In this SUPboarder PRO video, Reuben and Will share views from themselves and the SUPboarder community around SUP touring board designs and where they feel there is opportunity for brands to think outside the box to meet the requirements of the paddling community. Please share your own experiences and join this discussion.
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Kiddo
3 years ago
Thanks gents, great piece. I wanted to add that as a sup surfer I want more durability from my composite surf board constructions too. It’s ridiculous to spend £1400 on a board then immediately have to spend another £80 on rail tape (I wrap my nose as well as the rails). Every one of my paddle surf mates have had multiple dings requiring board repairs. It’s such a downer when you love a board and it’s gets hurt but the fact is they are just too fragile. There must be solutions to at least having tougher rails. The polypropylene idea… Read more »
Thanks Kiddo, we hear you. I think theres a lot to look at in the surf side of things as well – thanks so much for sharing your experiences. Will
rogermcintyre
3 years ago
Great discussion guys. I am a former sea kayaker / open boater / white water kayaker. I sold all the kit relating to these disciplines and converted to SUP surf and SUP touring. I have a Red Explorer a Fanatic 10.4 for a bit of WW and have taken delivery of a CT Starboard Generation. I would NEVER take my Generation on a serious tour, it would be dinged and scratched in no time. The Explorer is a brilliant bit of kit (never been deflated in the 2 years + I have owned it ) as pointed out by you… Read more »
Thanks Roger – fantastic to see your ideal board here – lets keep our finger cross for SUPs coming with a nice note of Whiskey like that! Its interesting that you never deflate your Red Voyager as well. Great board I agree, but you dont REALLY need an inflatable for what you are doing….? Cheers, Will
sc2071
3 years ago
I’m only getting into crusing and day touring, however I think a lot of these points resonate. Definitely the nose shape being suitable for open water and durability of hard boards. Nothing makes me more hesitant to purchase a hard board than spending double the price of a premium iSUP for the finish to be unsuitable for rugged outdoor use.
Thanks for sharing your day touring experience as well – guess we didnt cover cost in the video, but you are right, much higher costs as well are a consideration, particularly if the product is less durable…. Thanks, Will
Neil Beeson
3 years ago
Thanks for this guys, great format. I’m moving up from an all-round iSUP and would dearly love a composite touring board but the cost v durability is giving me cause for concern. As a land-locked northerner I mainly do rivers / canals and I feel composites wouldn’t last long with some of the portaging we do. Did your reader survey reveal the percentage of different disciplines of SUP (race, surf, touring, recreational)? I do think manufacturers focus more on the glamour side of the sport (race, surf) rather than the less glamourous but, I suspect, larger participation side of the… Read more »
Hey Neil thanks again. Yeah we are gathering our Survey data soon and of course we will looking into trends and what you are all getting into. But we see the Touring, Family fun and surf being the big three!
Windsup1
3 years ago
Give me an O’Shea GTE isup any day over a composite touring board for all the reasons you mentioned in your discussion. Had one for several years now and used it for the Caledonian Canal a couple of years ago after watching Will’s videos. Excellent in every aspect and even coped with 15-20 knot cross winds on Loch Ness. Taking on the Thames next. Even if composite touring boards improve I wouldn’t ever change to one. Definitely a composite board for surfing though (Starboard Pocket Rocket).
Wicked. So glad you are happy with your board. Good luck on your next Thames trip. Let us know how you get on.
Harry Newton
3 years ago
Great video. I would want to see more of longer touring boards. As you’re adding so much weight to them that extra length will make a big difference to the speed. More speed = longer distances 12’6 is too short.
This is so true Harry. And it really makes a difference in flatwater. But the longer boards can be harder to handle in the more open water rougher water conditions. A board you can change the length of is what you need!
TimBouvry
3 years ago
Being paint as my daily business (paint manufacturer) I definitely believe we can do a better job on the paint to make it more durable. We have all these areas where we use coating that are low maintenance and highly durable. Think about the antifoiling we use on ships, the coating we use on our volvo oceanrace ships, even the clearcoat we use on our airplanes!! Having a better topcoat-clearcoat system, so when you have a scratch it is in the clearcoat and not in the pigmented coating, also these clearecoats have such an easy way on refurbishing by yourself… Read more »
BRANDS READ THIS COMMENT ABOVE… Great comment Tim. You are so right. Over the past few years I have being doing up a classic wooden motor launch and the have been using a wide range of paints from 2 pacs epoxy, 2 pac high gloss varnishes to the more traditional paints. And having the right paint is key to keeping the wood in good condition. And understanding how to manage the paint over years is key to making gear last the best too. The environmental balance is hard but if it means equipment lasts longer than maybe this is the… Read more »
jonathan Hebert
3 years ago
great discussion!!! being landlocked makes it so hard to go for a decent tour on the Sea, and it’s something i really want to do so much more of. i know in the WW sup world they did have some plastic boards, although you dont see them about much now. when we did our tour down the river Wye, you certainly wouldnt have taken a hard board on that, i dont think it would have made it past 10km with all the rocks and swallows, to do it on a sup with a hollow hull and your kit inside would… Read more »
Hey Jonny, Super good points raised there. The spring loaded fin is a great idea. Board width is a really personal thing but a Starboard at 27″ would paddle really well. The kick pad can help keep the gear on but generally it will be too far back to really help hollow gear. Deck shape and good bungees should do the job. Thanks for the comment and thoughts.
I have recently picked up a few Ocean Kayak Nalu 12.5’s. These poly boards really do feel like a cross between a kayak and SUP but I feel they were designed by kayakers, not SUPers. They have a nice large front hatch, rear bungee area and clips to add a kayak seat, which are all lovely but there is no center carry handle and only a rope at the front, no carry handle at the rear either. There is also not fin as such either and they have moulded foot wells into the top of the board, which for me… Read more »
For me one important advantage of iSUPs over hard boards is storage and transport. Possibly it is quite obvious and I am not the only one, and, although I do not know the market, I would guess that this could be one of several reasons why brands put more attention into the iSUPs than into the hard boards. With my wife we’ve just finished a 6 days trip via beautiful river and several lakes on all around iSUPs (fortunately with lot of D-rings, meant for kayak seats, which we have used to mount our gear with additional bungees), and now… Read more »
the infinity e-ticket looks really interesting considering your points re flat-water vs all water. A softened blackfish by the look of it. Also looks bungee set up is pretty decent to carry plenty of gear, although rear may be a little tight onto the kick pad and front suffers a bit from the rolly deck curve issue. Shame it’s so hard to get hold of in the uk for you to review properly.
Agree with you Ben. We have got one on order. So we will see.
philipplume
2 years ago
I’m a bit late to this one. A great discussion here guys. As you know I’ve done a fair bit of SUP touring too and have all the same gripes you guys have. This conversation really got me thinking about the limitations imposed on us by the boards we have available when relating to touring. I use inflatables for touring because they are simply the best option available at the moment. Nothing else is durable enough to take on the conditions we encounter on our trips, or able to carry the kit. I also agree that the majority of touring… Read more »
Wow, thanks for your insights and comments. The hollow board idea sounds interesting to store gear, but agree that it could be hard to right if tipped. It might be worth looking at custom designs from kayak or SUP companies who could possibly build such a craft fit for the job.
It’s hard to find the right craft for every type of paddling, which is why we need a quiver of boards. With innovation moving forward, let’s hope brands see this touring aspect of the sport and design SUPs ups for the challenge.
Thanks again.
Thomas Wilson
2 years ago
Hello I’ve been pro subscriber for only a week but a long time viewer on YouTube. I joined mainly for the touring/fitness aspect of our sport I must admit. My wife and I currently ride blackfin model V’s isups. We enjoy day tour/ fitness paddling of 10km plus most days. The V’s are a huge step up from our first irocker all rounds but I would dearly love to step up to a good composite touring board. I say touring board for two reasons mainly. First off we sup with our pups so to speak. We always have one if… Read more »
Hey Thomas. So glad you have joined pro and are finding it useful. Yeah the move onto a composite board will really help like you have said in those not so perfect conditions. Before we dive into which board… Lets work out the best nose shape. The nose shape mainly dictates how it works in chop. Its all about the V down the bottom of nose. The touring has more than the Gen (which you may have noticed). The V keeps the board in contact with the water and gives you a greater water line length and speed. (sorry if… Read more »
Hello Reuben and thank you very much for your reply. In answer to your question about conditions I’d say 50 flat, 20 up, 20 down and 10 cross wind. We always check wind and projected weather for the day but here like many places I’m sure it’s generally calm in the morning but the wind always comes. With regards to the durability of the composite touring boards as discussed in your video and some of the above comments, it seems they are seen as being rather fragile. Starboard says their new starlite board is their most durable yet but I’m… Read more »
Hey Thomas For the conditions you have describe it will work really well with the starboard touring boards. And as far as the constructions go I would say that the starboard boards are tougher overall. The rails are aways stronger than the bottom. With any composite board most of the damage is caused by putting it onto a hard surface and it puncturing at the bottom of the board (small rock). The solution is always looking for grass or sandy areas to put your board down and also if the board does become damaged the good thing about any composite… Read more »
Hello Reuben and thank you again for all this advice. I am definitely sold on the starboard touring in starlite now. I know for myself it will be the 12’6” by 31, but how would the stability of the 29” compare with our model V 32” wide isups for my 66kg wife with a 30-40kg dog? I see starboard did some major redesign of the touring line in 2022 maybe they can get you one for review in the future. By the way I know that in the UK you usually drive smaller vehicles than we tend to drive here… Read more »
I feel the 29 will still have relatively good amount of stability compared to your model V. Because of the boards bottom shape and harder rails it gives the board so much more stability for its width I think possibly for your wife this might be the better option even with a dog on the front. We know lots of paddlers at her weight who are paddling with 30 kg of equipment on the front and the board at 29 wide is perfect still. Also I have a video coming out at end of week about SUP nose bottom shapes… Read more »
Richard Perriss
2 years ago
Not enough/too small bungees. For example the Starboard Touring composite Lite tech has no rear bungees, have to upgrade to the pinetech or carbon to get them at significant cost.
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Thanks gents, great piece. I wanted to add that as a sup surfer I want more durability from my composite surf board constructions too. It’s ridiculous to spend £1400 on a board then immediately have to spend another £80 on rail tape (I wrap my nose as well as the rails). Every one of my paddle surf mates have had multiple dings requiring board repairs. It’s such a downer when you love a board and it’s gets hurt but the fact is they are just too fragile. There must be solutions to at least having tougher rails. The polypropylene idea… Read more »
Thanks Kiddo, we hear you. I think theres a lot to look at in the surf side of things as well – thanks so much for sharing your experiences. Will
Great discussion guys. I am a former sea kayaker / open boater / white water kayaker. I sold all the kit relating to these disciplines and converted to SUP surf and SUP touring. I have a Red Explorer a Fanatic 10.4 for a bit of WW and have taken delivery of a CT Starboard Generation. I would NEVER take my Generation on a serious tour, it would be dinged and scratched in no time. The Explorer is a brilliant bit of kit (never been deflated in the 2 years + I have owned it ) as pointed out by you… Read more »
Thanks Roger – fantastic to see your ideal board here – lets keep our finger cross for SUPs coming with a nice note of Whiskey like that! Its interesting that you never deflate your Red Voyager as well. Great board I agree, but you dont REALLY need an inflatable for what you are doing….? Cheers, Will
I’m only getting into crusing and day touring, however I think a lot of these points resonate. Definitely the nose shape being suitable for open water and durability of hard boards. Nothing makes me more hesitant to purchase a hard board than spending double the price of a premium iSUP for the finish to be unsuitable for rugged outdoor use.
Thanks for sharing your day touring experience as well – guess we didnt cover cost in the video, but you are right, much higher costs as well are a consideration, particularly if the product is less durable…. Thanks, Will
Thanks for this guys, great format. I’m moving up from an all-round iSUP and would dearly love a composite touring board but the cost v durability is giving me cause for concern. As a land-locked northerner I mainly do rivers / canals and I feel composites wouldn’t last long with some of the portaging we do. Did your reader survey reveal the percentage of different disciplines of SUP (race, surf, touring, recreational)? I do think manufacturers focus more on the glamour side of the sport (race, surf) rather than the less glamourous but, I suspect, larger participation side of the… Read more »
Hey Neil thanks again. Yeah we are gathering our Survey data soon and of course we will looking into trends and what you are all getting into.
But we see the Touring, Family fun and surf being the big three!
Give me an O’Shea GTE isup any day over a composite touring board for all the reasons you mentioned in your discussion. Had one for several years now and used it for the Caledonian Canal a couple of years ago after watching Will’s videos. Excellent in every aspect and even coped with 15-20 knot cross winds on Loch Ness. Taking on the Thames next. Even if composite touring boards improve I wouldn’t ever change to one. Definitely a composite board for surfing though (Starboard Pocket Rocket).
Wicked. So glad you are happy with your board.
Good luck on your next Thames trip. Let us know how you get on.
Great video.
I would want to see more of longer touring boards.
As you’re adding so much weight to them that extra length will make a big difference to the speed. More speed = longer distances
12’6 is too short.
This is so true Harry. And it really makes a difference in flatwater. But the longer boards can be harder to handle in the more open water rougher water conditions. A board you can change the length of is what you need!
Being paint as my daily business (paint manufacturer) I definitely believe we can do a better job on the paint to make it more durable. We have all these areas where we use coating that are low maintenance and highly durable. Think about the antifoiling we use on ships, the coating we use on our volvo oceanrace ships, even the clearcoat we use on our airplanes!! Having a better topcoat-clearcoat system, so when you have a scratch it is in the clearcoat and not in the pigmented coating, also these clearecoats have such an easy way on refurbishing by yourself… Read more »
BRANDS READ THIS COMMENT ABOVE… Great comment Tim. You are so right. Over the past few years I have being doing up a classic wooden motor launch and the have been using a wide range of paints from 2 pacs epoxy, 2 pac high gloss varnishes to the more traditional paints. And having the right paint is key to keeping the wood in good condition. And understanding how to manage the paint over years is key to making gear last the best too. The environmental balance is hard but if it means equipment lasts longer than maybe this is the… Read more »
great discussion!!! being landlocked makes it so hard to go for a decent tour on the Sea, and it’s something i really want to do so much more of. i know in the WW sup world they did have some plastic boards, although you dont see them about much now. when we did our tour down the river Wye, you certainly wouldnt have taken a hard board on that, i dont think it would have made it past 10km with all the rocks and swallows, to do it on a sup with a hollow hull and your kit inside would… Read more »
Hey Jonny, Super good points raised there. The spring loaded fin is a great idea.
Board width is a really personal thing but a Starboard at 27″ would paddle really well. The kick pad can help keep the gear on but generally it will be too far back to really help hollow gear. Deck shape and good bungees should do the job.
Thanks for the comment and thoughts.
I have recently picked up a few Ocean Kayak Nalu 12.5’s. These poly boards really do feel like a cross between a kayak and SUP but I feel they were designed by kayakers, not SUPers. They have a nice large front hatch, rear bungee area and clips to add a kayak seat, which are all lovely but there is no center carry handle and only a rope at the front, no carry handle at the rear either. There is also not fin as such either and they have moulded foot wells into the top of the board, which for me… Read more »
Thanks for the comment Jenee. Totally agree.
For me one important advantage of iSUPs over hard boards is storage and transport. Possibly it is quite obvious and I am not the only one, and, although I do not know the market, I would guess that this could be one of several reasons why brands put more attention into the iSUPs than into the hard boards. With my wife we’ve just finished a 6 days trip via beautiful river and several lakes on all around iSUPs (fortunately with lot of D-rings, meant for kayak seats, which we have used to mount our gear with additional bungees), and now… Read more »
Thanks for your comments Marek 🙂
the infinity e-ticket looks really interesting considering your points re flat-water vs all water. A softened blackfish by the look of it. Also looks bungee set up is pretty decent to carry plenty of gear, although rear may be a little tight onto the kick pad and front suffers a bit from the rolly deck curve issue. Shame it’s so hard to get hold of in the uk for you to review properly.
Agree with you Ben. We have got one on order. So we will see.
I’m a bit late to this one. A great discussion here guys. As you know I’ve done a fair bit of SUP touring too and have all the same gripes you guys have. This conversation really got me thinking about the limitations imposed on us by the boards we have available when relating to touring. I use inflatables for touring because they are simply the best option available at the moment. Nothing else is durable enough to take on the conditions we encounter on our trips, or able to carry the kit. I also agree that the majority of touring… Read more »
Wow, thanks for your insights and comments. The hollow board idea sounds interesting to store gear, but agree that it could be hard to right if tipped. It might be worth looking at custom designs from kayak or SUP companies who could possibly build such a craft fit for the job.
It’s hard to find the right craft for every type of paddling, which is why we need a quiver of boards. With innovation moving forward, let’s hope brands see this touring aspect of the sport and design SUPs ups for the challenge.
Thanks again.
Hello I’ve been pro subscriber for only a week but a long time viewer on YouTube. I joined mainly for the touring/fitness aspect of our sport I must admit. My wife and I currently ride blackfin model V’s isups. We enjoy day tour/ fitness paddling of 10km plus most days. The V’s are a huge step up from our first irocker all rounds but I would dearly love to step up to a good composite touring board. I say touring board for two reasons mainly. First off we sup with our pups so to speak. We always have one if… Read more »
Hey Thomas. So glad you have joined pro and are finding it useful. Yeah the move onto a composite board will really help like you have said in those not so perfect conditions. Before we dive into which board… Lets work out the best nose shape. The nose shape mainly dictates how it works in chop. Its all about the V down the bottom of nose. The touring has more than the Gen (which you may have noticed). The V keeps the board in contact with the water and gives you a greater water line length and speed. (sorry if… Read more »
Hello Reuben and thank you very much for your reply. In answer to your question about conditions I’d say 50 flat, 20 up, 20 down and 10 cross wind. We always check wind and projected weather for the day but here like many places I’m sure it’s generally calm in the morning but the wind always comes. With regards to the durability of the composite touring boards as discussed in your video and some of the above comments, it seems they are seen as being rather fragile. Starboard says their new starlite board is their most durable yet but I’m… Read more »
Hey Thomas For the conditions you have describe it will work really well with the starboard touring boards. And as far as the constructions go I would say that the starboard boards are tougher overall. The rails are aways stronger than the bottom. With any composite board most of the damage is caused by putting it onto a hard surface and it puncturing at the bottom of the board (small rock). The solution is always looking for grass or sandy areas to put your board down and also if the board does become damaged the good thing about any composite… Read more »
Hello Reuben and thank you again for all this advice. I am definitely sold on the starboard touring in starlite now. I know for myself it will be the 12’6” by 31, but how would the stability of the 29” compare with our model V 32” wide isups for my 66kg wife with a 30-40kg dog? I see starboard did some major redesign of the touring line in 2022 maybe they can get you one for review in the future. By the way I know that in the UK you usually drive smaller vehicles than we tend to drive here… Read more »
I feel the 29 will still have relatively good amount of stability compared to your model V. Because of the boards bottom shape and harder rails it gives the board so much more stability for its width I think possibly for your wife this might be the better option even with a dog on the front. We know lots of paddlers at her weight who are paddling with 30 kg of equipment on the front and the board at 29 wide is perfect still. Also I have a video coming out at end of week about SUP nose bottom shapes… Read more »
Not enough/too small bungees. For example the Starboard Touring composite Lite tech has no rear bungees, have to upgrade to the pinetech or carbon to get them at significant cost.
Yeah, agree with you Richard.