I know there is a significant difference between the two boards ive listed, but i wanted to check:
I am 110kg and 186cm - i tried an Aqua Marina Pure Air (which was 10'2 x 30" wide and 4" thick and 110kg weight limit) and really struggled to balance. i know a big part of that is me and my skill/fitness but i wondered if a larger board is likely to help at all.
i found with the Pure Air the surface of the board in the middle was slightly underwater - but only just splashing.
i found the adventure king 10'6 board which is 32" wide, 6" thick and has a 150kg weight limit.
from what ive read (despite still needing a LOT to learn about balance) the additional size and volume is likely to at least help with keeping the board above the surface and maybe marginally more stable and steady while im trying to learn?
Also that for someone tall and large like me, the width is probably better?
the other option is the Aqua Marina Beast, which is similar spec to Adventure King in size etc, but double the price?
Any advice would be very welcomed about the best options - or is it really just a matter of practice to get some balance.
PS - my 9yo daughter got the 9' Aqua Marina Pure Air Youth, and has never fallen off yet!
Thanks
Feck the blowups off ! If u want to paddle for real and long time you not going to do it on an inflatable condom!
At 110kg and 185cm you need width, at the very least 32", and volume, at least 170 liters.
You also need stiffness, so 6" thickness (not 4"), and a quality construction which will make the board stiffer than the one you tried with is single-skin. Look for double skin boards. And it MUCH better go too big than too small.
Do not listen to the snobs, (good) inflatables are perfectly fine for flat water paddling (the Gong shaper recently said that he now uses only inflatables for flat water fitness paddling). It is only for surfing in waves that they suffer major disadvantages compared to hard boards.
I was only offering some advise Colas as i know the brands ! Why spend money on an inferior product thats bound to fail ! Plenty of good sh big boards that r cheaper than the rubbish on offer and as i only see one reply im assuming you have called me a snob !
Hey mate, I'm looking at getting an inflatable too and noticed the Aqua Marina Monster is now $399 at anaconda.
Does the shape of the board have a big influence?
the two im looking at are310cm x 82cm x 15cm but very different shapes - resulting in very different volume
The cheaper Adventure Kings is 200L
The dearer Aqua Marina is listed as 310L
i assume due to the width (aqua marina is wider along the full length) and nowhere near as pointy?
Adventure Kings - $280
Aqua Marina - $499
The pointy noses are less stable, but paddling with them is more satisfying, as they part water and chop and have less drag.
Wider nosed boards are more fun for paddling with kids and/or wife, fishing... and the very stable feel can feel more reassuring.
The biggest downside to inflatables versus hard boards - in my extremely humble opinion - is that inflatables have a finite lifespan, after which they are going in the bin.
Hard boards can eventually die too, but (barring accidents) they tend to deteriorate very slowly.
This might be a good reason to go cheap on your first board. Sure, a dead $350 inflatable is worth $0, but the depreciation on a hard board would quickly add up to more than that.
My my three cents worth