4
SU11 LongBoard
long. Instead what you should do is swim parallel to the shore in
order to escape the rip current. Once you feel that you’re out of the
current, turn towards the shore. If you cannot swim out of the rip
current, calmly float or tread water until you are out of the cur-
rent. Exhaustion is your biggest enemy, don’t fight a rip current.
When you are out, swim toward shore.
SAFETY
In a manual of this type it is impossible to give adequate space to
the topic of water safety. For further information on boating safety,
visit USCGBoating.org or enroll in one of the excellent water
safety courses provided.
WIt is your responsibility to be aware of and comply with all
relevant safety regulations. For all water recreation or sport you
should have a reasonable swimming ability. Just as swimmers have
a cardinal rule about not swimming alone, it is strongly advised
that you should never go boating alone. As a safety reminder, each
Sea Eagle hull has a list of suggestions printed on it for you to fol-
low that we call Boating Safety Basics.
Boating Safety Tips
• Always wear a USCG approved PFD (life vest) at all times
while on the water.
• Be aware of your local boating rules and regulations and abide
by them accordingly.
• Check inflation levels each time before you go out and inflate
your boat for a full 24 hours before undertaking long trips.
• DO NOT allow children to use Sea Eagle unsupervised.
• DO NOT consume alcohol while boating or operating a boat
while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• DO NOT drag your Sea Eagle over rocks or gravel if it can be
avoided.
• DO NOT exceed the certified maximum capacities of this
boat under any circumstance.
• DO NOT go boating alone.
• DO NOT use compressors, CO2 or compressed air for infla-
tion, only use Sea Eagle recommended pumps.
• DO NOT use your Sea Eagle Boat as a personal flotation de-
vice as they are not rated for that use.
• DO NOT sleep inside of your Sea Eagle while on the water.
Safety Equipment
The type of water conditions you are on should determine the type
of safety equipment that you should have on board. For all types
of boating we strongly recommend that every passenger wear a
USCG approved PFD (personal flotation device) like a life vest.
In most places this is a requirement by law, but from our point of
view it is also an exercise of good judgment to have a PFD for
all passengers. Other important items to consider for all types of
boating…
yourself in the ocean. It’s always better to end the day early and
safe than to push your luck when you’re tired. Make sure you are
physically fit when surfing. You need to be able to swim back to
shore if you lose your board at the end of an exhausting session. It
is also a good idea not to go surfing until 45 minutes after a meal,
the same as you would for swimming.
Practice
The best way to become a better at anything is practice, practice,
practice. If you want to improve your abilities than you need to be
in the water surfing as regularly as possible.
Priority
Always make sure that you are not taking anyone else’s wave.
Remember, the surfer who is closest to the breaking wave has pri-
ority. If you see someone already on a wave then the wave is taken
and you’ll have to wait for the next one.
Know When To Hold/Know When To Throw
It’s very important to know when to hold onto your board and
when to let go of it. Hold on to your board if you are paddling out,
you’ll get out back to the line up more quickly and you won’t put
anyone paddling out behind you at risk. Throw your board if you
are about to wipe out as you are far more likely to sustain an injury
if you and your board are getting washed around together.
The Buddy System
Although Sea Eagle SUPs are designed for solo use, we do recom-
mend that you go out with at least one other person. Not only do
we believe you’ll have more fun sharing the experience but you’ll
always have someone to help you out if you need it and the same
for your friend if they need help. Having a swimming or surfing
buddy is a fundamental principle that shouldn’t be ignored.
Rips
A rip is a strong undercurrent in the ocean. You can recognize rip
currents by looking for a channel of churning or choppy water, an
area where the water is distinctly a different color, a line of foam,
seaweed or debris heading out to sea or a break in the wave pat-
tern. According to the NWS (National Weather Service) wearing
polarized sun glasses makes it easier to see the signs of a rip cur-
rent.
Escaping A Rip Current
If you are caught in a rip remain calm and conserve energy
as you’ll need it to swim back to safety. You may not realize
you are in a rip current until you are suddenly further away from
the shore than you realized. It is important that you DO NOT
SWIM TOWARD THE SHORE. Swimming towards the shore
is like swimming upstream in a river and will tire you out before
