In my first post, I answered the question of "can you stand up paddleboard in Columbia".  Now, let's look into the WHY of paddleboarding in the Columbia/Lake Murray area.  There are lots of people who kayak in Columbia on the lake, Saluda, Congaree, etc.--why not just get a kayak?  I believe I can speak to this with some authority because there are 5 kayaks in my garage right now.  So, why not just be satisfied with a kayak?

Simplicity.  The only thing you need for getting on the water with a SUP is the board, paddle, and life jacket.  To take my touring kayak out on the lake, I have a 60 lb. boat, paddle, life jacket, sprayskirt, bilge pump, and paddle float.  It takes a lot longer to get all this stuff off the car and get into the water, put the skirt on, etc.  In one trip from the car, and without damaging my back, I can get my SUP to the dock and jump on and go.

Weight.  See 60 lb. kayak above.  My SUP weighs 25 lbs.

Exercise.  Paddling a SUP is more of a full body and core workout than paddling a kayak.

Going to the beach.  Almost every SUP can be used to surf waves.  It's a whole lot easier than doing it on a regular surfboard, and you can better surf typical small SC waves.  Of course, you can also surf big hurricane swells at Folly Beach if so inclined (one of my favorite things).

Saluda River whitewater just got a lot more interesting.  I got a little  bored with kayaking on the Saluda several years ago.  Not that it's a bad river at all, but Millrace and Pop-Up are about the only real entertainment.  Paddling a SUP in whitewater takes it to a whole other level.  All of a sudden, Class II rapids are interesting again...

There you have it.  I don't mean to knock kayaking at all.  Like I said, there are 5 kayaks in my garage right now.  There are also certain things that a kayak does better, like paddling to a barrier island and camping out.  And as of yet, there aren't any tandem paddleboards!