and need to store your SUP during the colder months, the Wall Mount Rack Kit transforms your Docksider Lift & Storage Rack for the wintertime. Easily store your SUP inside a garage, shed, or cottage, away from the harsh winter weather, when you aren’t using it. 

By choosing the right type of paddle board and storing it properly with the Docksider Paddle Board Lift & Storage Rack, you can ensure that your board remains in excellent condition for many seasons of paddling. Whether you opt for the performance of a fiberglass board or the convenience and portability of an inflatable one, taking the time to care for your board will enhance your overall paddle-boarding experience. 

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How to Stand Up Paddleboard Using the Docksider Storage Rack

Paddleboarding is a fun activity that doesn’t require a lot of knowledge or practice to enjoy the water sport. Here are a few key tips to get you started today! 

What Type of Gear Do You Need to Paddleboard

  • A Paddleboard
  • The Right-Sized Paddle: To ensure your paddle is fitted to you, place the blade of the paddle on the ground vertically and raise your arm above your head. Your wrist should rest on the top of the handle.
  • Proper Clothing: It is important to dress for the temperature of the water, not the outdoor temperature. When it is warm outside, most people can get away with wearing a swimsuit, dock shorts, and a hat, but if you are paddleboarding somewhere cold, it might be necessary to wear a wet suit to keep you warm. Sun protection is also important.
  • Life Jacket: The Coast Guard requires everyone to wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) like a life jacket, carry a whistle, and if you are on the water when it is dark, you must also have a light so other water vessels can easily see you. 
  • Leash: This is helpful and highly recommended for any skill level. The leash helps you stay with your board if you fall in the water. 

Getting Your Paddleboard into the Water Using the Docksider Storage Rack

Getting your paddleboard into the water can sound challenging, but using the Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack makes it easy if you store your paddleboard on your dock. Whether you have shallow water that you can walk into or if your dock is in deeper water, you can use the Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack to easily lower your board into the water. Before lowering your paddleboard into the water, make sure you have all your gear with you. Simply lower the aluminum handle down towards the water and slide your board out. Once your board is out of the storage rack, push the lift assist lever back up towards the dock. To ensure your paddleboard stays with you while you are launching it, hold the leash in your hand. You can attach the leash to your ankle once you are on your paddleboard. 

The Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack allows you to store your board conveniently where you need it when you aren’t using it. This means no more toting your board around when you want to use it. It also takes up minimal space on your dock!

How to Get on Your Paddleboard

Once your board is in the water, you are ready to get on and start paddleboarding! There are two ways you can get on your paddleboard and it depends on if you are standing on your dock or in shallow water. 

  • From Your Dock: 

Sit on the dock with your legs hanging over the edge and place your feet on the board. Grab your paddle and place it in the middle of your board, the long way. Carefully lower your body onto the paddleboard so you are kneeling or sitting. Push away from the dock before attempting to stand up. Most people like to paddle out to deeper water before standing up. 

  • From the Water: 

Make sure you are in knee-deep water so the fin of the paddleboard doesn’t touch the ground. Place your paddle in the middle of your board. Carefully place your knees on the board, about hip distance apart, and paddle out to deeper water before standing up.

How to Stand Up on Your Paddleboard 

Once you are in deeper water, you are ready to stand up. Holding the paddle in both hands, place your hands and paddle down on the board and move your feet to where your knees are. Slowly raise your chest until you are standing up. Keep a slight bend in your knees and a straight back. 

Holding a Paddle and Paddling Techniques

Place one hand on top of the handle and the other a few feet down on the shaft. The side that you are paddling on is the hand that is on the shaft. You will notice that one side of the blade is curved. Make sure when you place the blade into the water that the curved part is facing you. When paddling, your power should come from your core, not your arms. Keeping your arms straight will ensure you are twisting your torso to utilize your core muscles. While there are more paddling techniques available, these are great to get you started.

  • Forward Stroke: The forward stroke is just what it sounds, it propels you forward in the water. Submerge the blade of the paddle into the water in front of you, towards the front of the paddleboard, and bring it back towards the back of the board. Make sure the curved side of the blade is facing you. 
  • Reverse Stroke: This stroke can help you slow down or stop and can also help you turn around. Similar to the forward stroke, place the blade in the water at the back of your board and bring it forward towards the front of your board. The curved side of the blade should be facing away from you with this stroke.
  • Sweep Stroke: This stroke is useful to turn your board. Bend your knees more than you would to paddle forward or backward. Place the blade in the water at the front of the board. In a large rainbow motion, bring the blade to the back of your board. The curved side of the blade should be facing you. 

How to Get Off Your Paddleboard

Similar to how we started, you will need to get back into a seated or kneeling position. Make sure you are still in an open space before doing so. Hold the paddle in both hands, bend your knees, and slowly lower your chest until your hands are on the board. Lower down to your knees and paddle towards the dock or knee-deep water. 

  • Getting Onto a Dock: Line up your board next to the dock. Stay low and keep the leash attached. Place your paddle on the dock. Put both hands on the dock and carefully push yourself onto the dock in a seated position with your legs hanging over the dock. You can remove the leash and hold it in your hand. Using the Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack, lower the handle down towards the water, slide your board in, and use the lift assist lever to pull the paddleboard upright. 
  • Shallow Water: On your hands and knees, carefully lower your legs into the knee-deep water until you are standing upright. Using the Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack, lower the handle down towards the water, slide your board in, and use the lift assist lever to push the paddleboard upright. 

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Are You Considering Buying a Paddle Board (SUP)?

March 9, 2019 | Ed Wrobbel | DockCraft Industries LLC

Interests in Paddle Boarding
Paddle Board Types

Paddle Boarding offers:
– The Serenity and Solace of the open outdoors and the quiet of the water
   lapping against your board.
– The Core Body workout that Paddle Boarding offers; or
– Quiet time with friends, away from the everyday pace.

There are a few things you should be aware of before your purchase:

Paddle Board Construction – 4 basic paddle board construction techniques:

Epoxy Fiberglass Paddle Boards: a solid board made with an EPS foam core (similar to a high-density foam cooler) wrapped with fiberglass and epoxy. Fairly lightweight, stable and rigid.
Pros: Generally, the most stable, faster, good tracking and control.
Cons: Most difficult to transport and store, can be dinged or cracked, more expensive.
Good for recreational and touring Paddle boarders.

Soft Top Paddle Boards: similar to Epoxy Fiberglass boards, but the top of the board is covered with a sponge material that shows less dings and scratches.
Pros: Good for a beginner who is more likely to run into docks, rocks, or other obstacles. Falling down on the board is less likely to hurt.
Cons: Extra padding makes these boards slightly heavier, more prone to punctures
Good for water front owners, recreational paddlers, and one size fits all.

Thermoplastic Paddle Boards: a molded shell around a foam or hollow core.
Pros: Less likely to ding or scratch, heavy daily use, Beginning paddlers
Cons: Heavier than other boards, less maneuverable and performance oriented.
Least costly

Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board (ISUP): constructed of heavy-duty commercial PVC. Cross stitched construction which creates an air pocket / core. When inflated, the board is very rigid, similar to a basketball.
Pros: Portable and can be stored easily when deflated. Less likely to be damaged when hitting obstacles.
Cons: Needs to be inflated prior to use; inflating device must be transported as well as. A slight performance degradation as they tend to float on the water as opposed to cutting through the water.

Paddle boards have 4 dimensions that you should be familiar with:

Paddle Board Volume (a function of length, width, and thickness).
The volume determines the load capacity of the board – can it support your weight?
You do not have to be very concerned about this as most boards have the volume and weight capacity labeled on them. Select a board where your weight is within the range provided.

Paddle Board Length  – Longer boards are typically faster and go straighter, whereas shorter paddle boards are more maneuverable.

Paddle Board Width – The most important in regard to stability. Narrower boards go faster. The extra stability of a wider board may make you feel more comfortable and paddle more efficiently.

Paddle BoardThickness  -Inflatable paddle boards are 6 inches thick and hard paddle boards are generally 4 inches thick. Thicker inflatable boards make you feel higher above the water and are more stable, however, the performance is not as good.
Hard Paddle Boards are shaped to reduce weight and optimize performance, yet less stable.

 

Paddle Board Configurations:

Nose shaped paddle boards:

Wider noses have more flotation and provide more weight capacity for gear and pets.
Pointier/ Narrower noses cut through the water / waves more easily allowing better performance in racing and cruising conditions

Tail shaped paddle boards

Pin Tail (which approaches a point) has good tracking, but not as stable on turns. Good for racing.
Square Tail provides stability and the ability to turn. Good for touring and shorter racing.
Round Tail, a combination of the Pin and Square Tail, is stable and easier to turn. Good all-around tail for SUP’s, but typically not used on race or high-performance boards.

Other paddle board features:

Fins: Fins help with tracking of your Paddle board, but most importantly they help you from having your board “spin / slide” out while turning.
All Paddle Boards come with fins; usually one, two, or three.
The single fin is great for lakes, bays, and ponds. The three-fin setup is best suited for the surf. The greater number of fins, the more specialized your board becomes.

 

Accessories Required for Paddle Boarding:

Paddle: Clearly, the paddle is required to propel you and your board through the water. Your paddle should be 6 to 10 inches taller than your height.

SUP Leash: This is a cord that attaches to you  (at your ankle or calf via a Velcro strap) and your board (coiled or straight). This leash is the only means of connecting you and your board. This safety device prevents your board from getting away from you in the event you have a mishap (loose your balance, stormy conditions, collide with something). Without the leash, your board could get away from you in just seconds. Additionally, your loose board could pose danger to others.

PFD (Personal Floatation Device): An extra safety feature for you in the event of a mishap.

Inflation Pump: Required for Inflatable SUP’s

 

Classification of Paddle Boards:

– All Around Paddle Boards
These boards have a round nose that is slightly raised out of the water in the front. This will push the water down while lifting the nose up. Great to handle waves. These boards tend to be 10 to 12 ½ feet in length and 30 to 34 inches wide. For greater stability look at the wider side of this range. Great for beginners, the casual paddler, Yoga and fishing. They are not the best for racing or touring. (Also, a good board for Yoga and Fishing)

– Touring Paddle Boards
These Paddle Boards typically have a pointed nose (to cut through the water) and are designed for longer, calm water paddling. Typically, these boards are longer and narrower, which results in less stability and less maneuverability. These boards tend to be longer (12 to 14 foot) and narrower (29 to 30 inches) which contributes to the speed needed for racing.

 

Hopefully this article will give you the required background information to have an educated conversation prior to the purchase of your SUP / Paddle Board and to fit your intended use.

 

Wait there’s more…… After Purchase needs!

Transporting your Paddle Board / SUP Home:
Once purchased, you will need to get your Paddle Board / SUP home! If you do not have a car top carrier (which, in most likelihood, you could purchase at the location you purchased your Paddle Board / SUP)) a pickup truck or a larger SUV, you could always rent a trailer from a local trailer rental agency.

Car topping your Paddle Board / SUP to your launching site:
– There are several sporting goods stores or online stores where you can purchase a car top carrier for Paddle Board / SUP.

Do you have waterfront property?
Check out the DockSider Paddle Board / SUP Dock Lift and Storage Rack @ https://dockcraft.com/paddle-board-lift-rack/
– Our Paddle Board / SUP Lift and Storage rack offers convenient launching and storage capability right where you need it – On your Dock! We have models that will suit your needs; whether you board your Paddle Board / SUP directly from your dock, or if you board your Paddle Board / SUP while you are in the water.

DockCraft Industries’ patented design allows you to load and lift your Paddle Board / SUP directly from the water. With our leverage assisted design, you only lift a fraction of your Paddle Board / SUP weight!
– Keep your Dock clear for safe passage.
– Watch our videos at https://dockcraft.com/product/Paddle Board / SUP-dock-rack/
– Half way down the page; select the video’s tab.

And Finally, Winter Storage :
– In the Off Season, you will need to store your Paddle Board / SUP away from the water.
– There are many Wall Mount racks available on the internet that will satisfy this purpose.
– You could also utilize the DockCraft Wall Mount Conversion Kit. This Kit will modify your DockSider Dock Lift and Storage Rack to a Wall Mounted Rack.