Hi all
Just wondering if any yachties out there are paddle boarders as well?
Due to some changes at my local wharf it's increasingly hard to carry the dinghy out to the end of the wharf at low tide. I usually launch from the shoreline but the depth of mud during low tide makes that harder as well. I was considering a paddle-board as a low water option for the 350 odd metre paddle out to the boat.
Now when I was windsurfing the equation was easy. If the volume was less that the combined weight of the gear and rider then it was a sinker and if the volume was more then it floated. My question is how low a volume can you go on a paddle-board before stability is impacted? Smaller board = less weight to carry the board the 100 - 150m from home to water. Part of my weight/ stability calculations would include maybe a backback with some tools and such, so I need to factor in a bit more weight and a higher center of gravity than a usual paddle-boarder might have.
Looking forward to hearing your experiences...
Not a lot of stability there anyway. Hard to imagine your dinghy problem. Why do you need to carry the dinghy to the end of the wharf?
Back to stability. Once the gunwale is level with the water that is the limit. Hence the more freeboard you have, the greater your stability, provided you can keep the load central. Not easy, as nothing is secured. Maybe an inflatable kayak would be better?
Hi Yarra
The issue is that at low tide you have to carry the dinghy to the waters edge which involves carrying over the oyster field then trudging through knee deep mud which is not pleasant. I've probably got a few thongs buried deep under the mud that didn't come up with my feet while attempting this.
Then with the public wharf the council put a nice sign over the walkway naming the wharf but of course it has 2 uprights and the sign is about 2m headroom so the dinghy must be negotiated through this gap. A board or light kayak would be easier to achieve this.
In the past I've just timed my trips to coincide with good tide heights but as I'm planning on using the boat a lot more regularly after Christmas I'm looking for a simple solution.
Recently bought an inflatable paddle board rated at 130kgs. I'm 105 and my dog is 30. The board is really light to carry and is really easy stable with me and a fidgety at times border collie. I highly recommend. I've carried a case of beer , the dog and bags to the boat. Nothing got wet. If in Doubt, kneel, paddle. Easy. And fun. PUmps up in 5 min, deflate in 2.
Also have a really good sevylor inflatable kayak, a proper one X2 . These are used in white water Rapids to transport gear down the rivers. Retail at $1000. Mine has a rudder kit also. It's a double kayak. Made from the same stuff the rubber duckies are made from, zodiacs. Amazing quality and a great tender, but it's very heavy.
I bought 2 paddle boards fr Aldi. The other week. 300 each. Bargain and I'm amazed at how Good it is. You can buy the same one on eBay. I'd def go the inflatable over a grp one. The inflatables comes with a really good pump with pressure gauge and 2 settings, easy or hard. Also comes with kayak seat, foot attachment and all this is in a great bag. I can transport this thing on a motorbike.
I've got a Walkerbay 8 foot for a tender and it is unstable as hell. Maximum load is 150kg, so besides the missus I cannot haul anything else. So yes, a tender can be unstable, but I do no think aSUP would be any better. Happy to sell my walkerbay to you 
Make a trolley for your tender on its side, that is assuming the wharf is reasonably smooth.
The paddle board will get you out to your boat OK, but what about ferrying gear or more importantly beer?
Gary
Paddle boards are very affected by wind. Not only are they difficult to paddle into a fresh breeze, if you fall they can get away from you very quickly ( use a leg rope).
Select to expand quoteSeebreasy73 said..
I've got a Walkerbay 8 foot for a tender and it is unstable as hell. Maximum load is 150kg, so besides the missus I cannot haul anything else. So yes, a tender can be unstable, but I do no think aSUP would be any better. Happy to sell my walkerbay to you
We have an 8 foot Walkerbay with the inflatable fender fitted which makes it very stable.
The solution l found, was the sit on kayak (a measly 150 quids) which worked to admiration till the day l sold the tub and it still does serve as a recreational vehicle.
One needs a good dose of lateral thinking to come to this solution and it worked for me.
The other, SectorSteve's solution is a way as he had similar problems, though, mixing oyster beds and inflatables of any sort could cause a disaster, the sit on kayak is solid, buoyant and light to carry. Perhaps not wearing Vietnamese safety shoes 
, of course, but a solid pair of sneakers like the Dunlop volley?
It is almost undistractable even on oyster beds and easily repaired using epoxy.
Riding against wind, tide, currents, eddies is a breeze wearing an inflatable pfd.
I carried agm batteries, fuel, supplies, wine, beer and spirit reliably for years and it fitted the bimini frame to perfection.
someone like polycraft make whats virtually a single person dingy., small enough to carry on your shoulder through the gate.
A guy at our boatclub has a brand new one, and its like a sit on kayak as above, but has higher topsides, as in a sit in canoe.
He uses it with a small outboard, but I imagine you could paddle it forward facing like a kayack.
I'll get some pics next weekend.
Select to expand quotecrustysailor said..
someone like polycraft make whats virtually a single person dingy., small enough to carry on your shoulder through the gate.
A guy at our boatclub has a brand new one, and its like a sit on kayak as above, but has higher topsides, as in a sit in canoe.
He uses it with a small outboard, but I imagine you could paddle it forward facing like a kayack.
I'll get some pics next weekend.
At 75 Kg it's probably twice the weight of my current dinghy!
Just to clarify, I'm not looking to replace my dinghy, just looking for a second option for muddy low tide days, or maybe when there's a race on...
Select to expand quoteJethrow said..
At 75 Kg it's probably twice the weight of my current dinghy!
Just to clarify, I'm not looking to replace my dinghy, just looking for a second option for muddy low tide days, or maybe when there's a race on...
its 4 times the weight of mine 16kg every kilo over 20 take $50 off the price the inflatable sup sounds great to me
Hi Jethro,
Red Paddle 10.6 Ride. These are not inexpensive, but they are in my mind a plausible dingy alternative. They are very stable, I have a picture with four people clowning around on mine, still with positive bouyancy. The whole thing loads into a backpack and the pump is very good, with dual stage cylinders. I use it on my inflatable tender, much better than the standard pump. My Ride fits inside the cabin, or on the railing when on board.
imy biggest worry was rough conditions, I have done this in 30 knots, admittedly in a crouch but better than swimming, right?
regards Richard
I have the fibreglass dinghy on the bank near the mooring, the inflatable kayak has become the boats tender in its own bag on the foredeck deflated and the paddleboards are for fun really and stored in the cockpit lockers.
Since having the paddle boards the kayak and dinghy see little use and i see this with many cruisers that have paddle boards as well as other options. the paddle board is the go to first option. Get one!
no, that polycraft wasn't what I had in mind.
found it, because it was bugging me:
www.finnboats.com.au/products/kayaks/gadget/
only 20kg, tough, no inflating, little more than just a sup with sides basically.
There's even a pic of a guy standing up in it.
And some secondhand ones on Gumtree :
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/beenleigh/kayaks-paddle/finn-kayak/1202818622
