Anatomy of a Stand Up Paddleboard

Matt Jefferson - June 20, 2015

   Some may think that a SUP is just a piece of foam with a fin. In this article we will go over the key components that make up a SUP. The front of the board is called the nose and the back is called the tail. You will know the difference between the two because the tail will have one to 5 fins coming out of the bottom which are used to keep the board tracking straight and stable. Also at the tail you will see a plug with a metal rod, which is used to attach your board to your ankle using a leash. The sides of the board are known as the rails. You will be positioning your feet parallel with the rails at shoulder width apart. The thicker the rails the more stable the board will be. The top of the board is known as the deck. they can be flat or curved though usually have a padded surface on top of them known as the deck pad. In the center of the deck pad there will be an oval hole which is to be used as a handle to carry the board from point A to point B. The bottom of the board is called well… the bottom. In the construction of the bottom there is usually a slight upward slope on the nose and tail called the rocker. It is said that you need more rocker in surf conditions and less rocker on flatware conditions. Last but not least there is the vent plug. This plug allows pressure to escape from inside the board due to elevation or temperature change. this plug is normally located in the handle or a foot above it near the nose.

Types of Stand Up Paddleboards

     SUP’s come in many different types and sizes and choosing the right board for you can get tricky at times. Here is some information that should be able to help you pick the right SUP for your style. 

There are three different types of SUP’s ; Surf Specific, All-Around, Racing/Touring boards. 

     Surf Specific boards are used primarily in the surf. They are generally shorter, narrower and have a planning hull with a steeper rocker than both the All-Around and Racing/Touring boards. The planning hull and steeper rocker keeps the board from nose- diving and lifts the board as it moves forward.

     The All-Around style is normally thicker, wider, and longer than the Surf SUP’s. This causes the board to be much more stable than other boards and are great in all water conditions.Touring boards are normally longer and have a pointier nose than the All-Around style. They handle well in open oceans, lakes and flat water. Also Touring boards are great if you are going for distance on your daily paddle.Race boards are similar to touring boards though much narrower causing them to be less stable but much faster. There can be two types of race boards judging by if it is a displacement or planning hull. 

Does a fin really make a difference?

In today’s SUP racing community it is easy to put all your focus on the board and paddle, but forget about the importance of the fin. While racing, every second matters, and choosing the right fin could make all the difference.

When considering which fin to use, you must first consider yourself and your board. If you are a bigger/stronger person, or if you have a narrow/tipsy board you should consider a longer fin. If you are a smaller person, or feel quite stable on your board, you might be able to get away with less fin. Less fin means less drag.  

Generally speaking, a fin that is longer with more volume will be more stable and will help you track better. However, it will cause more drag, thus it will be slower over the long haul and harder to turn. Whereas a smaller fin will be faster, but less stable and harder to paddle straight. 

Another aspect to consider is the water conditions. If conditions are choppy use a bigger fin, if you are paddling in flat water you can use a smaller fin, and if you are paddling in an area with a lot of seagrass or debris you will want to use a weed fin. Remember not to forget the big picture, choosing a fin that is too small will hurt your time more than it will speed you up if you are falling in the water or cannot keep a straight course. Zig zagging is great for outrunning crocs they say, but can add meters or even miles to your paddle course.   

If you are looking for a new racing fin, Maui Fin Company is a great SUP fin manufacturer to check out. Maui’s racing fins come in a variety of sizes. All racing fins are shaped with the same design that has been tested against many different outlines and foil sections. The key to the MFC racing fin is its ability to glide naturally through the water with as little drag as possible in order to pack as much speed as possible. 

Another great component of the MFC racing fin is the material it is made out of. All size fins are made by RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding), which is a process that produces a lightweight fin with a smooth finish and remarkable flex.  These fins are designed to give the feeling of traditional fiberglass, and with the RTM process it will have a reduced weight which adds to the performance.  The MFC race fins are a top choice for elite competitors, Kai Lenny even won the Gorge Naish SUP Challenge Course Elite Race with a MFC racing fin.  So if you are in the market for a new racing fin, come in to Tula Sports today and check out MFC fins!