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THE JOY OF SECOND-HAND BOARDS
WORDS: ANDY BURROWS. PHOTOS: ANDY BURROWS, PETER TRANTER, SARAH THORNELY( SUPJUNKIE. UK), STARBOARD AND ALBERT LABORDA IF YOU DISCOUNT THE CHEAP INFLATABLE MARKET, A NEW PADDLEBOARD IS A SIZABLE INVESTMENT. A NEW TOP-OF-THE-RANGE HARD RACE BOARD WILL COST BETWEEN £ 3,000 AND £ 4,000. A TOP-OF-THE- RANGE INFLATABLE IS MORE THAN £ 1,000. IS SUCH AN INVESTMENT WORTH IT? ARE THERE OTHER WAYS A PADDLER COULD SPEND THEIR HARD-EARNED DOSH?
There is something special about unpacking a freshly delivered, brand-new board. This is the opportunity to admire the detailed workmanship, the shaping, the blending of materials and the refinement of design. A few weeks of care and attention generally follow. A paranoia, akin to not parking a new car next to another in a public parking lot, pervades every use.
There’ s a worry that someone will ask to have a‘ shot’ of it, and there is often obsessive cleaning post-use. Then the day arrives when the first scuff injures the precious instrument. This is usually followed by two more, as all things happen in threes. A year later, the object of worship is what it always was – a SUP board to be ridden and enjoyed.
The board that cost multiple thousands is now worth £ 1,000 to £ 1,500. Aside from some surface damage, it’ s the same board it was when it came out of the box. A newer model will have appeared, and the board manufacturer will claim to have made design and performance improvements over the older one. But most boards available over the last seven years are still very good.
The massive depreciation is terrific news for SUP enthusiasts. There are some‘ classic’ boards out there. Some boards just‘ work’ no matter how‘ old’ they are. These boards offer not only increased SUP enjoyment but also the opportunity to develop SUP skills.
The boards
There are several types of boards from which someone can choose. And the choice will depend on where their interest lies and what board they already own.
Most people start their SUP journey on an inflatable( probably 10- 12 feet in length. They might progress to a more advanced inflatable and from there, to a hard board.
Hard boards offer a greater depth of design possibilities than inflatables. Hard boards can be shaped and manufactured into an infinite number of shapes. The three main uses of hard boards are surfing, racing, and leisure / touring. The shape and size reflect these different uses.
SUP surf boards are comparatively short, enabling them to be nimble, with low volume( 90-150 litres), and a high width-tolength ratio( e. g. 30 inches wide, 9 feet long). The rails tend to be‘ soft’ to prevent the edges from digging into the water. Softer rails and narrow tails allow the board to go with the water. The nose is normally upturned, and the board has rocker( a noticeable bend from front to back), which allows the board to sit in wave pockets and pick up the swell quickly. In short, SUP surf boards are nimble, get on top of the water( get on the plane) and are effectively designed to go with the‘ flow’.
Race boards are longer( now generally 14 feet) and comparatively narrow( 20-26 inches) with a relatively high volume of 250-350 litres. The design varies according to intended use. Flat water race boards have little rocker, quite sharp rails and a sharp piercing nose that sits in the water. These boards are designed to split the water.
Downwind boards tend to be longer and narrower versions of a surf shape. They tend to have narrow tails, a planing nose, and softer rails, which allow the boards to turn easily and go with the wind and prevailing swell.
All water boards tend to blend design aspects of the extreme of flat and downwind. They are designed to be a single-board solution for use in multiple environments.
Touring boards are relatively long( 12-14 feet) but are wider than a racing board( around 30 inches). These are designed to be stable while also achieving reasonable touring speeds.
Leisure boards are relatively short and wide – designed to provide a stable platform from which to paddle. Lengths are 9-11 feet, and 30-36 inches wide. These are great starter boards and can make reasonable SUP surfboards for those looking to learn.