I'm just about ready to pull the trigger and upgrade from my Red Paddle Co. Sport 12'6 x 30" iSUP to a hardboard. I paddle mostly in estuaries and they often have coastal like conditions: chop, wind, sidewind... even 1-2ft swell on occassion. On calm days (wind <8mph) it's like paddling any inland river. I just do touring for a few hours each session. No surfing, no racing.

Questions!
1. Will a hardboard make a considerable difference in rough conditions? The Sport is a top end iSUP, so how much difference will it make?
2. Infinity e-Ticket (12'6 x 29") vs Starboard Generation (12'6 x 28")? I really want a board that can make rough conditions more enjoyable. Speed is good, but stability, tracking, control is better. My garage sadly won't fit a 14' board.

If a hardboard will only be like 5%-10% better in rough conditions and 15-18mph winds, then I'll probably just stick with the Sport. It's a lot of money and I'm definitely worried about the durability (lots of rocky/stoney shorelines in the UK).

Thanks!

Good question!

My quick answer is to go for a 32" wide hardboard with thinner rails and thinner in the center that is 1.5X your weight (in kg) in volume (in litres).

An inflatable is better suited to conditions where you may make contact with rocks, sticks, etc. But if you are careful, and don't mind a few minor scratches, that does not need to be your determining factor.

Stability is a tricky subject. Length helps, but width helps much more. While your instincts may lead you to choose a thicker board, with big rails, with more boyancy - the opposite is true (within reason). Thin rails (especially rails that have water lapping over them) on thinner boards (so your center of gravity is lower) is best. They are less susceptible to cross-chop and wind. As long as the volume of the board in litres is at least 1.5X your weight in kgs, the buoyancy won't be a factor (for example, if you are 100 kg - and have supped before - a board of 150 litres will be fine - greater than 150 litres may not help much, but less volume will begin to test your balance.)

Unless you are a wee fellow, 29" and 28" is too narrow - unless you desire speed. From a pure balance/stability point of view, aim for 32" or wider.

The other issue with inflatable versus hard is the stiffness of the board - if it is stiff enough (so you don't bounce and the board does not bend) then you may not notice a huge difference (in that regard) but most inflatables are quite thick, thus you are higher off the water.

Can you demo a board somewhere?

I'm roughly 83kg @ 181cm tall, so the 249L volume of the Starboard Generation should be fine (which I'm starting to lean towards if I get a hardboard).

Everything is sold out. The nearest shop that does demos is a good 3 hours drive away. They are getting stock for the Generation in end of June (all already sold), but I'm not sure if they will keep any just for demos.

I'm quite comfortable stability wise with RPC Sport at 30" wide. In rough conditions, perhaps it is the performance of the board against chop and wind that is the issue. Whether or not the Generation would make a night/day difference is the question. I've been told that because there's less flex, bottom shape concaves, and boxy rails a 28" hardboard should feel like a 30" inflattable as far as stability.

Ugh, still debating if I pull the trigger. I do wish I could borrow a hardboad for a week to really give it a thorough test!

Thanks for the advice!

Hardboard are much better in chop than inflatables. I've had a red paddle 12'6 and 14'0 x 20-30 and owned hard boards of similar dins.
once choppy the hard boards definitely help push through and not just fold or flop like inflatables do. That generation sounds good.
For ease and stability, 30" wide would be sweet for longer cruising. I never fell off my 12'6 x 29 pin tail touring board once and took that out in some pretty windy conditions.

I've got a Generation. I'd recommend it. And as you've picked up from elsewhere, as far as stability is concerned, a 30" inflatable is the equivalent of a 27-28" hardboard so you'll be absolutely fine with the Generation. I know that Red builds the stiffest inflatables with the capacity for the greatest psi (pressure). Yet I think you will find better than 10% performance improvement from the Generation.

You guys aren't giving the advice my wallet (or my wife) wants to hear!

What about the durability? I do my best to take of my gear, but in sports and outdoor things happen. I'm leaning towards the Lite Tech, especially as I saw a couple negative issues with the paint job with the Carbon Top (YouTube comments on SUPboarder review).

Does anybody have experience with a Starboard Lite Tech board to know how it wares?

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SpaceCowboy2071 said..
You guys aren't giving the advice my wallet (or my wife) wants to hear!

What about the durability? I do my best to take of my gear, but in sports and outdoor things happen. I'm leaning towards the Lite Tech, especially as I saw a couple negative issues with the paint job with the Carbon Top (YouTube comments on SUPboarder review).

Does anybody have experience with a Starboard Lite Tech board to know how it wares?

It really doesn,t matter what the board is made of some r more durable but its called fate ! The 200 + litre blow up you talk of must b hard to paddle ! Any surf shaped gun is better for those conditions ! After the shock of o'h **** what have i done you could paddle 150 litres easy !

I have a Starboard Whopper in Lite Tech. 95Kg and 6ft. No flex in chop. A wind gust blew it off my roof rack. It flipped and landed hard 20m away on a firm grass strip. Not a mark. Regular scuff marks clean up easily. Its a keeper.

Thanks for sharing that, Chuck46! That gives me some confidence in the build quality of the Lite Tech construction.