12 January 2024
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 475715080/
If you're riding it in small surf with the kids it's probably not going yo make a whole lot of difference. You just want something that will plane and glide.
Rod Treece
I like my fiberglass 4’8” it’s got way more flotation
Xavier Breteau
all designs work well, that the point with wooden paipo! any shape will do it!
Keith Usher
if i was riding with kids i'd just get a bodyboard, far softer and more float to easily catch waves.
Chris Geremia
Has anyone tried using a Catch Surf beater? They’re 54”
Lynn Bellomi
yes I have a 48" with twin fins and enjoy it. It's easy to use on small, rolling waves and I don't worry about damage from rocks or crowds. With these a little hot glue fixes any damage. I have an epoxy and wood boards but this one has its place. This a clip from the first week I had it. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0XRZwAs ... JmNzMyNQ==
A Beater Twin Fin works great prone-it gets up and goes! @catchsurf #pronewaveriders #waterwomen
Ian Anderson
both will be fun, and will handle bigger surf. less plastic in the ocean as well??
Elijah Baley
Both look good and should perform well, I wouldn't expect a big difference.
Damian Coase
I’ve used a Mullet soft board, 5 foot long from memory, with little plastic keel fins. Loads of fun
Brad Iliffe
22 March 2024
- Illife.jpg (22.68 KiB) Viewed 72 times
Hi! I'm new to this group. I recently joined because I'm keen to build my large brother a board to get back in the water and looking for ideas for shapes/dimensions for a 180kg Bro
Richard Mendonca
I’m about 145kg, and this is my board. Its dimensions are 48” x 30”.
No photo description available.
Bob Green
Brad Iliffe Firstly, I would see if I could borrow some boards and see what size board is needed to float your brother. A big bloke in good shape could get by with a smaller board. A mate tells me his 100Kg x 6'2" cousin rides a short neutral buoyancy board he made, in thumping shorebreaks. His cousin is a bodysurfer so is used to little flotation. I can find out the board length. Secondly, consider what sort of waves he's going to ride (longer paddle and weaker waves would likely need more volume). Thirdly is propulsion method. A longer board in relation to your brother's height, will have to be arm paddled. Approximately 3/4 of his height is more readily kicked along with flippers. An optimum length would allow for both methods. I don't think the actual shape matters a lot, what Richard posted up would be fine to get started. You just want to get him into the water so he can catch some waves. Richard's board is shorter than what I typically ride, but is much wider, which is where he is getting his volume. In this interview, a mate rides what he calls mega platters - 6'3 x 30" or so. Nice shapes made for well formed waves that don't need much duck diving (keep scrolling there are lots of boat photos): https://mypaipoboards.org/.../JeffChamberlain_2012-0602...
A Paipo Interview with Jeff Chamberlain
Brad Iliffe
he is no where near in shape but was a really good body boarder back 20 years ago I'm trying to inspire him to get back into something he loved and kept him fit .Could be a lost cause but I've got to try .Think I'll shape him something massive just so it's easy for him to paddle
Bob Green
These are made for largish Hawaiians: https://www.bullyboard.com/
Marcus Hikoi James
only topping out at 135kg. ( 5'9", 1.75mtr)
Wanting to keep surfing, despite no longer being able to jump to my feet.
Ended up buying a 5'10" body glove soft fish
Cut the swallows off about 4" up, had it made waterproof
At 5'9", I was unable to kick with fins on the 5'10".
At 5'6" length though I could kick as well as paddle.
Not a paipo per se, but eminently suitable.
Alan Mapstone
- Mapstone.jpg (22.52 KiB) Viewed 72 times
I’m getting off a mal and am going to go prone. Yes knees etc ??
75kg and will only surf relatively small stuff … south coast NSW
Any suggestions as to what I should look for in my first board?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 491820080/
Tim Harrow
Try a mat. They’re epic fun
Robert Ditton
Gut slider
Mark Pridmore
Enough volume to catch plenty of waves… more waves equals more fun …
Bill Niner
Very friendly on the Knees this one
Such a tricky learning slope from longboard to matt
Doc Robertson
Welcome to the club
Cenjamin Boombe
Mini paipo
Tom Newton
Try one of these. Surfed today in very small waves and loved every minute of it....I'm Also 75kgs.
Tim Harrow
Tom Newton what is this please?
Tom Newton
my slider. 52×24".
Trent Sutton
I'll probably get shot down here but a mullet bob cat soft top. Handles one knee or two as well.
Antony Gurtner
There’s plenty of good sized kneelos on Facebook market
Allen Mapstone
Will a kneelo be ok as a bellyboard, or would it need modifying?
Phil Harper
Fibreglass lid.
At least 3ft 11”.
Width and thickness depends on your body type obviously.
Twin fin.
Save ya knees go prone
Mostly ??
White softech little ripper.
5’ 20” goes great. Very light and fast. I’m 79kg paddles like my Kneeboards. No need for wax
No photo description available.
Brett Blackler
Phil Harper has anyone told you you’re SCUMM? ???? Enjoy the pillow rides.
Phil Harper
Scumm but aloud to use other ocean vehicles
Brett Blackler
Phil Harper we all have to have our outlets mate.
Phil Harper
Brett Blackler yep keeps us oldies in the mix with young ones
John Dixson
I’m ex mal surfer too my favourite is my ply board.
Bob Green
There are a few things to consider: 1) relatively small, are you thinking of beach breaks or reefs (Ulladulla bombie on smaller days?), 2) do you want to arm paddle or use flippers? 3) what do want from the board, big turns, gliding? Mats are something people like or don't. There is a steep learning curve to mats unless you are naturally gifted or put the time in. Unless you have a bodysurfing background, you want some volume. The important thing is that there will be a learning curve and you are back to being a beginner. With the mindset of a beginner, just enjoy the different experience. If you are expecting to rip on day 1 and catch lots of waves, you'll just get frustrated.
Wayne Jennings
Hi Allen, a lot of guys are riding prone , around kiama/shellharbour area, and u ride one of tom's at bombo, it was a similar shape board, in 2 foot and it was super fast and after a few waves I was learning to turn..a definite ?? to these type of boards..
John Morris
Look for a size that allows switching off between arm paddling and kicking with flippers. Too much volume makes duck diving a chore. Too little volume and you won’t get around so well. If going for foam and fiberglass I’d estimate between 4’6” and 5’ by ~21” and 2” thick or a bit over.
Mike Jax
If you have one made, make sure the shaper tucks your skeg boxes closer to where your hips will be. It turn like you are a race car.
Torben Andersen
Www.bullyboard.com
I bought a 8 feet 24 x 4 inch soft top with only a little noserocker.
Then I cut 2 feet from the back. Sealed the cut with good quality sealant/glue. Placed Quat fins.
Works great.
0:00 / 0:31
Allen Mapstone
Thank you all so much for all of the advice and support.
I reckon I’ll likely use fins to make up for paddling fitness, and will spend most of my time around the Bendalong area.
Yeah, I want to be able to do cruisy turns in waves up to about head height ??
Brett Blackler
the photos of Tom Newton’s is a real good starter. This board absolutely flies and is easy to paddle. I’ve surfed with Tom up to just overhead and his board works really well. I hope this helps.
Justin Spittle
If you can rock fins on you feet and and ok swimmer. Nothing is better all round than a Guy Butcher FARM Bellyboard or slide. Hard to paddle but easy as hell to duckdive. Easy to get on waves. Easy and fast on 1/2?ft wave, fat waves and able to make tubes and thread the barrel. I was competing with 40 longboards on a point yesterday and taking off further out than them and getting some. So has some fast responsive glide to the wood. And it’s wood so the flex recoil is epic. But if ya going on your knees do want that SCUMM dude Phil Harper
Says. And get that foamy. He only rides mats anyways, wTF would he know.
Peter Furber
Ask John Mandybur
Adam Cripps
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 063035080/
19 May 2024
Greetings! This will likely be a dumb question but I'm new and just starting to play with the idea of either bodyboarding or paipo boarding once healed up enough from an injury. Am I understanding correctly that body boards require different volumes/buoyancy based on your height/weight, yet paipo boards can be a thin 1/2" board whether you're a kid or adult, thereby acting as a planing surface versus flotation surface and weight therefore matters less? I'm struggling to find a body board suitable to my size (5'9", 388 lbs) just for trying out/getting started and also enjoy the history/tradition behind the thinner paipos, but am just uncertain if there's a weight at which they will no longer work or if they'll plane even for big guys since the bodyboards won't function apparently. Is going paipo with a homemade board just a pipe dream and there's no choice but to see if a custom bodyboard can be built for my size? Am I past the technical limits of either type board and surfing, even prone, is just not for me at this time? Any advice on which direction to go, sizing the board, materials, etc. would be welcome, ideally something I can craft at home relatively inexpensively just to get started, but suggestions for custom shapers who may be able to accommodate will be welcomed too just so I can make a list for when more $$$ is available. Mostly I will be riding the small surf on the Florida coast up through the Carolinas most frequently, but would like to build a versatile board for traveling/learning on if possible to get started and then can tweak details for various conditions on future ones. Thanks for any help/advice/guidance/blunt truths there may be!
19 May 2024
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 063035080/
- Cripps.jpg (137.39 KiB) Viewed 72 times
·
Greetings! This will likely be a dumb question but I'm new and just starting to play with the idea of either bodyboarding or paipo boarding once healed up enough from an injury. Am I understanding correctly that body boards require different volumes/buoyancy based on your height/weight, yet paipo boards can be a thin 1/2" board whether you're a kid or adult, thereby acting as a planing surface versus flotation surface and weight therefore matters less? I'm struggling to find a body board suitable to my size (5'9", 388 lbs) just for trying out/getting started and also enjoy the history/tradition behind the thinner paipos, but am just uncertain if there's a weight at which they will no longer work or if they'll plane even for big guys since the bodyboards won't function apparently. Is going paipo with a homemade board just a pipe dream and there's no choice but to see if a custom bodyboard can be built for my size? Am I past the technical limits of either type board and surfing, even prone, is just not for me at this time? Any advice on which direction to go, sizing the board, materials, etc. would be welcome, ideally something I can craft at home relatively inexpensively just to get started, but suggestions for custom shapers who may be able to accommodate will be welcomed too just so I can make a list for when more $$$ is available. Mostly I will be riding the small surf on the Florida coast up through the Carolinas most frequently, but would like to build a versatile board for traveling/learning on if possible to get started and then can tweak details for various conditions on future ones. Thanks for any help/advice/guidance/blunt truths there may be!
Paul Harris
None of us are 9 years old anymore are we
Adam Cripps
truth lol.
Kevin Barrett
My daughter’s partner is a big guy, taller than you 6’3” and won’t let on what he weighs but my guess is 300lb plus. He rides my 4’ x 16” wooden belly board without any issues, needs a face to drop down but once he’s planning he’s good to go. He also mixes it up with a big body board and a 4’11” seaglass albacore (but good luck finding one of those) I think anything will get you going, don’t get to hung up by suggested weight limits, its far more about planning area.
Kevin Barrett
https://tomwegenersurfboards.com/.../de ... t-seaglass...
Development of the Seaglass Project Tuna and Albacore
These are great fun as well. My daughter can stand on one, I can just about get to my feet but prefer prone / kneeling and my daughters partner just body boards it
https://catchsurf.com/products/beater-o ... 4-twin-fin
Beater Original 54 - Twin Fin
Rodney Taylor
6' 210lbs and 62yrs. If l can do it you can do it!!
Richard Mendonca
Paepo’o is an extension of Body surfing. The word Paepo’o means, “Head First,” In Hawaiian. That’s because, when you look at someone riding one, it looks like they’re sliding down the face of a wave, “Head First.” That being said. Most Paepo’o that are made out of wood, typically, aren’t positively buoyant or very slightly buoyant. The ones made of newer material are positively buoyant because they’re made with foam and composite materials. Even those boards aren’t really designed for a person to lay on continuously, like a “Bodyboard.” So, as far as holding a person’s weight…In my opinion, not that relevant. The planing aspect of the board is the most important thing about its design. The more buoyant, the easier it is to get on the wave. The heavier boards tend to plane better in chop. I’m 5’8 1/2” and weigh about #300. My board is 4’ x 30”x 1/2”. I also have a board that’s 5/8”thick. At speed, I’m able to get pretty much my whole body out of the water. What I would tell you is look for a board that’s wide enough to get yourself on and long enough to get at least your knees onto when your moving. Reducing drag is key.
Jady Swinkels
Ryan Arakawa from Vektor Systems makes skegs for bodyboards and paipo boards but also shapes and makes bodyboards and can maybe custom make a board for you. http://vektorsystems.com/section/bodyboarding/
Bodyboarding | Vektor Systems
Bartholomew Cullings
Are you dedicated to a body/boogie board? If not, you could get a kneeboard and ride it as a body board. That's basically what I've done for years on big, mushy waves that need a bunch of floatation to get me into the wave. They're good and wide, and tick.
Mike Jax
Big Bruddah. Can't go wrong.
https://bzproboard.com/product/big-bruddah/
Big Bruddah - BZ proboard
BZPROBOARD.COM
Adam Cripps
Will it float/handle 388lb? I was under the impression it maxed around 300.
Mike Jax
it will go as long as you get one with multiple stringers. I would invest in some Viper fins as well.
Adam Cripps
Mike Jax wonderful insight, thanks!
Larry O'Brien
I only weigh 150 pounds these days, but it seems to me that a larger person might be better off with a low flotation paipo, because their body will be more bouyant when it's mostly under water. On a high flotation bodyboard, the large rider might suffer back problems, as the lower half of his body hinges in the water. There's also the problem of paddling out through the surf with a high flotation board.
Adam Cripps
Those are really good arguments for starting with a homemade 1/2-5/8" paipo before trying the others. Thanks!
Larry O'Brien
I've made some boards with plywood and cork. The cork was an underlayment grade that I bought from a flooring supply warehouse. I used water-based Titebond II brand of glue. Clamping pressure was applied with sandbags and rocks. It doesn't give the flotation of a bodyboard, but I have enough flotation, that my head is above water when I'm resting between waves, and that's without a wetsuit. You might consider getting a custom wetsuit. That way you avoid the drag of a loose-fitting shirt and swim trunks. Plus you have some added flotation from the suit while you are resting between waves. You said Florida, so maybe you can find an old-school wetsuit shop for scuba divers. Maybe short sleeves and legs, but maybe go with a thicker scuba material for the flotation.
Adam Cripps
Larry O'Brien combining cork and plywood is a great idea! Did you seal everything with something like epoxy, or just let it soak/dry naturally? Somewhere around here there's an old farmer John wetsuit leftover from my scuba days. It's in rough shape but should get me started.
Larry O'Brien
I would usually seal the cork with the same thing I was using on the plywood, which at that time was an oil-base polyurethane made by Minwax. Sometimes I would only seal the rails. Once I tried hemp oil on the cork, but it was drying too slow, so I went over the top of it with Watco oil. I never tried automotive wax, but that might be something you already have in your garage. It's sort of high temperature, it's designed to be outside in the hot sun. As for the farmer john wetsuit, it might fill with water while riding a wave, and most likely will catch water when you try to duck dive under a broken wave, but maybe you can find a rash guard to wear over the top of it.
Adam Cripps
Larry O'Brien wonderful, will give those a shot! Thanks!
Gareth Jones
Knee boards have been key to my being able to surf the waves I enjoy most as age and injuries take their toll, though I’ve never much considered paipo untill these posts appeared, now I’m as curious as you.
Elijah Baley
Plywood paipos are easy to make (and cheap), you just need a plank and some basic tools to cut and seal it. Not designed for flotation, it's more about swimming behind like a swimming pool kickboard. But once on plane, it will float you (kinda like water skiing). If you're a big guy you just need a board big and wide enough to support you. Foam bodyboards are fun too, they're floaty, but in the other hand paddling out will be more challenging.
Adam Cripps
Thanks for the feedback Elijah! That's what I was thinking a paipo worked like but wanted to make sure.
Harry Okahashi
I like Paepo board riding it is fast. What a rush you get charging a nice wave.
Check out Jerry Liu from Hawaii ,he rides Paepo
Adam Cripps
Will do, thank you!
Bill Wurts
As mentioned already planing is all about bottom surface area. This brand is all about Big Kahunas, “Bullyboards.” Depending on the model, they are rated to over 400 lb.
https://www.bullyboard.com/boards/BULLYBOARD.COM
Richard Paul
I ride anything from a hand plane to a thicker paipo. I recommend a good fitting pair of fins to start so you can catch a wave no matter your weight.
Gary Figueroa
Getting "wet" is the driving motivation. Richard Paul d a notable suggestion of you getting yourself a comfy pair of fins. Nothing worse than aching feet trapped inside of ill-fitting fins! There's been quite a technological evolution in surf fin design, so seek out COMFORT first!
The foam bodyguards are hugely fun. You'll catch some doo doo from the snotty surfers. So, what!?! Just remind them that their mom, sister, or girlie gurl aren't complaining!
Have fun. Be careful. Wear sunscreen. Consider a vest or surf tee to protect your nipples cause you will get a rash. Geev'um brudda!
Rod Rodgers
A lot of good suggestions in the thread. The suggestions for trying out Big Bruddah and Bullyboards make a lot of sense to me especially for catching and riding the weaker and smaller Florida waves. Paddling out shouldn't be an issue in the common 1-3 ft surf.
You didn't say if you had prior experience surfriding, but assuming you don't you will find a learning curve in catching and riding waves and controlling the board on the waves. There will also be a learning curve in judging what waves to catch. And you will wipe out a lot (part of the fun).
Some longer and wider boards can be helpful but you don't want a board too long or it with impede your ability to leg kick... so go wider and thicker, 23-24 inches wide and 3 or so inches thick. The Big Bruddah and Bullyboards are good for this and not being made of hard materials (wood or foam/fiberglass) would help get you started.
Regarding fins: fit, fit, fit. Forget about brands for now, find a pair of fins that fit. Wear some fin socks (neoprene common style) or around 1mm thickness, or 2-3 mm in Jacksonville waters in cooler times. If they fit well then flexi, stiff blades will come later. Use fin tethers so you don't lose the fins. And fresh water rinse after salt water use as salt eats up rubber/synthetic plastics. Keep out of the sun when not in use.
Have some fun out there around The Poles, the Pier or wherever you are on the coast. Stay away from the crowds while learning.
Lynn Bellomi
I'd recommend getting some cheap plywood and making a paipo to test size/shape. Once you get a design you're happy with you can get better materials. Make sure to use a good deck or marine sealer on the wood. For your size, maybe start around 4' long by 22" wide. I'd also recommend trying out a Hubboards Boog Mat to start getting active with. Easy to transport, inflate and catch waves with. I have one of the smaller versions and it's a blast. https://hubboards.com/products/hubb-lite-boog-mat-xl...
Hubb Lite Edition Boog Mat - XL
HUBBOARDS.COM
Adam Cripps
That Boog mat is pretty cool! Thanks for the suggestion
Adam Cripps
·
Greetings! This will likely be a dumb question but I'm new and just starting to play with the idea of either bodyboarding or paipo boarding once healed up enough from an injury. Am I understanding correctly that body boards require different volumes/buoyancy based on your height/weight, yet paipo boards can be a thin 1/2" board whether you're a kid or adult, thereby acting as a planing surface versus flotation surface and weight therefore matters less? I'm struggling to find a body board suitable to my size (5'9", 388 lbs) just for trying out/getting started and also enjoy the history/tradition behind the thinner paipos, but am just uncertain if there's a weight at which they will no longer work or if they'll plane even for big guys since the bodyboards won't function apparently. Is going paipo with a homemade board just a pipe dream and there's no choice but to see if a custom bodyboard can be built for my size? Am I past the technical limits of either type board and surfing, even prone, is just not for me at this time? Any advice on which direction to go, sizing the board, materials, etc. would be welcome, ideally something I can craft at home relatively inexpensively just to get started, but suggestions for custom shapers who may be able to accommodate will be welcomed too just so I can make a list for when more $$$ is available. Mostly I will be riding the small surf on the Florida coast up through the Carolinas most frequently, but would like to build a versatile board for traveling/learning on if possible to get started and then can tweak details for various conditions on future ones. Thanks for any help/advice/guidance/blunt truths there may be!
Paul Harris
None of us are 9 years old anymore are we
Adam Cripps
truth lol.
Kevin Barrett
My daughter’s partner is a big guy, taller than you 6’3” and won’t let on what he weighs but my guess is 300lb plus. He rides my 4’ x 16” wooden belly board without any issues, needs a face to drop down but once he’s planning he’s good to go. He also mixes it up with a big body board and a 4’11” seaglass albacore (but good luck finding one of those) I think anything will get you going, don’t get to hung up by suggested weight limits, its far more about planning area.
Kevin Barrett
https://tomwegenersurfboards.com/.../de ... t-seaglass...
Development of the Seaglass Project Tuna and Albacore
These are great fun as well. My daughter can stand on one, I can just about get to my feet but prefer prone / kneeling and my daughters partner just body boards it
https://catchsurf.com/products/beater-o ... 4-twin-fin
Beater Original 54 - Twin Fin
Rodney Taylor
6' 210lbs and 62yrs. If l can do it you can do it!!
Richard Mendonca
Paepo’o is an extension of Body surfing. The word Paepo’o means, “Head First,” In Hawaiian. That’s because, when you look at someone riding one, it looks like they’re sliding down the face of a wave, “Head First.” That being said. Most Paepo’o that are made out of wood, typically, aren’t positively buoyant or very slightly buoyant. The ones made of newer material are positively buoyant because they’re made with foam and composite materials. Even those boards aren’t really designed for a person to lay on continuously, like a “Bodyboard.” So, as far as holding a person’s weight…In my opinion, not that relevant. The planing aspect of the board is the most important thing about its design. The more buoyant, the easier it is to get on the wave. The heavier boards tend to plane better in chop. I’m 5’8 1/2” and weigh about #300. My board is 4’ x 30”x 1/2”. I also have a board that’s 5/8”thick. At speed, I’m able to get pretty much my whole body out of the water. What I would tell you is look for a board that’s wide enough to get yourself on and long enough to get at least your knees onto when your moving. Reducing drag is key.
Jady Swinkels
Ryan Arakawa from Vektor Systems makes skegs for bodyboards and paipo boards but also shapes and makes bodyboards and can maybe custom make a board for you. http://vektorsystems.com/section/bodyboarding/
Bodyboarding | Vektor Systems
Bartholomew Cullings
Are you dedicated to a body/boogie board? If not, you could get a kneeboard and ride it as a body board. That's basically what I've done for years on big, mushy waves that need a bunch of floatation to get me into the wave. They're good and wide, and tick.
Mike Jax
Big Bruddah. Can't go wrong.
https://bzproboard.com/product/big-bruddah/
Big Bruddah - BZ proboard
BZPROBOARD.COM
Adam Cripps
Will it float/handle 388lb? I was under the impression it maxed around 300.
Mike Jax
it will go as long as you get one with multiple stringers. I would invest in some Viper fins as well.
Adam Cripps
Mike Jax wonderful insight, thanks!
Larry O'Brien
I only weigh 150 pounds these days, but it seems to me that a larger person might be better off with a low flotation paipo, because their body will be more bouyant when it's mostly under water. On a high flotation bodyboard, the large rider might suffer back problems, as the lower half of his body hinges in the water. There's also the problem of paddling out through the surf with a high flotation board.
Adam Cripps
Those are really good arguments for starting with a homemade 1/2-5/8" paipo before trying the others. Thanks!
Larry O'Brien
I've made some boards with plywood and cork. The cork was an underlayment grade that I bought from a flooring supply warehouse. I used water-based Titebond II brand of glue. Clamping pressure was applied with sandbags and rocks. It doesn't give the flotation of a bodyboard, but I have enough flotation, that my head is above water when I'm resting between waves, and that's without a wetsuit. You might consider getting a custom wetsuit. That way you avoid the drag of a loose-fitting shirt and swim trunks. Plus you have some added flotation from the suit while you are resting between waves. You said Florida, so maybe you can find an old-school wetsuit shop for scuba divers. Maybe short sleeves and legs, but maybe go with a thicker scuba material for the flotation.
Adam Cripps
Larry O'Brien combining cork and plywood is a great idea! Did you seal everything with something like epoxy, or just let it soak/dry naturally? Somewhere around here there's an old farmer John wetsuit leftover from my scuba days. It's in rough shape but should get me started.
Larry O'Brien
I would usually seal the cork with the same thing I was using on the plywood, which at that time was an oil-base polyurethane made by Minwax. Sometimes I would only seal the rails. Once I tried hemp oil on the cork, but it was drying too slow, so I went over the top of it with Watco oil. I never tried automotive wax, but that might be something you already have in your garage. It's sort of high temperature, it's designed to be outside in the hot sun. As for the farmer john wetsuit, it might fill with water while riding a wave, and most likely will catch water when you try to duck dive under a broken wave, but maybe you can find a rash guard to wear over the top of it.
Adam Cripps
Larry O'Brien wonderful, will give those a shot! Thanks!
Gareth Jones
Knee boards have been key to my being able to surf the waves I enjoy most as age and injuries take their toll, though I’ve never much considered paipo untill these posts appeared, now I’m as curious as you.
Elijah Baley
Plywood paipos are easy to make (and cheap), you just need a plank and some basic tools to cut and seal it. Not designed for flotation, it's more about swimming behind like a swimming pool kickboard. But once on plane, it will float you (kinda like water skiing). If you're a big guy you just need a board big and wide enough to support you. Foam bodyboards are fun too, they're floaty, but in the other hand paddling out will be more challenging.
Adam Cripps
Thanks for the feedback Elijah! That's what I was thinking a paipo worked like but wanted to make sure.
Harry Okahashi
I like Paepo board riding it is fast. What a rush you get charging a nice wave.
Check out Jerry Liu from Hawaii ,he rides Paepo
Adam Cripps
Will do, thank you!
Bill Wurts
As mentioned already planing is all about bottom surface area. This brand is all about Big Kahunas, “Bullyboards.” Depending on the model, they are rated to over 400 lb.
https://www.bullyboard.com/boards/BULLYBOARD.COM
Richard Paul
I ride anything from a hand plane to a thicker paipo. I recommend a good fitting pair of fins to start so you can catch a wave no matter your weight.
Gary Figueroa
Getting "wet" is the driving motivation. Richard Paul d a notable suggestion of you getting yourself a comfy pair of fins. Nothing worse than aching feet trapped inside of ill-fitting fins! There's been quite a technological evolution in surf fin design, so seek out COMFORT first!
The foam bodyguards are hugely fun. You'll catch some doo doo from the snotty surfers. So, what!?! Just remind them that their mom, sister, or girlie gurl aren't complaining!
Have fun. Be careful. Wear sunscreen. Consider a vest or surf tee to protect your nipples cause you will get a rash. Geev'um brudda!
Rod Rodgers
A lot of good suggestions in the thread. The suggestions for trying out Big Bruddah and Bullyboards make a lot of sense to me especially for catching and riding the weaker and smaller Florida waves. Paddling out shouldn't be an issue in the common 1-3 ft surf.
You didn't say if you had prior experience surfriding, but assuming you don't you will find a learning curve in catching and riding waves and controlling the board on the waves. There will also be a learning curve in judging what waves to catch. And you will wipe out a lot (part of the fun).
Some longer and wider boards can be helpful but you don't want a board too long or it with impede your ability to leg kick... so go wider and thicker, 23-24 inches wide and 3 or so inches thick. The Big Bruddah and Bullyboards are good for this and not being made of hard materials (wood or foam/fiberglass) would help get you started.
Regarding fins: fit, fit, fit. Forget about brands for now, find a pair of fins that fit. Wear some fin socks (neoprene common style) or around 1mm thickness, or 2-3 mm in Jacksonville waters in cooler times. If they fit well then flexi, stiff blades will come later. Use fin tethers so you don't lose the fins. And fresh water rinse after salt water use as salt eats up rubber/synthetic plastics. Keep out of the sun when not in use.
Have some fun out there around The Poles, the Pier or wherever you are on the coast. Stay away from the crowds while learning.
Lynn Bellomi
I'd recommend getting some cheap plywood and making a paipo to test size/shape. Once you get a design you're happy with you can get better materials. Make sure to use a good deck or marine sealer on the wood. For your size, maybe start around 4' long by 22" wide. I'd also recommend trying out a Hubboards Boog Mat to start getting active with. Easy to transport, inflate and catch waves with. I have one of the smaller versions and it's a blast. https://hubboards.com/products/hubb-lite-boog-mat-xl...
Hubb Lite Edition Boog Mat - XL
HUBBOARDS.COM
Adam Cripps
That Boog mat is pretty cool! Thanks for the suggestion