Why are "ledge" style carry handles not standard on every SUP? Do Naish have a patent or are their other problems with them?

I'm a total SUP newb and an hour into my first demo day I realized it was a no-brainer that this type of handle makes carrying these beasts a huge amount easier. Surely SUPs have been around long enough for expert designers to realize this. I can't see any significant extra cost being involved either.

Maybe SUP designers have SUP slaves to haul their craft to the water's edge? I'm baffled. It must be a patent thing I am guessing, as it's too obvious that they are the way to go. I wonder if Naish could patent such a basic idea though. A bit like patenting the door handle.

On the plus side of all this, my fingers and forearms are now like those of a rock climber from carrying my non-Naish SUPs with my fingertips!

I hope the 2014 fanatic falcon have this handle will help me carry it for sure.

They are good.. Naish have them.. JP also have the same handle.. Coreban have one very similar (maybe even better).. and SIC have another beauty.. Possibly the best.

I've heard Fanatic will have one soon... I wonder what Starboard will do and why it's taken them so long? .. also Surftech.. It seems like they are happy with the long center strap.

DJ

I also kept asking myself the same questions about the Naish ledge carrying handle. Last September I was on a surf camp with Robby Naish and asked him if they have patent over the ledge handle and he said "No we have no patent and we are not interested in having one. Besides that the fee for such patent would be too high." He explained that it is more difficult and more expensive to install the ledge handle and this is the only reason why so many other producers are not using it.

Recently I bought a non Naish board and only after a few sessions I totally hated the handle and I asked a friend of mine to replace it with a Naish like handle which he made from fiberglass.

Fanatic do already one have one on their latest produced board. It is very similar to the Coreban handles. As DJ said there are other brand that also have varying handles which also do a great job.

Marcel

Could I just say I kinda like the handles the Starboard race boards have on them.

DavidJohn said...
... I wonder what Starboard will do and why it's taken them so long? .. DJ

Starboard are still trying to figure out how to put one at the balance point.

sls said..




Bit different, will it work I wonder.

Sunny King and some Surftech boards have those, they're pretty good to use but I wonder about the longevity, especially on heavier boards. IMO the Coreban handle is the best yet, although they can hold a bit of water and it can be a bit disconcerting when you're putting the board on the car and it all sloshes out on you .

Kickels... I have an 8'10 being delivered this Friday... and it has a ledge handle. Same Blue Board... but they are coming in now with the updated handle

Some boards in the last Fanatic shipment had the new handles but not all, any new boards that come in from now should all have the new handles. I'm pretty sure the next fanatic boards to arrive will be the 2014 models later this year!!

petedorries said..

They feel soooo gooood on the FANATICS so I can imagine it will be the same for all brands

Looks like I bought my Fanatic SUPs 6 months too early. Doh! Now I have the dud handle to contend with. Oh well, been a great first few months SUPping.

enuenu said..

petedorries said..

They feel soooo gooood on the FANATICS so I can imagine it will be the same for all brands

Looks like I bought my Fanatic SUPs 6 months too early. Doh! Now I have the dud handle to contend with. Oh well, been a great first few months SUPping.

Your not alone. My board has the old handle. I just have been lucky enough to carry a new 14 footer now and again. And the 8 foot board too.

Picked up my 8'10 Allwave this weekend... The handle is soooo much better than any I have seen.
I live in New England = thick winter gloves... every board I have had till now, I had to jam my gloved fingers into a handle and hope my fingers held out till I got to the car.

The new fanatic "Ledge" handle is wide, deep and the finger pockets are big enough to hide things in.
I am really thinking about velcro in the other side of the handle too carry my lip sunscreen in... it's that roomy.

If the new posting setup would allow actually have a "select" button, I would post some close up pics of it... it's simply... the best.

The new boards from Hobie are now coming through with the ergonomic style of grip too, and also feature a leg rope pin for an alternative leggy attatchment.

Regards,
Greg