Paddleboards

johnalison

johnalison

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My niece's husband tells me that back home in Australia it is quite common for people on stand-up boards to get swept out to sea when the wind changes and need rescuing because they can't propel themselves fast enough. While I think they are all as daft as coots I think it would be a shame to lose too many of them. It would probably be overkill to have an electric motor built in but it occurred to me that all they would need was another paddle blade on the other end and they could then sit down and canoe themselves home. The extra blade could either be collapsible, retained by a sliding collar, or clip-on, being stowed on the board when not in use. Have I invented something or am I 20 yrs behind the times as usual?
 
I am not an expert in stand up paddle boards, but provided it isn’t too wavy that you can’t stay on the board, it is easy enough to paddle with the existing paddle, generally on knees but could do sitting down also.
Also the do now sell electric motors that slot on underneath, with small battery pack able to be strapped on top. Electric motor for Paddle Boards and Kayaks | easy safe paddling
But perhaps better to explain the issue of offshore vs onshore winds, and tides, before they go too far out in the first place.
 
I saw someone looking a bit too pleased with himself on a paddleboard on a London canal a while ago... going rather fast and not paddling. So overkill or not, it seems electric paddleboards already exist. I suspect they're not cheap and I have no idea whether they can fight the wind and tide (never a good idea in anything!)

Your idea of a modifiable paddle so they could be kayak-paddled seems good and isn't one I've seen or heard of, but it may be too sensible for paddleboarding...
 
You can paddle kneeling with a single blade: dragon boat or outrigger canoe style. It’s probably more effective then kayak-style. It also presents less windage. It is an acknowledged self-rescue technique.
 
dunedin said:
I am not an expert in stand up paddle boards, but provided it isn’t too wavy that you can’t stay on the board, it is easy enough to paddle with the existing paddle, generally on knees but could do sitting down also.
Also the do now sell electric motors that slot on underneath, with small battery pack able to be strapped on top. Electric motor for Paddle Boards and Kayaks | easy safe paddling
But perhaps better to explain the issue of offshore vs onshore winds, and tides, before they go too far out in the first place.
Click to expand...
From that link: "
  • Guarantees to get you home!
"!!!
 
Though I know next to nothing about paddleboarding, a very quick Googling indicates that a double-bladed paddle is, or has been. commercially available with the reported advantages of extra power and kayak-style paddling - though not AFAICS incorporating your idea of a separate blade, which does strike me as being vulnerable to loss in emergency. See review here: Hala Butterknife Double Bladed SUP Paddle (isupworld.com)
 
justanothersailboat said:
I saw someone looking a bit too pleased with himself on a paddleboard on a London canal a while ago... going rather fast and not paddling. So overkill or not, it seems electric paddleboards already exist. I suspect they're not cheap and I have no idea whether they can fight the wind and tide (never a good idea in anything!)

Your idea of a modifiable paddle so they could be kayak-paddled seems good and isn't one I've seen or heard of, but it may be too sensible for paddleboarding...
Click to expand...
The SUPs that either Lidl or Aldi sold came with a convertible paddle and clip on fabric seat. Getting low to reduce wind age helps but a double ended paddle doesn’t really seem to be better. Proper kayaking is more efficient as you use your legs and core to move the boat through the water - but sitting on top of a paddle board it’s all arm power. Kneeling or standing with a single blade you can use your whole body.

I suspect a lot of people who get in problems have had no training so don’t understand wind/tide and have no strategy if they are struggling. Indeed many have not learned basic technique or properly inflated the board so will be exhausted unnecessarily.
 
The charter cat I used to skipper a bit had two paddleboards, two kayaks, six sets of paddles and 12 passengers at a time. You kinda need 360 degree vision, patience and a keen sense of impending doom to keep your eye on that lot with the yacht at anchor....
 
capnsensible said:
The charter cat I used to skipper a bit had two paddleboards, two kayaks, six sets of paddles and 12 passengers at a time. You kinda need 360 degree vision, patience and a keen sense of impending doom to keep your eye on that lot with the yacht at anchor....
Click to expand...
When we had a flotilla boat with windsurfer, my mate found that a nearby anchored Greek Navy gunboat had a magnetic attraction...
 
Given the sort of folk who would start coastal paddleboarding in offshore winds might previously have launched themselves on lilos or inflatable unicorns, their chances are probably a lot better on (and leashed to) a paddleboard.
 
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My family and I have done a few paddle board courses. You are taught to be very aware of the wind as it’s very hard work to paddle into it. If you get into a situation where you are getting blown off you are to lie flat on the board and use your arms to propel your self along. My daughter got caught once on her board and started to drift off, I was in my kayak and went to get her but a rib got to her first. Shock her up but she learnt a lesson.
 
ylop said:
The SUPs that either Lidl or Aldi sold came with a convertible paddle and clip on fabric seat. Getting low to reduce wind age helps but a double ended paddle doesn’t really seem to be better. Proper kayaking is more efficient as you use your legs and core to move the boat through the water - but sitting on top of a paddle board it’s all arm power. Kneeling or standing with a single blade you can use your whole body.

I suspect a lot of people who get in problems have had no training so don’t understand wind/tide and have no strategy if they are struggling. Indeed many have not learned basic technique or properly inflated the board so will be exhausted unnecessarily.
Click to expand...
I think I have paddled a canoe with a single paddle, and while it is very rewarding, it does require a bit of skill to stop you going round in circles. I was just thinking what might be the easiest way of assisting unskilled boarders, if that’s what they are called.
 
Have a SUP, if there's any wind I prefer to kneel and use a kayak paddle. I have the daft SUP single paddle as a spare on board. Can go upwind in F4 easy enough, with kayak paddle. Standing is a bit of a waste of time if any wind. Lying on it like a surfboat would be good if v windy or lost all paddles
 
Mister E said:
You paddle a Canadian canoe with a single paddle using a j stroke.
You can use this technique on a paddle board.
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A paddle board lacks the directional stability of a canoe so you need to paddle one side and then the other to keep in a straight line. Unless you are really skilled this is very hard to do fast against a wind and keep moving forward.
 
Gixer said:
A paddle board lacks the directional stability of a canoe so you need to paddle one side and then the other to keep in a straight line. Unless you are really skilled this is very hard to do fast against a wind and keep moving forward.
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It’s a technique ypu pick up with practice. The main reason I swap sides paddling is to use the other set of muscles. We have 2 boards on our boat, it’s great in quiet anchorages (wind and wave wise). We can make a couple of knots with us each on an ama with the 2 paddles too. However, starting tye engine is less hard work! Wind wise, I expect all boat owners are only too aware of the effects of wind direction.
 
Gixer said:
A paddle board lacks the directional stability of a canoe so you need to paddle one side and then the other to keep in a straight line. Unless you are really skilled this is very hard to do fast against a wind and keep moving forward.
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The fins give it a lot of directional stability, tbh prob a bit more than a canoe has
 
We've
TwoFish said:
Given the sort of folk who would start coastal paddleboarding in offshore winds might previously have launched themselves on lilos or inflatable unicorns, their chances are probably a lot better on (and leashed to) a paddleboard.
Click to expand...

We've started to see an increase in calls to paddleboarders in recent years. And whilst they have the security of being tethered to their board, that's of little comfort if they keep falling in due to the sea conditions, and are getting cold and frightened.

On three of my calls to paddle boards last year, we undoubtedly saved their lives. It's only a matter of time until someone runs out of luck.
 
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