Anyone seen this before as a way to carry a sup?
Know how its done? Is it any good?
I just got a 11footer with no handle hole, and would like to find an alternate way of carting it around apart from on my head.
The plugs are in the board and the weight of the board hangs off the paddle by the looks........if your gonna imbed 2 plugs for this, why not just put a damn handle in to start with ?
I was looking at the 10'6 Tropical Blends which this is and the lack of appropriate handle for a hacker was a turn off IMO.
I used this method with an 11 foot Flick. It was a heavy board but was easy to carry with the paddle - just like a suitcase. The board came with leash plugs mounted in the deck for that purpose. I used kite string to tie loops thru the plugs so it was thin and not annoying if I stood on it.
If the board has no leash plugs in it though I would put in a handle. (or don't purchase a board without a handle)
Dale
I had some leash plugs put into the deck of my new board. They're fine for carrying the paddle and if I had a super long carry I might hook a shoulder strap into them.
For carrying the board they tend to crush my knuckles up against the deck. My board is so light they are kind of redundant anyway. My mate has them on his board and they have been good for him.
Depending on where you surf you might really want a handle in the deck. If you are landing at a beach with a bit of a shore break then you want to just pick up your board and get out of the impact zone. It would take too long to slide your paddle into the loops while dodging beach closeouts.
For all my long carries with my heavy board I carry it hooked into the crook of my arm with the board resting on my shoulder and head. From this position I can swing the board down to my hip for a rest from time to time. This was ok for my wimpy body to do an 800m carry with a 13kg board.
I reckon do the job right and put in a proper handle and pop in some leash plugs at the same time if you want.
Hey Sunnysup,
I had this carry system on my first sup a heavy 10'6" ,and would say its the easiest way to carry a heavy board as you can get a good grip on the paddle,use both hands if needed and change hands without putting the board down.
I got caught in a sudden wind change [50-60 knot northerly with stronger gusts] last summer and had to carry this board 300mtrs directly into the wind back to the car and reckon this carry method saved me,on this day I could stand stationary with hold of the paddle and have 10'6" of board flying above my head like it was a kite,it was crazy.
Now I use a smaller 8'8 sup the hand hole in the deck works fine although I havn't been stuck in high wind conditions again with it,
Cheers.
Go on do it - drill holes in your board and put in proper leash plugs to carry it. Those stick on things are 10 times more suspect than power balance magic bracelets and won't even support a lunch pack in the long term.
It's physics, the surface area of the drilled in leash plugs will support much more than some plastic grommet attached with magic glue to your board. DJ's how to post below will show you step by step what to do - it won't fail.
www2.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39934
It's magic glue all right - it doesn't come un-stuck.
I have heard of one coming un-stuck in the first batch and since then no problems.
I don't distribute this product, I just think it is a quicker, cleaner, easier way to mount a handle and you just GRAB it - no fiddling with velcro straps.
Just make sure you follow the mounting instructions carefully.
THIS METHOD HAS THE BOARD TO LOW. FOR LONG HAULS AND CONTROL YOU NEED
THE TOP RAIL UP UNDER YOUR ARM PIT, LIKE CARRYING A MAL.
PUT A LEASH PLUG ON THE DECK BETWEEM THE EDGE OF THE TRACTION PAD AND RAIL ROLL , BELOW THE HAND HOLD , USE A BALIN TAIL SAVER (YES I AM A PIMP WHORE), TUCK THE HANDLE OF YOU PADDLE UNDER YOUR BALIN LEG ROPE (THATS ROLLED AROUND THE TAIL
OF YOU BOARD)
ATTACH THE TAIL SAVER TO THE PADDLE SHAFT WHERE THE BLADE COMMENCES, WHEN YOU GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO , JUST DISCONNECT THE TAIL SAVER FROM THE PLUG AND CONNECT TO THE TAIL SAVER ON YOUR LEGGIE TAIL SAVER WHILE YOU ARE IN THE WATER.
ITS THE ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL.
Board on yer shoulder, resting against yer mellon. Paddle in your free hand. I had a handle put in my PSH and still carry mine on my shoulder.
I have boards with and without recessed handles , the best ones are on my mates customs where the recessed handle are on an angle so your fingers are at 45 degrees inside the pocket this takes the strain off the end of your finger tips. On long walks with the 90 degree pockets your finger tips soon run out of juice and I find the board is up on my shoulder against my melon.
Rob
Don't be silly. It's too hard to walk with your pants around your ankles.
(Don't you hate smug bastards with lightweight boards. )
I have a 10'6" C4 BK model which comes with 2 leggie plugs in the deck and find using the ezy strap easy and effective.
It is also far maore manageable for my wife to carry. A good part of using the paddle as a handle is that more than 1 person can carry it at once - good for kids / girls.
Just make sure that you do them up tight and that the velcro isn't full of sand or they will let go when wet. ( operator error - not design fault!!)