Well like everyone else I've found myself at the home of SUP.
Ok so a long story to lead me to my question.
Over the easter and ANZAC period I was in Noosa visiting my parents for 10 days, and my fianc? and I had been planning on trying SUP. We had a blast in the first lesson on the Noosa backwater canals. Our instructor was impressed with our quick pickup and technique, and recommended an open water lesson to really challenge us.
We tried open water 2 days later. And what a difference that was. All over the place, really unstable, and even on 10'6 fly fanatics I was really struggling for the first 10mins. Anyways we got our sea legs and then paddled to get our lunge strokes and pivot turns happening. Which it didn't really, fell off a lot, but had fun. Then we tried surfing which I did fairly badly and my Mrs did better than me, and actually caught a wave.
We hired some 11' boards down at Maroochydore a few days after that, and I demo tested a naish glide GX, (very nice)
After that we thought we might want to buy some boards. but the only problem is, we live in Melbourne, and my parents live in Noosa.
So here's my options;
1. Buy boards and keep them in Noosa and only use them 2-3 times a year. (not so good as we hardly get to use them)
2. Buy boards and keep them in Melbourne and rent some up in Noosa 2-3 times a year. (better as we have access to our boards more times of the year, but Melbourne is colder, and we wouldn't paddle a huge amount in winter, as we ski a lot)
3. Buy boards for both Noosa and Melbourne (ideal but expensive)
SUP users
Me, 6'4 90kgs
Mrs, 6' 75kgs
SUP usage
Noosa; I reckon we'd be open water paddling on noosa beach and some small beach/point breaks and the occasional back water paddle on the rivers/canals.
Melbourne; I reckon we'd be doing more flat/open water paddling and hardly any waves. (we live In Footscray, close to Williamstown, etc)
We'd love to be able to afford new but it's a fairly $$$ investment. We're thinking second hand/used to begin with, and I prefer flat/open water paddling, I'm leaning towards a DC coconut 12'6 as I like flat/open water and some occasional crumblers, and the mrs is pretty keen on a fanatic fly 10' to use on waves/open water and the occasional flat water paddle.
So what's everyones thoughts? TIA. bigbunny.
bigbunny,
Another option is to go inflatable? I can't give you a review on it, but if you're looking at travelling with a sup and maybe have storage issues, then that may be worthwhile looking into? If you were looking for a purpose wave-board I wouldn't suggest it, although for small fun beachies they might suit.
Get your parents to take up stand up and then you can borrow their boards in Noosa 
Bigbunny
I would get a SUP to use hear in good old Melbourne as once you find your feet you will invariably head off to find some small beach breaks which is a lot of fun. There plenty of good beach breaks not far from Melbourne and once you have found your feet just going for a paddle in the bay will start to get old. I purchased a 10'2 x 35 JP Wide Body so my wife could give it a go and it would still be very easy to use in small to medium surf. My wife and i spent the best part of a day testing boards in an effort to find the easiest and best board to cover the bases. I also wanted a board the would carry myself and my 9 year old son. when you get back up to Noosa hire some board there as it will be good chance to try something new once you have found your feet.
Big bunny I would suggest as sail hack did 2 x inflatables..u can take on plane or car to Noosa as required...I only have experience with naish inflatable, but there are a few good brands out there. I have 2 x Naish One inflatables. 12'6 long, and super strong, super fun, and unbreakable. Took 2 of them to thailand recently and had a ball. Roll up to the size of a backpack and easy to transport and store.
HI Nickmcd41
I would be interested to know if you have tried the wider of the 2 inflatables in small waves? I am planing a trip and was thinking the same thing getting an inflatable to use for myself the wife and my 2 young boys but don't know how it would go in small waves VS trying to hire something once we are there as you never know what the boards will be like and if they have any for hire when you want to go. Great shots by the way. It makes me want to head off to Phi Phi Island for a a paddle. Cheers Oldboy.
Hey old boy, the naish inflatables are the same width, maybe one looks wider in that shot. They are ok in the surf, not great. But I am definitely no surf pro. Have seen some of the sunny coast guys surf them ok, I think some comments I have heard is that they surf ok in a straight line but don't turn to well. Naish have some surf shape inflatables, but I reckon the Ones are unbeatable as touring boards and do most things very well.
The trip to Thailand was unbelievable with the inflatables, getting away from the crowded beach on them was a real bonus, and they were very easy to get around with. $15 on air asia for them each way was bloody cheap too.
Cheers
Nick
Hey Nick
Many thanks for your response. Must have been the angle the shots one just looks wider. I showed my wife you shots and it reminded us of fun times at Phi Phi island before kids. We want to take our boys back there. The inflatable would be great for all round paddling and to use as a snorkeling platform for the boys in more out of the way places. I will do some more research as the the body shapes available as my older son loves it when we can ride a small wave in together on our wide body SUP. I am sure it would go fine in a straight line in to shore that would still be good fun for the boys and me. Not to mention the good lady wife whom is still finding her feet on our current SUP. I will be heading for a paddle down the coast this week but as winter has started to set in hear in Melbourne it will a 4/3 steamer with booties. I think the water is around 16-17c with high wind chill. Why do I live in Melbourne??
We often try to get away to somewhere warm during the winter and never thought of an inflatable as an option just was thinking of hiring one when we got there in the hope that would be easy to do. One of my good friends was recently on leave with his 2 kids on Hamilton island and found it hard to get a SUP when he wanted one as they were all ways booked up.
Many Thanks for you advice.
Cheers Oldboy.
