Water New Arrivals

What is available in the water new arrivals at Anaconda?

Here you will find some of the best new arrivals in our boating section. Currently, the new favourite activity in the boating section is Stand Up Paddle (SUP) board.

What is Stand Up Paddleboarding?

Stand up paddle surfing and stand up paddleboarding (SUP) are offshoots of surfing that originated in Hawaii. Unlike traditional surfing, where the rider sits on the board until a wave comes, stand up paddle boarders stand on their boards and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water. Variations include flatwater paddling for outdoor recreation, fitness, or sightseeing, racing on lakes, large rivers and canals, surfing on ocean waves, paddling in river rapids (Whitewater SUP), paddleboard yoga and even fishing.

What are the features of a paddle board?

If you are new to the world of Stand Up Paddleboarding (or SUP), you may be wondering what to look out for when getting a board. The kind of SUP you will need will depend on its use, which will determine whether you want an all-round board, a touring board, a fitness board or a surfing board.

For instance, for touring you will need a fast and efficient SUP, while for an all-round use SUP you should look for manoeuvrability and stability. This means you need to look at various features of paddle boards in order to decide if a particular SUP is suitable for you. Here, we take a look at the five main features, hull, length, width, volume and material.

Hull: The hull or body of a SUP determines how it functions when in the water. There are two types of bodies: displacement and planing. A displacement hull is pointed at the front end, a feature that makes it move fast in water. A SUP with a planing hull is wide and flat. Though it does not move fast, it is stable and suitable for surfing and all-round use.

Length: SUPs come in different sizes. There are short ones of less than 2.7 metres (9 ft), medium-sized ones between 2.7 - 3.5 metres (9-12 ft) and long boards of between 3.5 - 4 metres (12 - 14 ft).

Short boards are easier to manoeuvre than long ones and therefore suitable for beginners and kids. Medium sized boards are suitable for surfing or all-round use while long boards are for touring because they are faster.

Width: Boards come in different widths and you can find them as wide as 90 cm (36 inches). Narrow boards are around 75 cm (30 inches) wide. They tend to be faster but not very stable. Wide boards are more stable but slower than narrow ones.

Volume: The volume of a board indicates its ability to float while bearing weight. Boards with high volume can support more weight. SUPs have a weight capacity on their specs, which shows the appropriate weight for it. If a person too heavy uses it, it may not be easy to paddle because it may be too low in the water.

Materials: SUPs are made using different materials. The most common is EPS foam, which comprises a foam core enclosed with epoxy and fibreglass. Other boards are made using polyurethane foam while others are inflatable or with a hollow core.

Another thing to look for when selecting your ideal SUP is the fins. Fins add to the stability and tracking of the SUP. Some boards feature race fins, a large single fin or a three-fin setup. Even inflatable SUPs have either removable fins or rubber fins that are attached. Take a look at the great selection of stand up paddleboards and other boating essentials here at Anaconda!