Paddlesports (Kayaking, Canoe, Stand-Up Paddle boards)

MM-Seat said:
Bit of a milestone for me this evening.

I’ll be coaching a canoe group at the canoe club I’ve been attending the past month. First time I’ve used my qualifications in anger!

EDIT: SUP inflatables have said to supper glue my fin box and use a flexible fin to see if it holds. If not, RIB repair companies are really good at sorting them and they could arrange that for me. Good tip for anyone who cracks an inflatable fin box.
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So canoeing got cancelled due to no one taking up the offer, I am now coaching a paddle board session on Wednesday evening!
 
Anyone getting out there?

I’m now regularly coaching canoeing and SUP at the canoe club in Liverpool. I say coaching SUP, more just getting beginners on the water and keeping them safe.
 
Martynt74 said:
Not too much for me, i've not been out since i was up at Windermere last month/earlier this month, i forget when.

I think i've realised that i prefer running/cycling, so will generally only go out occasionally. The issue there is obviously my ability drops and i can't do the distance/speed i'd want when i do get out. I'm off to Spain next Friday though so imagine i'll get out quite a bit, again though i'm really hoping to get up into the hills running this time i'm there and need to be mindful of how much i'm ignoring the wife each day :p

Also been debating selling my Fanatic board. I bought it as a holiday/backup board, but since holidays other than Spain are looking unlikely for quite a while and i've bought a board for in Spain too, i don't know whether it makes sense to keep it just stored in a cupboard as an "incase" scenario. I always had in mind that i could invite friends out with me and so it was handy having the second board, but in reality it's not happened in the ~12 months i've owned it.
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That’s a shame but, I suspect you will just dabble when the mood/conditions suit.

Which fanatic have you got? I may possibly be interested dependent on how much you was looking for it.
 
Martynt74 said:
Yeah, i think the issue is i've got really bored with the canal by my house, it's always full of horse flies etc and pond life so hard to get a decent paddle done, so the alternatives are either the River Lune where you can only paddle ~4 miles due to some limits on tides/weirs at the best launch point, the beach at St Annes where you need to time it right due to tides or the Lake District.

Don't get me wrong, i absolutely love being on the sea or up in the Lakes, but it's far enough away that it makes it less of a regular option. Compared to running/cycling where i can have constant variety of routes/distances from my doorstep.


I've got the 11'6 Ray Air, it's a great board and you'll notice i've recommended it a few times, however if i'm honest i think with you already having the 10'6 Gladiator, you'd see more benefit from going with a 12'6 board. Price wise, i think they're around £530 new with the paddle so would likely be after around £430 or so.
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thats fair enough really! Still nice you have the kit to go whenever you want.

I think you are right. I’m looking at purchasing a 14 foot board for next year. This would have just been a nice upgrade to the Gladiator and given me the option to go with a friend.

I may be trying a 14 foot, 25 inch racing board in the next few weeks at the club. The guy who owns it keeps up with sea kayakers on it!
 
Three things learnt this evening.

1) my fix on the Gladiator has worked. Fin stayed in!

2) touring fin helps massively with tracking and speed.

3) 12ft 6 board (30inch wide) was really good. Glide and tracking was excellent. Touring fin would have improved this even more I suspect. I’m sold!
 
MM-Seat said:
Three things learnt this evening.

1) my fix on the Gladiator has worked. Fin stayed in!

2) touring fin helps massively with tracking and speed.

3) 12ft 6 board (30inch wide) was really good. Glide and tracking was excellent. Touring fin would have improved this even more I suspect. I’m sold!
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oh, and I had a go of white water board. That wasn’t fun!
 
Martynt74 said:
Haha i'm always amazing watching people go down rapids on a sup. Their skill levels are awesome.

I think tracking was always the main thing i noticed going from my 10'8 to a longer board. Being reasonably heavy, i never seem to find i glide much no matter what i'm on :p


Feel like i've developed a little bit of tennis elbow in my right elbow, seems to come on when i've done some longer bike rides. Not sure if it's a case of trying to up duration on that too much too soon, but hoping it doesn't persist and cause any issues paddling when i'm in Spain!
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I’m quite a bit heavier than you iirc (115kg). Certainly felt quicker.

I used to get that on the bike, found I was “locking” my arms out straight rather than having a slight bend in them. Is that a possibility?
 
Martynt74 said:
First paddle on the board in Spain. Only fairly short as was a bit hungover.

Stability is great, I felt confident even as there were some small 2’ waves breaking at the shore that it rode over nicely.

Looking forward to getting out again when I feel better and hopefully the sea is a little calmer.
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Did you buy a hard board over there in the end?
 
BadMojo said:
So what's the scoop with a licence to use waterways? A mate in work says I should get a British Canoe Club membership as it provides it. Although it's only £45pa, for a family of five it'll cost over £130pa!
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I think that is the cheapest way to do it if I’m honest. Have you each got a board?
 
So, I’ve now enrolled for British Canoeing Core Coach training in October. This will be quite a step up.

one I have done that training I will have to undertake discipline specific training (DST) which I intend to do in canoe/kayak and sheltered water sup.

can’t wait!
 
jsmoke said:
This is my boat, more a river boat but still OK on still water.

20210910-155907.jpg
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Is that a Liquid Logic Hoss?
 
IronSpider said:
Didn't the gladiator come with a touring fin anyway?

Been out a lot on our boards since buying them. Once my son went back to school the mrs came and gave it a try too. Might end up needing a 3rd board!

After a few times in a week pumping up two boards in the heat I've had enough. Got the HIKs 20psi pump and for me it's a game changer. My son was just not heavy enough to pump past 8-10 psi. I'm now no longer knackered before I get on the river.
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Nope, came with a dolphin fin shaped one.
 
BadMojo said:
My board was delivered but it had been packaged wrong from the manufacturers - a 10'8" board in a 12' box. So it had to go back. Reordered for delivery Friday. So fingers crossed I'll be out this weekend. Just to the local marina for now. Also start training with the dog, get him used to the board and learning to stay on it! He loves the water so I expect he's going to find it hard to not be jumping in all the time.
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hopefully you got out?
 
BadMojo said:
Unfortunately not. I went down to the Crosby Lakeside Marina on Sunday but it was a bit windy and the Sea Cadets were out in force. So I decided discretion was the better part of valour and aborted. I didn't want to embarrass myself, first float, in windy weather, with scores of on-lookers. ☺️

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CnotZ3HVvn5ygnP76

On the plus side, I unpacked and inflated the board several times, with manual pump and an electric pump I have for my air beam tent, with my dog present. He ws sat right next to me and got on and off, and sat on, the board with zero issues.

I now trying to pursuade my son to not get his Steam Deck, but buy a paddle-board instead!
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I didn’t realise you was so close to me. Liverpool canoe club have some sup sessions at the docks. I’m actually running a taster session on Saturday at 1 o’clock. Would need to be a member and the session is £5 but, might give you some confidence?
 
Martynt74 said:
The £509 is without the paddle, so increased to £550 including the paddle :)


I can't comment on the 12'6 but i'm a fan of the 11'6 version that i have (albeit that i'm selling!). The only downside is that it's only single skin so suffers a little on stiffness vs double skinned boards, although i must say i never had an issue with mine despite being on the sea in ~3ft swell which is usually a decent test.

As above, i'd consider the Gladiator Pro range. The paddle/pump would be better and should be stiffer too. Only downside would be weight vs the Fanatic but i don't think the odd kg would be a big enough factor if not using for travel.
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thanks (and to @IronSpider and @BadMojo)

I wanted to try the Fanatic as already have a gladiator but, perhaps that’s a bit of a stupid reason to get one.


Maybe I’ll just go for the 14 foot Gladiator Elite as it’s not much more in reality.
 
Martynt74 said:
You certainly couldn't go wrong with that. I was very impressed with mine, and got a lot of favourable comments from anyone who tried it.

You'd also get the carbon paddle and make you wonder why you hadn't got one before :p


I guess it depends if you'll keep your existing board. If you are then the 14' compliments it nicely. If you're going to move it on, then i'd go 12'6 just for a little extra versatility.
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I’m going to keep it. Got loads of friends and family who want to give it a go and with all the coaching I’m doing, it gives me more options.
 
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