Hi,
You probably know the story: I recently tried suping at a resort and then did it again, and again, and again. Now I'm hooked and have been reading extensively to try and find a suitable board to buy.
Any thoughts on a Naish One for a beginner? I want to do mostly touring and flat water stuff around Sydney Harbour, which can experience some chop. I'm 83 kgs and have been sailing small craft all my life so should catch on quickly. I thought the Naish would be a good board not just to learn on but to grow into as well. I'm 58 but fit and active.
I've picked an inflatable because it could do the occasional bit of travelling.
I'd also like to get the misses involved, would the Naish One suit her as well? Total beginner, 65 kgs.
with your stat and questions here's another good option if your interested? I have a brandnew 2019 Naish Maliko 14ft x 26 as below link in seabreeze.
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Stand-Up-Paddle-Race-and-Downwind-Boards/~-j9x9/2019-Naish-Maliko-14-0-26-inches.aspx?_page=1&search=gXD8sOIQKpFr%2BXzehF78nDfnVj5hMJdg
The Naish One at 12'x 30" would be a great first board for both of you.. as long as it's not too choppy.
I would strongly advise against an inflatable, Sydney harbour is not flat, Anywhere near the city you are going to struggle with an inflatable unless its rock hard like a red board which will still pogo stick and they are pricey. The harbour around Watson bay, double bay area is far too choppy, manly is too choppy and La Parouse, malabar is choppy too. The way that the inflatables handle the chop is to keep the momentum going and stay on top of the ridges rather than plough through the chop like a hardboard. Sydney is rarely flat, there is usually NE in summer and a southerly in winter. If your going to paddle on northern beaches and Palm beach, Bayswater then yes a inflatable is okay as the conditions can get dead flat.
Check the local rental fleet where you want to go paddling the guys around harbour all have hardboard fleets. It will be so much easier learning on an older second hand hard board.
Thats not even considering tide and wind. Plus its much more shark friendly to be on a big hard board than an inflatable in and around the harbour.
Your wife is very light so she may be okay on the inflatable but her hardboard is going to be light weight anyway.
I have not ridden a Naish one so they may be as rigid as a hard board.
Think ploughing your way through the waves, rather than bobbing on top.
Also the wider the board, the easier it is to learn, There are a few fun little waves around Sydney that you can ride on your hard board too. .
DJ wife also paddles so he is a good person to recommend a board for your better half. Female paddlers tend to have less wing span and a different centre of gravity so they can use a much narrower board than us gentleman (gross over generalisation).
