Taal SUP Review – Family Holiday in Germany

Martin and his young family have taken their two SUPs including their newly completed plywood Taal Standup Paddleboard that they bought the plan for a few months ago – here they review how the board performed for them. From kids playing to 20km trips.

Mostly Martin’s words:

Hallo Michael,

we just came back from our vacation at the Eastern Sea, Germany, und we spent nearly every day on water.

SUP daytrips up to 20km on homebuilt plywood board

I made short and medium trips (20 km) on the Ta’al, alone, with one of my sons or both (aged 8 years).

With one boy on the front, whether paddling just me or both, the Ta’al is a pleasure. Even in choppy water and little waves. With two kids in choppy water it´s a bit tricky. And yes, the board is fast… (even compared to the other board which is known for being a good performer).

I am a sup-beginner with practicing for 3 weeks but with very much experience of canoeing on lakes and the sea and a bit experience with kajaking. I also had a second board on the car roof!

Martin’s boys playing on the Taal SUP

Low drag hull on the Lake performs smoothly and fast

The first trip I made with the Umpqua SUP. Which deals better with me, 87 kg plus two kids added … and the rest of all just with the Ta’al. Guess why.

The Umpqua 12,6 ‘ (+ 20 cm longer than Ta’al due to recomended longer stern) is flat bottomed. Perhaps better for downwind conditions and surfing, which I didn’t test (because vacation was not in Hawaii…).

For flatwater and even tiny and short waves of the conditions here, the Ta’al in my opinion is a very very good choice.

My first trip a few weeks ago was a pleasure. The ta‘al is fast and tracks well. I guess Faster than my first sup, the umpqua, which i built a few weeks ago. I decided for ta‘al mainly to Save weight and length due to transport with my bike. Now easy going!

I look forward to drive a Starboard, if I have the opportunity to, because of the total opposite of the ideology of the underwater-shape (Starboard with Concaves due to force gliding, Ta’al with a double V-shape for a perfect displacment (correct word?).

For now I can admit, that the Ta’al produces no big hull waves, also at high speeds, as you described. So my effort goes to speed.

Stability in waves is good, board will heel and then find extra stability

The initial stability isn’t very high, but with the extra tail, when leaning/heeling, the stability increases and the board feels highly reliable, also in waves. I guess the V-Shape at both Ends makes the board less wobbly in waves. At least compared to a mainly flat bottom like roundbottomed canoes do.

The V at the bow makes a funny spray when driving fast and it makes the board going over the waves. I guess this costs a bit speed (comparing going directly through waves). But it also means a dry run and a boat-like feeling…

I rounded the tail same as the deck and tilt it to the front just to appearance.

Compare with the original stern.

For the future I´d like to have another Ta’al SUP with a width of 28” and a bit longer (shrink the whole shape and extend it to mayby 13′ ?? Would it work? (Designers thought is that it would work for more speed but would make the board a bit less stable – MIK).

Thank you for the good shape and best wishes and greetings from Braunschweig (Brunswick, Germany)