How long is a paddle surf board?

There are different sizes of paddle surf boards on the market. Each SUP enhances a specific quality, such as stability, performance or maneuverability; so it is important to know how long a paddle surf board is, among other characteristics, before buying it, so you can make the right choice and enjoy this water sport without limitations.

How paddle surf boards are measured

The size of a paddle surf board is determined based on its height, width and thickness. However, there are two other parameters that you should take into account to buy the SUP board that best suits your needs:

• Height: this measurement is found in feet or centimeters and determines the length of the board from the base (stern) to the tip (bow). They come in different sizes, with the longest ones offering greater stability and the shortest ones having more maneuverability.
• Width: defined in inches or centimeters, the width of a paddle board is the distance between the sides of the board, that is, from the port side to the starboard side or vice versa. A paddle board with a greater width will always be more stable than a narrower one. For this reason, in competition boards (SUP Race) or wave boards (SUP Surf), the width is sacrificed in favor of greater maneuverability and navigation speed.
• Thickness: determines the thickness of the board and is defined in centimeters or inches. The thickness depends on other parameters that we will see below and on which the buoyancy and the maximum weight capacity that the paddle surf board supports depend.
• Volume: it is measured in liters and varies depending on the size of the board. Volume is the determining factor when measuring the buoyancy of the paddle board: the greater the volume, the greater its capacity to float.
• Weight: this is not the weight of the board, but the maximum weight it supports. This depends on its size and volume, which directly interferes with the amount of kilos that the SUP can carry without sinking.

How long is a paddle surf board

The measurements of a paddle surf board vary depending on the model and its use. As we have seen in the previous section, everything will depend on the degree of stability and maneuverability you are looking for in your new board. Paddle surf boards for 2 people do not have the same dimensions as paddle boards for children, to give two examples of opposite sizes.

However, as a reference, we can determine that paddle surf boards measure between 2.80 and 3.35 meters in height (9’ - 11’) and have a width of between 79 and 89 centimeters (31” – 35”), while their thickness can range between 13 and 15 centimeters (5.0” – 6.0”).

HUIIKE inflatable paddle surf boards offer a perfect balance between maneuverability, flotation and stability. Thus, our boards have the following specifications:

How many liters does a paddle surf board have?

The volume of paddle surf boards depends on their size. This parameter determines the amount of air (in liters) that fits inside and is directly related to the board's dimensions. Thus, the larger its dimensions, the more interior space there will be. And this affects the board's buoyancy and the weight it can support without sinking.

Therefore, a board with a high volume is more stable and can support more weight. So, depending on the size of the board, we can define a range from 175 liters to 340 liters.

How many kilos can a paddle surf board withstand?

Related to the volume is the amount of weight a paddle surf board can withstand. The maximum supportable weight is the threshold at which the paddle board's buoyancy is compromised, that is, the weight from which the board may sink.

In general, SUP boards have a maximum weight capacity ranging from 90 kg to 160 kg. For children's paddle boards, which have smaller dimensions, the maximum weight is lower (around 60 kg), while there are also high-capacity boards that support the weight of between 4 and 6 people, reaching up to 475 kg and 4.5 meters high.

It is important to correctly choose the measurements, volume, and supportable weight of your board. Its buoyancy, performance, maximum supportable capacity, and even maneuverability depend on these parameters. Therefore, you should carefully consider your weight, level of experience, and what use you are going to give it when choosing which paddle surf board to buy.

How to choose the size of the paddle surf board

To choose the appropriate size of the paddle surf board, it is important to consider the following aspects:

• Experience level: Depending on your paddle surfing experience level, you should choose one board size or another. Initially, you need greater stability to help you maintain your balance better. However, as you improve your skills, you will want a slightly more compact board to increase your performance in the water.
• Body weight: Based on your weight, you should choose a board of greater or lesser size and volume. These parameters affect the weight that the board can support without affecting its buoyancy. Keep in mind that a larger volume improves stability, but also reduces maneuverability.
• Type of use: The size of the board directly affects its performance in the water. Competition and wave SUP boards are usually lower and narrower to increase their maneuverability and navigation speed. On the other hand, if you are going to use your board for routes and crossings, you will want a larger paddle board to always have maximum stability, even in choppy waters.
• Available budget: Although to a lesser extent, since the size of the paddle surf board does not depend on the available budget, you should consider how much you are going to allocate to the purchase, since the larger boards, which consequently have a larger volume and support more weight, are also usually more expensive. Therefore, always consider the economic aspect and evaluate how much a paddle surf board costs, even if you are only determining what the measurements will be.

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