Stand up - Paddle boarding

[Ocean Spirit]

Since getting the Cali, my daughter has had her eyes opened to more outdoor activities and it's proving expensive.

Out with friends she took a shine to paddle boarding. Well with decent school report and SAT's results coming in just before her birthday we have spoiled her a bit on the proviso that she shares it with us when we are out.

Do you use your Cali for days out paddle boarding???
It's likely I'll be after some tips.

 

[Bellcrew]

Since getting the Cali, my daughter has had her eyes opened to more outdoor activities and it's proving expensive.

Out with friends she took a shine to paddle boarding. Well with decent school report and SAT's results coming in just before her birthday we have spoiled her a bit on the proviso that she shares it with us when we are out.

Do you use your Cali for days out paddle boarding???
It's likely I'll be after some tips.

Get her to try first at the Lymington sea water baths, you can hire a board by the hour, safe situation and pretty warm water at the moment.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Thanks @Bellcrew
I didn't know they did that there.

 

[Hotel California]

Was'nt @Loz son in to padle boarding , he did some at the meet in Gloucester...

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Was'nt @Loz son in to padle boarding , he did some at the meet in Gloucester...

Yes I just found that thread actually in the last hour or so. Thanks HC

 

[larrylamb]

Pondering myself between SUP and kayaks at the moment.

 

[sapto]

Friends (California drivers SE and Beach) like SUP boarding (mostly on lakes) and I had the chance to try out. The have inflateable ones. IMO it is a great way to excercise and have fungo for it!

 

[westfalia]

Pondering myself between SUP and kayaks at the moment.

Stand up in a kayak, 2 for the price of one.

 

[larrylamb]

Stand up in a kayak, 2 for the price of one.

Kayak does look like you can have more people "in comfort" etc and use it in more situations.

 

[Jay586]

You can sit on a paddleboard. I've had both & the sup is more flexible, due to being inflatable & lighter. So not exactly comparable as you can buy inflatable kayaks but it depends on what you want to do.

Salford Quays do yoga/pilates classes on sups.

 

[MattBW]

We have a kayak and to be honest as we don't live that close to water we have found we dont get enough use to justify the cost and need for storage. With our kayak we would have been better to hire them. We have however been looking at SUP as we want something our dogs can come with us on. There seem to be inflatable models which would take up less space and remove the hasse of loading and unloading a kayak at each end. Makes them very tempting.

I think trying before you buy would be a great plan and we have come to the conclusion unless you do it a lot, hiring is usually cheaper in the long run..

 

[JohnnyP]

Since getting the Cali, my daughter has had her eyes opened to more outdoor activities and it's proving expensive.

Out with friends she took a shine to paddle boarding. Well with decent school report and SAT's results coming in just before her birthday we have spoiled her a bit on the proviso that she shares it with us when we are out.

Do you use your Cali for days out paddle boarding???
It's likely I'll be after some tips.

The Cali makes a great changing room after coming out of the water, I have an inflatable paddle board which I just carry in the space behind the front seats, the paddle is a bit more awkward but the paddle end rests on the back seat and the hand held end rests on the floor in between driver and passenger seat.

The Cali is great for this sort of activity in general, refreshments / self catering on board and loads of room for kit and dry clothes.

I rented all the kit for the first season but when I knew paddle boarding was something I wanted to do regularly it was worth buying the kit. I do most of my paddle boarding at the coast and a great location is about 5mins drive away so apart from day long trips the Cali is mostly used as a convenient changing room.

 

[owen_h]

Andy Biggs watersports https://www.andybiggs.co.uk/ in Gosport does a regular try it out session for SUPs and kayaks on Friday afternoons at Alverstoke creek (little Anglesea road). Think is about £5 to try. Tell him Owen sent you.
Also there is a rental place / club on the Hamble river (in Universal boatyard) that hires both SUPs and kayaks: http://hambleriver.wesuphq.com/ The OP lists his location as Hampshire so this might also be a suitable place to try.
Last week I was kayaking ( using a 14ft sit-in touring) with 2 other people who were on SUPs (Inflatable 10f't 8"). The kayak was defiantly faster and capable of going further than the SUPs, especially if it was into the wind where a person standing up will have a lot more windage than a kayak. The SUPs were also great fun though and easier to carry to the water than the kayak. we had a campsite within easy walking distance to the launch point but the kayak would have been more awkward had we needed to drive anywhere. There was also an inflatable kayak on the site but I only ever saw it being used in the bay, didnt look suitable to me for any longer trips.

Happy paddling

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Thankyou @owen_h
I'm only in Bishopstoke.

 

[owen_h]

Thankyou @owen_h
I'm only in Bishopstoke.

Very close to me then, I work in Bishopstoke (despite what my avatar flag may indicate).

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Very close to me then, I work in Bishopstoke (despite what my avatar flag may indicate).

I wish I did LOL...
Chickenall???

 

[Lost in the Forest]

We are also a SUP paddling family. Now have a fleet of three rigid boards for Wife and Daughter (10yrs).
It makes a nice relaxing contrast from our other more frenetic sporting activities.

A SUP is great fun in the surf and also up quiet river and harbours. We are very lucky as am close to Mudeford and Poole harbours, Studland, Solent, Hamble and Lymington river etc.

I recommend hiring and getting tuition before buying

 

[owen_h]

I wish I did LOL...
Chickenall???

Yes Chickenhall Lane, think you might have worked out the company I work for .

On local paddle spots the upper Hamble north of the M27 bridge is a great area to explore. There is a slipway in Swanwick that I try and use but it can be very busy. Can get all the way up to Botley or Curbridge & the Horse & Jockey pub for a drink. Check the tides though as its mud at LW. With a SUP you might be able to launch at Manor Park, not tried it with the kayak as the carpark is a bit far from the water.
There is a SUP shop at Woodmill on the Itchen, never been into the shop but have paddled from there down to another slipway at St Denys
Other side of Southampton water a nice paddle is from Calshot spit to Ashlet Creek (another pub there). Or from Lepe beach into the Beaulieu river.

 

[ArunAlec]

The SUP Company at Woodmill Activity Cente in Southampton is worth a look.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

I guess there is plenty for me to explore this week end....
What fantastic contributions to the thread all.
Thank you...keep it coming.

 

[CannonDale]

Since getting the Cali, my daughter has had her eyes opened to more outdoor activities and it's proving expensive.

Out with friends she took a shine to paddle boarding. Well with decent school report and SAT's results coming in just before her birthday we have spoiled her a bit on the proviso that she shares it with us when we are out.

Do you use your Cali for days out paddle boarding???
It's likely I'll be after some tips.

Cali and a paddle board go well together. I have a Red Paddle Inflatable and it is excellent. Picture taken at Hurst Beach, Milford.

 

[Wobble’s Mum]

We have Red inflatable paddle boards. Personally, I wish I’d taken it up years ago. Having the Cali and these in the boot, gets us exploring places we wouldn’t normally find. Whilst in Wales recently, we paddled Oxwich Bay amongst giant jellies and three days later we were paddling the lake at Llanberis with Snowdonia as our panorama.

We can’t take our kayaks far as the Cali roof won’t take the weight, so this is the ideal way to get on the water quickly. The boards are safe INSIDE the van when we go off to do other things.

When done paddling, we put the kettle on, deflate the boards, get changed in the van - they really are a perfect addition to van life. They also work every muscle in your body and strengthen your core so keep you fit if like me, you prefer a more sedentary approach to your spare time!

 

[Alibee]

Cali+SUP makes an excellent combo. We bought a cheap SUP from Amazon a few months ago and have not stopped using it. Even rented a 6 man SUP last weekend for the niblets b'day party and did some proper coastal exploring.

SUP sits very nicely on the roof bars, attached with two flat bungies, and gets a quick rinse from the shower before it goes back up after use (sea water + roof scissor mechanisms never a good idea).

Inflation by the same electric pump we use for the drive away awning, set to 15psi instead of 8psi.

Really looking forward to taking it down to Lorient in August, towing it behind a (rented) Hobie with the kids on.

 

[owen_h]

Really looking forward to taking it down to Lorient in August, towing it behind a (rented) Hobie with the kids on.

Where in Lorient? I was there last week paddling , cycling and LeTour watching. Campsite in St Cado on the Etel estuary. Loads of areas to paddle & sail. The tides can be very strong though.

 

[Alibee]

Where in Lorient? I was there last week paddling , cycling and LeTour watching. Campsite in St Cado on the Etel estuary. Loads of areas to paddle & sail. The tides can be very strong though.

We're staying in Gavres, on the southernmost plot in the site.



Lots of strong tides there but we have the same here in the CI. 6-7kts pretty common on spring tides. No paddling against that!

Anywhere specifically recommended? We'll have bikes, the SUP and are renting a Hobie for a few days.