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Original poster

Stand Up Paddling

47 replies

Carlessly · 12/09/2023 08:59

Can someone talk me through the logistics?
How does it work if e.g. you paddle down a river so don't go back to where you started? What type of pump do you use? Do you put the pump and carry bag inside a waterproof bag and lash to the board? What about a hand cart - i don't think I could carry everything any great distance, and no way if DC are with me and more than one board. But then how do you transport the trolley?

OP posts:
lljkk · 12/09/2023 18:55

I'm a kayaker but I have gone out with SUPers. This is what I see:

How does it work if e.g. you paddle down a river so don't go back to where you started?

Most people come back to where they started, against current & wind if they have to. If you want to go 1-way, you have go organise transport back or getting dropped off.

What type of pump do you use?

Most people operate pumps on their car battery (cigarette lighter port?)

Do you put the pump and carry bag inside a waterproof bag and lash to the board?

They could do. You could have someone to drop you off. Before they drive off, Inflate the pump on their car battery then they meet you at the end point. Use the pump to deflate too, possibly. They could carry your trolley if you need one (not sure why you'd need one, everyone has inflatable boards & they weigh nada). If it's hand pump ( I just sold one!) it can handle getting wet.

SUPing is hugely sociable in my observation, you should be able to on Facebook find a local social group that goes out a lot.

PuttingDownRoots · 13/09/2023 00:24

We oaddle up river while fresh, then use the current to get back again!

We have a manual pump, plus an electric pump that can be used from the car or from our leisure battery (we use that while camping)

Original poster
Carlessly · 13/09/2023 06:40

Inflatable boards weigh about 8.5kg. Plus paddle, plus pump, plus water, picnic, sun cream etc etc it adds up quickly especially when you've more than one board to carry.
Do people really have people they can call up and say "hey, we [our family] want to go out for the day can you pick us up and drop us off?"

OP posts:
Jobquestion · 13/09/2023 06:46

Why do you have to end up in a different place?
I sup and put everything in car, lock car. Put key in small waterproof pouch. Paddle all around.
Back to car. Use tides or wind to determine best route so it's easier on route back.

Hmmthatsgoodchicken · 13/09/2023 06:53

I have a group of friends so sometimes we go out on the lake en masse.
This is handy cos there is always someone on the shore to watch the bags (and the 16 kids)

We park in a carpark and pump up at the car either with manual pumps or electric hook up pumps. Leave the board bags and pumps in the car.
Put towels and a change of clothes in a rucksack (put it on your back with both straps). Picnic in the nice picnic hamper.

Strap the leg strap to the paddle board handle, put the oar through the elastic criss crosses and then through the paddle board handle. Put board on its side with the handle facing out and pick it up from the handle, so you are right in the middle of the board.
Bend and pick up the hamper. You'll look like a professional 😂

When me and DD go by ourselves, we don't leave anything on shore, so boards pumped up at car. Phone and car key in a waterproof case round my neck.

We go out on the lake for a few hours. Back to the car and home. No picnics. 😁

EmmaGrundyForPM · 13/09/2023 06:55

Find somewhere that you can get your car near to the start/finish. Go upstream to start with, then turn round and come back with the current.

Cornwallsummer · 13/09/2023 06:56

I inflate board at car leave everything in car except small dry bag with keys, phone, drink. Paddle against tide on the way of I can do easier on way back. If you have more than one board surely you have more than one adult/ older child. DS has carried his own board since young teen

AnotherCountryMummy · 13/09/2023 06:58

We paddle back up steam, but bear in mind some rivers are tidal or much slower flowing, so it's not hard. But you could also go to the sea and paddle around a bay or something instead?

You're coming to the end of the good weather now, so soon you'll probably need a wetsuit so you don't get cold. Particularly if at sea. And life jackets of course. But the good thing is that the equipment is all on sale!! We just got new boards.

You can get a hand pump, which are actually quite a workout! Or am electric one. If you go for a hand pump then try and find one which blows up on both the down and up strokes.

Have fun, it's such a great sport. But also stay safe and always check the winds/tides. I saw a poor lady get blown out a couple of weekends ago and had to be rescued by a kind boat!

StamppotAndGravy · 13/09/2023 07:04

We have an extra large one that fits two adults. We pump it up at home, carry it to the river (luxury I know), paddle down steam until we get bored then deflate and get the bus home. Its 10kg with a rucksack bag that tucks under the elastic. That's comparable to carry on luggage and 1 person can carry the rucksack for short distances. The other person carries the paddles and food bag.

madeinmanc · 13/09/2023 07:28

In my area there's been so many incidents of them being swept out to sea this summer and having to be rescued; please keep safety in mind and study coastal winds/tides/currents, carry a communication device in a drybag and stay tethered to the board. Maybe other precautions, too, but I'm not sure which as I don't go SU paddling myself.

PuttingDownRoots · 13/09/2023 07:38

We do tend to use the SUP more on lakes.
In England, you do need a Waterways licence for many rivers and canals... it pays towards the upkeep of facilities as well as insurance. Whereas lakes can be free (like in the lake district) or have a daily launch fee. They are easier for learning on as well.

Original poster
Carlessly · 13/09/2023 07:43

I don't have a car any more. So we're talking a 5 minute walk to the bus carrying everything we need for the day, plus a 20 minute walk to the water. If we come back to the same place, then that in reverse (plus the uphill at the end!). 4 boards, 2 DC - one would carry a short way but not 20 minutes, the other is smaller than the backpack and wouldn't be able to lift it and I have a prolapse and carrying heavy stuff makes it worse and Dr says I'm not supposed to unless absolutely necessary. I would also occasionally go alone with the DC so would need some way to get everything on the bus easily and transport it. Although I'm less likely to go on a river with the DC, would more likely go still water and come back to the same place so could chain something to the bike racks.

OP posts:
StamppotAndGravy · 13/09/2023 07:47

Sorry, but you won't manage that. Wait until the kids are big enough to carry their own. It's probably not safe to have them on their own board anyway if they're so small.

Another option that would let you do outdoors stuff would be a bike trailer. We don't have a car but go camping for weeks at a time with the bike trailer.

Hmmthatsgoodchicken · 13/09/2023 07:59

That's a lot to carry. The board bags are massive, and uncomfortable, it takes me about 15/20 mins to inflate my board with a manual pump. So if you have to do 4 boards you're looking at probably an hour before you get on the water.
The water needs to be at least knee deep otherwise you scrape over rocks, ideally deeper cos if you fall off onto a rock it hurts (my leg was bruised for weeks) can the kids swim? Life jackets are a must anyway.

Have you bought the boards? If not you could look if somewhere local hires them out for the day- then you won't have to carry them there and back, and if you don't like it it's not wasted money.
😁

Original poster
Carlessly · 13/09/2023 08:00

Wait until the kids are big enough to carry their own. But a child is supposed to carry no more than 10-15% of their body weight, so they'd be an adult before they get to around 60kg.

Which bike trailer do you have @StamppotAndGravy and do you use it on the bus as well as with a bike?

OP posts:
DazedandConfused11 · 13/09/2023 08:04

You need to practice somewhere safely, ideally with instruction, especially if you are considering taking kids before you consider this. Going on a river carrying all that stuff (with kids on their own boards?!) is utter madness. You also haven’t factored in life jackets which you absolutely have to wear in your list.

I’m amazed people can still pick up a paddle board in Lidl with their weekly shop and launch themselves out onto a river/ out to sea while absolutely clueless about safety.

DazedandConfused11 · 13/09/2023 08:06

How old are your dc? Unless they’re around 15+, know what to do if they get separated from you and have their own phone in a waterproof case to take with them they shouldn’t have their own board. An adult and a child can easily share a board - 2 adults can share a board if they’re not huge.

Original poster
Carlessly · 13/09/2023 08:11

You also haven’t factored in life jackets which you absolutely have to wear in your list. Ummm, yes, I have. That comes under everything we need for the day.

OP posts:
Cornwallsummer · 13/09/2023 08:23

If DC aren't old enough to carry one they probably aren't old enough to need own board. I can take 2 small adults on mine and have done it with 1 adult 2 small children in the past

Cropout · 13/09/2023 08:36

To be honest it doesn’t sound like the best hobby for you if you don’t have a car and can’t carry heavy things
you might be better off going to a lake or somewhere you can hire boards rather than carrying everything

PuppyPerson · 13/09/2023 08:41

I don't think it's doable without a car sorry. Don't forget everything weighs a lot more once it is wet!
Plenty of places (I'd strongly suggest a lake not the sea) have SUP hire places now. I think public transport to a place and then hiring them is the best option.

Original poster
Carlessly · 13/09/2023 08:41

If DC aren't old enough to carry one they probably aren't old enough to need own board. Nobody needs a SUP though! The idea is to get some healthy exercise as a family. I realistically can't carry one so far either, so should that mean I shouldn't go any more? The large boards say they have a limit of 105kg so whilst that would do for me and DC11 plus a tiny picnic and barely enough water for the day, it wouldn't work for DH and DC11 or me and DC13. They both have phones, and both know what to do if there's an issue whilst hiking so I assume they would know what to do whilst paddling.

Most kids around here seem to have their own boards at 8 or 9.

OP posts:
Original poster
Carlessly · 13/09/2023 08:44

I don't think it's doable without a car sorry. Don't forget everything weighs a lot more once it is wet! This is also my worry, the carry bags will get wet which will be a nightmare to carry back.

@StamppotAndGravy can you lock things into your bike trailer? Thinking the rucksacks and pump, towels etc or do you rely on people not opening it once you're out and about?

OP posts:
Cropout · 13/09/2023 08:45

I'm not sure what you’re asking then?
get a taxi?

smilesup · 13/09/2023 08:47

Carlessly · 13/09/2023 08:00

Wait until the kids are big enough to carry their own. But a child is supposed to carry no more than 10-15% of their body weight, so they'd be an adult before they get to around 60kg.

Which bike trailer do you have @StamppotAndGravy and do you use it on the bus as well as with a bike?

My teens carry theirs. Under a teen would struggle.

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