SUP - the latest thing . . .

[Bill Huson]

SUP = Stand Up Paddleboard which appears to be the latest water sport rage. My Darling Daughter, who spent the holiday tearing up the sound waters near Frisco, NC on the wood/epoxy catamaran I built for her, has put in a request for an SUP. Chesapeake Light Craft offers several full kits and one design where you can get plans & manual only. Those should be in the mail to me this week.

I think paddleboards are used by swamp fisherman, and the SUP seems to be an added thrill for surfers as well. Many designs seem to be surf board style construction, even shaped foam blocks sheathed in fiberglass. The CLC design, Kaholo, is all wood - as in numerous intricate parts with a target weight of 32 lbs for a 14' board.

Designs seem to be scarce, so if anyone has a link to designs please post them. And is anyone building an SUP? Or has built an SUP? Or better yet, have you actually built and used an SUP and can offer a few user tips to reduce the number of splash down learning experiences?

linkage to Kaholo: http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/s...ddleboard.html

[obscured by clouds]

http://www2.swaylocks.com/forum

all you ever wanted to know about surfboards- of any sort. Lots of hollow woodies here too

[gstanfield]

Spira international has a new one coming out. I'm working on a pre-production version myself and one other guy has just completed his. I don't have pictures yet and I'm not at liberty to post pictures of his, but I'll ask him and see if he's OK with me sharing his pics.

George

[wely]

I have herd people talk about using a SUP for fly fishing in the backwaters and flats. My only problem with it would be how do you sit down? I don't think I could fish all day standing up.

[Clarkey]

I have herd people talk about using a SUP for fly fishing in the backwaters and flats. My only problem with it would be how do you sit down? I don't think I could fish all day standing up.

Some of them can be fitted with a camping chair style kayak seat. On a wooden board it would be easy to add the necessary fitting.

I must say that SUP appeals to me as an uncomplicated way of simply getting on the water with the minimum of fuss.

[TimH]

[John B]

We've got a blow up one .. Redair. Its been great but I do fancy a ply one myself provided I can get a good lightweight buffer strip around the thing. I'm thinking about 12 ft x 29 inches should do it.

[peterchech]

If ur daughter plans on doing any actual surfing on it (nc has great waves so she prob will) then dont go for the clc board, which is more of a flat water racer.

I built a hollow wooden surfboard last year, and surf on it regularly. They are a blast to build and look great, but will be heavier than a foam board, so especially for sup be sure to build as light as possible. There are a few free designs available on grainsurf.com, as well as tons of help and step by step instructions. Do not build a hard chined surfboard, the "rails" are everything. Here's a pic of my longboard:


Pm me if u have any questions, especially about keeping it light, which i repeat, is essential or ur daughter wont use it. And once more, no hard chines!!!!

[Bill Huson]

Not much surf here, peterchech. The SUP will be used in our local rivers, creeks, and sound waters. Maybe an occasional lake. Although I would consider a soft chine board if the SUP crew decides to take up frequent wave action at the beach. Building light should not be a problem for me. I've built racing outboard hydros that came in at 85#. I built a 9' x 4' dinghy = 50#. The 14' catamaram I built her totals 160# fully rigged.

Kaholo will be the first SUP. And I will peruse the links you folks have posted for future iterations. Yes, Kaholo should be quick in flat water which is good. I figure if she explores the creeks in the nearby National Forest it will be fast enough to out run the alligators!

[Andy Mcconkey]

http://http://www.woodsurfboardsupply.com/

I bought a kit from these guys which basically comes with all the pre-cut frames and instructions. You supply the cedar, fiberglass, resin, fins... I'll start sometime this summer. They say you can knock one out in around forty hours.

Good luck.

[Bill Huson]

busted link. I think I got the right link - http://www.woodsurfboardsupply.com/

[Bill Huson]

Wow! Now we're talking - woodsurfboard supply website. One of those may be my #2 build.

[wtarzia]

Two SUPers got to checkpoint #1 at the 2011 Everglades Challenge on SUP boards -- that's 60 miles. I'm not sure of their time, but it was in between one and two days and closer to one perhaps. Not sure why they dropped out (no doubt exhaustian was some part of it) there but we all thought their performance was pretty super! (pun sort of intended). --Wade

[Dusty Yevsky]

Designs seem to be scarce, so if anyone has a link to designs please post them. And is anyone building an SUP? Or has built an SUP? Or better yet, have you actually built and used an SUP and can offer a few user tips to reduce the number of splash down learning experiences?

linkage to Kaholo: http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/s...ddleboard.html

Bill,
I built the Kaholo from plans a couple of years ago. I picked the Kaholo because at the time I wanted to build a SUP and no one else was offering plans. Having used it for a while in various locales and conditions, I think I can offer a useful overview of construction and performance. I should point out that I’m not particularly knowledgeable about surfboards and their ilk.
The K is very easy to build, especially if you have any S&G experience. You could probably be ready for varnish in about 35 hours. However CLC limns out some construction techniques that are questionable and created problems in the shape. The workarounds are easy and straightforward. When you get your plans, PM me and I’ll point out these areas and my solutions.

Overall the design is good. (see previous disclaimer) I found the craft to be light, fast and stable. I do think there is one glaring design shortcoming. The SUP was designed for flatwater touring as well as downwind ocean runs.The designer went with a twin fin layout. I mostly paddle flatwater and find that the craft wanders. I generally take four or five strokes a side and then have to switch. I was in contact with the designer and while he says this is normal for SUPs I’ve been on boards that were far more directionally stable, due to a large center fin. I’m going to open up the deck and put in wood blocking for a fin box in the aft center of the hull. I’d highly recommend adding this before closing the deck. This way you’ll have the option of installing a center fin if you find the craft wandering. The weight penalty is very small. I’d also consider installing a recessed center handgrip because the SUP is 30” wide and might be cumbersome for smaller folks to handle.

As far as other designs go, here's a new one from JEM that looks very similar to the Kaholo.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/PaddleBoard.php

BTW, SUPing is a blast. I row, paddle and sail and SUPing is a distinctly different experience from these other modes of interacting with water.

[trefor]

Jim Michalak has designed one, too. Don't know if it's been built, though. http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/ji...lank/index.htm

Trevor

[maarten]

Ahaa the wooden board emerges at the wooden boat.
The godfather of the modern hollow wood surfboard must be mentioned to Paul Jensen.

How to's and kits and stuff
http://www.hollowsurfboards.com/

[Bill Huson]

Bill,
I built the Kaholo from plans a couple of years ago. I picked the Kaholo because at the time I wanted to build a SUP and no one else was offering plans. Having used it for a while in various locales and conditions, I think I can offer a useful overview of construction and performance. I should point out that I’m not particularly knowledgeable about surfboards and their ilk.
The K is very easy to build, especially if you have any S&G experience. You could probably be ready for varnish in about 35 hours. However CLC limns out some construction techniques that are questionable and created problems in the shape. The workarounds are easy and straightforward. When you get your plans, PM me and I’ll point out these areas and my solutions.

Overall the design is good. (see previous disclaimer) I found the craft to be light, fast and stable. I do think there is one glaring design shortcoming. The SUP was designed for flatwater touring as well as downwind ocean runs.The designer went with a twin fin layout. I mostly paddle flatwater and find that the craft wanders. I generally take four or five strokes a side and then have to switch. I was in contact with the designer and while he says this is normal for SUPs I’ve been on boards that were far more directionally stable, due to a large center fin. I’m going to open up the deck and put in wood blocking for a fin box in the aft center of the hull. I’d highly recommend adding this before closing the deck. This way you’ll have the option of installing a center fin if you find the craft wandering. The weight penalty is very small. I’d also consider installing a recessed center handgrip because the SUP is 30” wide and might be cumbersome for smaller folks to handle.

As far as other designs go, here's a new one from JEM that looks very similar to the Kaholo.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/PaddleBoard.php

BTW, SUPing is a blast. I row, paddle and sail and SUPing is a distinctly different experience from these other modes of interacting with water.

During my internet perusal I picked up on the center fin deal and will set her up for an additional fin. Not sure if the center fin would be forward or aft of the twin fins though??

I will pm you when I get the plans, although every boat I've built from plans not my own had flaws in the process I had to fix on the fly.

JEM one looks interesting. Appears to have what we called "non-trip" chines on our outboard race boats.

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

If you are trying to float somewhere with the least expenditure of energy the paddle board looks like the California-lotus-eater solution to the problem. An overly long paddle that gives you less than desireable leverage. A stand-up position to generate as much wind resistance as possible while you are getting to where you are going. As a means of enhancing one's pectoral muscles it looks super but as an alternative for any kind of conventional paddle boat it looks like a loser.
SUPs are a niche floatation device, deserve a niche market and their own niche web site.

[John B]

Never tried one then eh Chuck?

[Dan St Gean]

If you are trying to float somewhere with the least expenditure of energy the paddle board looks like the California-lotus-eater solution to the problem. An overly long paddle that gives you less than desireable leverage. A stand-up position to generate as much wind resistance as possible while you are getting to where you are going. As a means of enhancing one's pectoral muscles it looks super but as an alternative for any kind of conventional paddle boat it looks like a loser.
SUPs are a niche floatation device, deserve a niche market and their own niche web site.

Well if fun is #1, they've got it covered.

Going upwind is no fun though. Some designs have a removable paddleblade that swaps with the T grip.

The balance aspect makes it tons more difficult (and more fun) than canoes or kayaks in the short term. For longer trips, a kayak might be a better option. For fun in the sun, it can't be beat!

Dan--who just sold his Guillemot strip built kayak featured in WB launchings section back in 2000 or so for a sup and a really nice paddle.

PS. despite a superfund cleanup the Cuyahoga is still probably not the nicest place for an unintentional swim.

[Dusty Yevsky]

PS. despite a superfund cleanup the Cuyahoga is still probably not the nicest place for an unintentional swim.

I SUP on an industrial strength river in NJ. Industrial pollutants are a tremendous motivator to stay upright. I'm also the best SUPer on the river, due to the fact that I'm the only SUPer on the river.

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Never tried one then eh Chuck?

The Cuyahoga is a river that feeds onto Lake Erie. Look it up. It's in the North Temporate Zone and we have just come off a very difficult winter. Today the temperature is almost 90 degrees but the lake's water is about 50. Lake Erie is rather shallow and roils up in one hell of a hurry. Not the place to pretend you are a surfer-dude, dude.
I never knew the things existed till "Canoe and Kayak" magazine did a feature on one last year. In it some muscular lad paddled around one of the Virgin Islands. Flat, 80 degree water with a mate in a paddle boat to offer help if it was needed. Nice scenery but it looked like a photographic stunt to me. It should have been published in a muscle magazine.

[williv]

I built a wood strip(juniper/cedar) SUP last Spring from plans I got from grainsurf.com. It was a lot of fun to build, but I also made a lot of mistakes that hopefully I won't make the next time. The biggest mistake was to not take into account the fact that at some point, water will enter the board. When it does, and it comes in contact with unprotected wood, warping will happen. When I build another one, I'll probably laminate the bottom of the insides with very light cloth/epoxy.

Also, the absolute best build thread I read on SUP building was on Swaylocks by a user named Wood Ogre, http://www2.swaylocks.com/forums/woo...-fish-attitude .

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

PS. despite a superfund cleanup the Cuyahoga is still probably not the nicest place for an unintentional swim.

Starting about 10 miles inland the Cuyahoga Rriver and the adjacent remnants of the Ohio and Erie Canal have become a national park. And with contiguous regional parks the total parkland is about 33000 acres. Because it goes thru' a lot of well developed areas it is one of the 10 most visited national parks. And the Cuyahoga is no threat to the ecology of the Great Lakes like your Chicago Sanitary Canal.

[John B]

The Cuyahoga is a river that feeds onto Lake Erie. Look it up. It's in the North Temporate Zone and we have just come off a very difficult winter. Today the temperature is almost 90 degrees but the lake's water is about 50. Lake Erie is rather shallow and roils up in one hell of a hurry. Not the place to pretend you are a surfer-dude, dude.
I never knew the things existed till "Canoe and Kayak" magazine did a feature on one last year. In it some muscular lad paddled around one of the Virgin Islands. Flat, 80 degree water with a mate in a paddle boat to offer help if it was needed. Nice scenery but it looked like a photographic stunt to me. It should have been published in a muscle magazine.

Yeah fair enough Chuck, I was sceptical and certainly ain't no fashion monkey or oil painting myself. However I was looking for a solution to an issue and that was having a kayak type boat for my wife and the kids to 'gunkhole ' around the beaches in off our boat. All my friends have those plastic kayak things that look like a collection of pulmonary embolisms. And those things although tough , smash the hell out of a boat hull.
Anyway the paddle board was an alternative and works out really well. since then I've investigated them more and found that you can actually get a relatively good inshore 'boat' out of them . Workout wise? I don't see them as creating some specialised muscle group, actually I found everything from feet and calves through core got more stress than any glory boy shoulder / pecs stuff.

[Bill Huson]

Well, Cuyahoga Chuck, my crew isn't looking for most efficient water transportation, they're looking for giggles, as in FUN! Plus the lightweight SUP will load nicely on the wood/epoxy catamaran trailer and then they can double their FUN!

Me - I just love building little boats. The SUP build will keep me out of bars and off the lounge chair for a spell. All good. . .

[peterchech]

Im just saying, read up on "rails" and on fin placement on swaylocks or grainsurf. Hard chines have no place on surfboards, an im a hard chined boat kind of guy.

I guess u have the kit already, but for others considering it, print up a full size template from grainsurf.com at staples. A" real" sup will not only look awesome, but will give much better performance and prob be lighter too.

As far as water entry, i haven't had this issue yet on my board after one and a half seasons of use. I think a coat of 4 oz glass on the outside seals these guys up well. Glass on the inside just adds weight. Weight is the killer here trust me. Good advice on the centrally located hand grip too my longboard is narrower than any sup and is still a bear to handle, partially due to weight and partiallyjust size/clumsiness....

[Dan St Gean]

The Cuyahoga is a river that feeds onto Lake Erie. Look it up. It's in the North Temporate Zone and we have just come off a very difficult winter. Today the temperature is almost 90 degrees but the lake's water is about 50. Lake Erie is rather shallow and roils up in one hell of a hurry. Not the place to pretend you are a surfer-dude, dude.
I never knew the things existed till "Canoe and Kayak" magazine did a feature on one last year. In it some muscular lad paddled around one of the Virgin Islands. Flat, 80 degree water with a mate in a paddle boat to offer help if it was needed. Nice scenery but it looked like a photographic stunt to me. It should have been published in a muscle magazine.

Not that I needed to, but I looked it up to confirm it was indeed the river that caught fire multiple times. Hey the rust belt (and everywhere else for that matter) didn't have an untarnished environmental record. Hey I live in the outskirts of Chicago, the city that turned around the river so it sould send it's effluent downstream rather than out to it's drinking water supply--good idea, unless you're paddling downstream. I wouldn't want to swim in the Chicago river either.




You don't need to like SUP or try it. It's fun, it's a good workout (which is why that guy looked like he should grace a fitness magazine), and it's complimentary to lots of what folks are doing to enjoy small craft. If you don't have anything to add to the conversation short of: it's hard, it's a stunt, I wouldn't want to do it on a wavy Lake Erie, etc, then don't do it.




He seems like he's having some fun on those wind waves out on Erie.

Dan

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Cleveland was a major port but had no harbor. The mouth of the Cuyahoga was dredged and became the harbor. Along the banks was the industrial heart of Cleveland. Three steel mills, Rockefeller's first oil refinery, and just about every ancillary industry you could think of. About 20 miles upstream was a small paper mill and about 10 miles further yet was the city of Akron's primary sewage plant. Today industrial and municiple pollution is about nil but the residential development on the upper watershed means there are thousands of over-age septic systems leaching into the river whenever there is a hard rain.
The national park section of the river is a gem with a portion of a 70 mile bike path which has been allowed to go back to nature (the feds only move fallen trees if they land on the towpath trail)and the surroundings even appeal to a pair of resident bald eagles.
I be down there right now if I didn't have chores to do.

[Dan St Gean]

Cleveland was a major port but had no harbor. The mouth of the Cuyahoga was dredged and became the harbor. Along the banks was the industrial heart of Cleveland. Three steel mills, Rockefeller's first oil refinery, and just about every ancillary industry you could think of. About 20 miles upstream was a small paper mill and about 10 miles further yet was the city of Akron's primary sewage plant. Today industrial and municiple pollution is about nil but the residential development on the upper watershed means there are thousands of over-age septic systems leaching into the river whenever there is a hard rain.
The national park section of the river is a gem with a portion of a 70 mile bike path which has been allowed to go back to nature (the feds only move fallen trees if they land on the towpath trail)and the surroundings even appeal to a pair of resident bald eagles.
I be down there right now if I didn't have chores to do.

Sounds like a good spot.

As for my local river, it's the Fox west of Chicago. Every municipality that borders the river (including mine) dumps their "treated" effluent into it. I wouldn't want to do much swimming despite every city's claims to have the greatest waste treatment. My simple solution? Don't fall in.

Dan

[basm]

Looks like fun:

[TimH]

Yowza

[Bill Huson]

*drool* Eye Candy! Since Cuyahoga Chuck claims they're "lotus eaters" methinks I'll get me some lotus plants and go trolling for babes on my SUP!

[trefor]

wait... were there SUP boards in that video?

trevor

[Dan St Gean]

wait... were there SUP boards in that video?

trevor

They were hiding under the beautiful girls. O'Neil bikinis ever so stylishly worn by a team of models. Good publicity stunt.

[Bill Huson]

Not to mention Cuyahoga Chuck sez paddling a paddleboard improves pec muscles, so a side bene for those girls is enhanced and firmed up . . . er . . . natural assets!

[David G]

As an old surfer, I was attracted to SUP boards. I decided they looked like fun, but were a bit limited. For me, needing a regular exercise regimen, I decided a rowboat made sense for a next boat. So that's what I did. If I had more play money and a bit more spare time, I might consider building one for the novelty factor. They do look like a fun and unique way to spend a bit of time on the water. I suspect in 5 or 10 years, though, most of them will be gathering dust in the rafters.

[Dan St Gean]

As an old surfer, I was attracted to SUP boards. I decided they looked like fun, but were a bit limited. For me, needing a regular exercise regimen, I decided a rowboat made sense for a next boat. So that's what I did. If I had more play money and a bit more spare time, I might consider building one for the novelty factor. They do look like a fun and unique way to spend a bit of time on the water. I suspect in 5 or 10 years, though, most of them will be gathering dust in the rafters.

I doubt it. It will run an interest cycle like windsurfing did, but this one is just on the way up. If it gets traction not only on the coasts with surfers but also with the flatwater folks, it's going to blow up prety big. Will folks find they lose interest? That happens with every hobby. I just love being on the water--and for this ex San Diego surfer, it scratches the right itch.

Dan

[Dusty Yevsky]

I suspect in 5 or 10 years, though, most of them will be gathering dust in the rafters.

Given the oh-so-trendy appeal, your prediction will no doubt come true. But I think it will retain a dedicated following because SUPing offers a subtly unique aquatic experience, something akin to telemark skiing or flyfishing.

In five years, used SUPs will be going for a song.

[John B]

They've only been here for a couple of years and this year was the first I saw them on boats so I agree , a long way to go.
I've been dinghy tripping around rocks for 25+ years... its just something we always do . On our boat we call it going 'white water rafting' because the memorable ones have been riding surges through rocks and caves etc. Anyway, this year I've seen more sealife in one season off the paddleboard than all the previous 25.Whole schools of fish and some big kingies and rays that I never would have seen from the dinghy.

[Dan St Gean]

They've only been here for a couple of years and this year was the first I saw them on boats so I agree , a long way to go.
I've been dinghy tripping around rocks for 25+ years... its just something we always do . On our boat we call it going 'white water rafting' because the memorable ones have been riding surges through rocks and caves etc. Anyway, this year I've seen more sealife in one season off the paddleboard than all the previous 25.Whole schools of fish and some big kingies and rays that I never would have seen from the dinghy.

That's my experience as well. The first time I rented one in Sanibel I saw a shark, a ray and some biger fish I'd have never seen kayaking--which I do there often.

The good news is my wife loves it, which makes it possible to spend some time together out on the water.

Dan

[John B]

handy when you get friends turn up in fizz boats on NYE too.

[Bill Huson]

Bill,
I built the Kaholo from plans a couple of years ago. I picked the Kaholo because at the time I wanted to build a SUP and no one else was offering plans. Having used it for a while in various locales and conditions, I think I can offer a useful overview of construction and performance. I should point out that I’m not particularly knowledgeable about surfboards and their ilk.
The K is very easy to build, especially if you have any S&G experience. You could probably be ready for varnish in about 35 hours. However CLC limns out some construction techniques that are questionable and created problems in the shape. The workarounds are easy and straightforward. When you get your plans, PM me and I’ll point out these areas and my solutions.

Overall the design is good. (see previous disclaimer) I found the craft to be light, fast and stable. I do think there is one glaring design shortcoming. The SUP was designed for flatwater touring as well as downwind ocean runs.The designer went with a twin fin layout. I mostly paddle flatwater and find that the craft wanders. I generally take four or five strokes a side and then have to switch. I was in contact with the designer and while he says this is normal for SUPs I’ve been on boards that were far more directionally stable, due to a large center fin. I’m going to open up the deck and put in wood blocking for a fin box in the aft center of the hull. I’d highly recommend adding this before closing the deck. This way you’ll have the option of installing a center fin if you find the craft wandering. The weight penalty is very small. I’d also consider installing a recessed center handgrip because the SUP is 30” wide and might be cumbersome for smaller folks to handle.

As far as other designs go, here's a new one from JEM that looks very similar to the Kaholo.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/PaddleBoard.php

BTW, SUPing is a blast. I row, paddle and sail and SUPing is a distinctly different experience from these other modes of interacting with water.

Dusty - sent you a PM

Bill

[rbgarr]

These folks posted a SUP video the other day (see Thursday's entry): http://www.facebook.com/ThorfinnExpeditions

I've paddled a canoe in that exact same location and except for the easier portablity and storage of a SUP, I think a small canoe would be just as good. You could stand to paddle with a long enough blade... and sit and fish also.

[Bill Huson]

Okay, got plans and manual from CLC, picked up 3mm okume ply and cypress lumber today, 4oz glass heading my way onna truck. I'm good to go.

Of course being afflicted with WWBD (Wood Watercraft Building Disease) I was intrigued with Hollow Wood Surfboard construction I viewed on links a few of y`all provided. What a collection of intricate parts! Reminds of my model airplane building days. Yes, I'll have to try one of those . . .

Those of you in Eastern North Carolina the place to go for boat building lumber and ply is Atlantic Veneer Mill outlet in Beaufort, NC. I kid thee not. Good prices, great service, and a wide variety of lumber and ply. Plus, it is in Beaufort, NC, so you could take along the Admiral and turn her loose in town with all those quaint stores . . . yeah, there goes the checkbook balance, but down the road she'll be asking when you're gonna start another boat and *have* to go to Beaufort for wood A win-win.

[peterchech]

We are such nerds

[Bill Huson]

And of course when I get the SUP going I think I'll start and SUP Yogio Club!

click da linkage and do the slide show . . .

https://picasaweb.google.com/1062558...eat=directlink

[Bill Huson]

Well, it appears my Darling Daughter is tuned in to trends and the latest hot thang, as in SUP. In our rather small burg (about 25 thou folks) which is located on a pair of rivers, A brave couple just opened an SUP store! Downtown. Smack in the middle of our historic district, and one block from the river. They're planning to have a stroke whut you brung paddleboard race this fall! I'm on it. Kaholo is ready to be decked and glassed.

Dusty - didn't run into many probs with the build, but I think someone needs to tell CLC that epoxy joints do not like over-clamping as all that wedging the stringers and piling on 1/4 ton of free weights and boxes of resin is over-the-top and completely unnecessary. Oh yeah, and their suggested layout on the plywood is bogus. I scarfed two sheets and traced/cut the deck and both sides out of it, then did the bottom out of one sheet with the fat part centered and bow sections off to the side. Much easier to cut the skinny sides out of a joined sheet then to attempt to keep them true while scarfing parts. Especially since no reference line was included. My score: Instruction manual =l A (nice and professional). Techniques and actual instructions = C-.

[Daniel Noyes]

cool
I was in an open water rowinf race a year ago and some guys raced paddle boards but they paddled kneeling down with their arms and hands as the paddles, when they paddle your nose almost hits the board and I saw a guy sitting on his board shaking out his arms, I assume he was trying to get feeling back in his hands...

Geof Kerr had a stand up paddle board at the Wooden boat show, completely different experience, he was standing up glideing along the waterfront looking at the other boats, almost like a gondola or something, since then Lauren an I have been using an old windsurfing board for stand up paddeling, sit down paddling and surfing at the beach, lots of fun

[Hal Forsen]

Those things are all well and good on flatwater and in the hands of an experienced surfer like Laird Hamilton they are a great alternative.
HOWEVER,
like every other new fad there are bound to be KOOKS and these days every surfspot has a bunch of newby kooks flailing around with paddles and huge boards creating havoc...........