Inflatable fun! (paddleboards ;) )
My search for inflatable boats actually turned up 2 winners, so now I'm on the hunt for an inflatable paddleboard to add to our collection. Does anyone have any advice or tips? My internet researc...
Forum Discussion
Thank you Drew K, that was all very helpful. I'm 5'5", and like most females I won't disclose my weight but I'm "average." LOL We do sometimes travel with teens and I know that some of the husbands will want to "play" on the paddleboard, so I want something that has at least a 225 or so weight limit. I do take my kids with me on the kayaks and boats, so a higher weight limit on the board might be good too. If we are coordinated enough, I could see my son sitting on the board while I paddle. Mostly I can just see us falling into the water. ;) Haha
As far as the board you linked, most of the ones I have used have a more rounded nose and tail. Are the pointy ones stable? I'm looking for stability over ease of maneuvering at this point.
I have only paddleboarded a handful of times, but I'm pretty sure my technique is bad. My shoulders, arms and core never got sore, but my calves were really sore each time. None of the friends who paddled with me had that issue. So weird. Some of the places I've rented have boards without fins or skegs, and I have found that without them, the boards do not track well at all. I'm guessing that they don't put them on at rental places because people break them when getting on in the shallow water, but I'm definitely going to get a board with fins, it makes a huge difference.
I wonder if the inflatables hurt less when you fall on them? I've fallen every time so far boarding, and while I try to fall clear of my board, I'm not that coordinated!
I've gotten a lot better with the kayak technique, and I can actually keep up with my kayaking friends in their hard-side kayaks in my inflatable. Because it's inflatable, I can paddle on my knees. I actually take the seat out and straddle a foam roller. They do make true kneeling kayaks, but my friends who attempted it in their sit-in or sit on kayaks couldn't do it...way too hard on the knees and uncomfortable. But in the inflatable with the foam roller as my seat, I can do it and it makes paddling easier. The inflatable kayak does catch more wind, and it doesn't continue to glide after each stroke like some of the better touring kayaks, but if I keep paddling, she keeps going, and the kneeling position is a lot easier on me. So, that might be a helpful hint for those who find traditional kayaks uncomfortable!
As far as the board you linked, most of the ones I have used have a more rounded nose and tail. Are the pointy ones stable? I'm looking for stability over ease of maneuvering at this point.
I have only paddleboarded a handful of times, but I'm pretty sure my technique is bad. My shoulders, arms and core never got sore, but my calves were really sore each time. None of the friends who paddled with me had that issue. So weird. Some of the places I've rented have boards without fins or skegs, and I have found that without them, the boards do not track well at all. I'm guessing that they don't put them on at rental places because people break them when getting on in the shallow water, but I'm definitely going to get a board with fins, it makes a huge difference.
I wonder if the inflatables hurt less when you fall on them? I've fallen every time so far boarding, and while I try to fall clear of my board, I'm not that coordinated!
I've gotten a lot better with the kayak technique, and I can actually keep up with my kayaking friends in their hard-side kayaks in my inflatable. Because it's inflatable, I can paddle on my knees. I actually take the seat out and straddle a foam roller. They do make true kneeling kayaks, but my friends who attempted it in their sit-in or sit on kayaks couldn't do it...way too hard on the knees and uncomfortable. But in the inflatable with the foam roller as my seat, I can do it and it makes paddling easier. The inflatable kayak does catch more wind, and it doesn't continue to glide after each stroke like some of the better touring kayaks, but if I keep paddling, she keeps going, and the kneeling position is a lot easier on me. So, that might be a helpful hint for those who find traditional kayaks uncomfortable!
