What’s in a Quiver?

Define quiver:
Verb: tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion.
Noun: 1) an archer’s portable case for holding arrows; 2) a set of surfboards of different lengths and shapes for use with different types of waves.

One of the things that happens when you get hooked on paddleboarding is that you don’t want just one board. That won’t do at all. Just one shiny, wonderful board isn’t enough. You want a quiver. And a well-designed quiver isn’t just an exercise in acquisition. (Although it can be — buying boards is fun!) A well-designed quiver is a collection of boards, each with its own purpose. It extends your paddleboarding.

To think about a well-designed quiver, you need to consider that water you paddle in and what you want to do in it. Then consider what boards would be best for that. Storage space and finances are pretty important too. If storage limits you to one or two hard boards, then you need to think which boards will work best for the paddling you do most. Keep in mind that sometimes an inflatable is the best choice for your needs, and they do make storage easier!

For myself, I have two basic activities that I do on the water and a few that I do occasionally. The paddling I do the most is distances on the Hudson River. When weather is good, I will do typically do four or more miles. So I need a board that will do distances, carry a bag with my stuff (water, powerbar, phone), but also be relatively sturdy because I will be bringing it to work for afternoon sessions. The second type of paddling I do is social paddling with teaching. This is low-key paddling short distances and helping beginners with their technique. A few occasional things I do on a paddleboard are camping adventures, racing, and surfing, but those are usually a couple of times a year.

So with that in mind, I have a quiver of three boards, one being an inflatable. For distances I use my SIC FX Tour, which is 14′ long and 30″ wide. Thirty inches is pretty wide for a touring board, but I needed something stable because of my knee injury. For social paddling and teaching I keep an all-around board. I’ve been through a few but right now I’m on a Bic 10’6″ Tough-Tec. It’s stable and easy to paddle but can also surf those few times a year when I’m at the beach. My inflatable is a SIC Okeanos 12’6″. It was critical for my paddling as my leg healed, and now I keep it as a second board for teaching. It also is my go-to ride for camping adventures.

For your quiver, you need to consider what you do on the water. If your goal is speed and only speed, then a raceboard makes sense. A very dedicated racer might want a different race boards for rough and calm conditions. But if you also do a lot of low-key social paddling, a raceboard isn’t great for that. They aren’t as stable at slow speed, and you might also find yourself paddling ahead of your slower friends. If you surf a lot, then a pure surf SUP should be in your quiver. Or maybe a couple: one for big waves and another for small. The larger small-wave board can double as a fun board for social paddling.

Inflatable boards make good additions to a quiver. That inexpensive 10’6″ inflatable you learned on isn’t great for touring or surfing, but it’s still a good second board. Let your kids play on that one while you do your thing on that fancy 12’6″. Or use it to bring a friend paddling. Dedicated downwinders will have at least one downwind board for that, and some own different boards for different types of downwind. All sorts of boards for all sorts of playing.

Of course all this fun has an unspoken issue, which is how much do these boards cost. Boards aren’t cheap, and as of the beginning of 2022 , the prices are going higher — 20% or more. I personally have taken to the used market to buy boards recently, and my last two I bought between 30%–50% off the retail price. As long as you shop carefully, you can get some good deals. That way you can actually afford a quiver that will be right for you.