So you've seen SUP boards and want to try it out but you can't afford the cost of the equipment?
There is a way of getting on the water very cheaply - convert an old windsurfing board. Its very simple too...when we say convert we mean take any windsurf specific stuff off of it like footstraps or the mast(!) , check the fin is in and see if it floats! The modern shape windsurf boards might not work as well, ideally you want to pick up an old fashioned beat up long board that folk who once sailed have long forgotten about at the end of their garden. You can look through your local for sale ads or alternatively ask around your friends and someone is bound to know of one somewhere that you can take for free.

So once you've got your marvel of 1980s engineering in place all you need is a cheap SUP paddle which you can find for sale for less than $60 and you are away. Alternatively for that real ghetto SUP experience find an old kayak paddle, saw one end off with a hacksaw and push a large cork in the end. No you won't develop good paddling technique out of it due to its short length and lack of T-handle but you will have a paddle that gets you out on the water for zero cost.

Now we know the board wont be as responsive as a modern SUP board but for flat water paddling and very light surf it will be great. It will get you out on the water and give you a taste of the fun that SUP brings so you can decide later if you want to spend money buying a proper board and when your buddies want to come to the beach with you for the day to see what all the fun is about you've got an old board they can have a try out on and you won't be too worried about them hitting it with the paddle and chipping up the edges!

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