Hey Guys, So I'm a average level SUPer who is looking to at getting an inflatable WindSUP I can use for all around fun(SUP, fishing, days at the beach) and to learn windsurfing on. Main reasons for considering the inflatable route is that I travel a fair amount and space is quite limited at home. I love the idea of being about to hit the water just about anywhere anytime. Plus I wont beat the heck out of a shinny new Exocet Windsup trying to learn to windsurf, and SUPing on the local rivers. But I am concerned about the lack of maneuverability and the board feeling like I'm trying to sail or SUP an inflatable mattress.

I've narrowed it down to two boards mainly because they seem the most windsurf potential and I'm very interested in learning the basics of the sport and seeing if I want to really get it to it.

Starboard WinSUP 10' 35" with daggerboard. $1549

Naish Crossover 11" $1299

There are number of other inflatable windsup options but what I'm really wondering if without the daggerboard or a long center fin is it really even worth windsurfing on? The Starboard Deluxe has the retractable daggerboard, while the Starboard Windsup Fun and Naish Crossover just have the longer center fin that can be installed. Starboard has the US fin boxes, while Naish has its own setup.

1. Does anyone have experiences with these boards?
2. Is the retractable daggerboard worth the extra $250?
3. How do these boards preform in general)SUP, Surf, Windsurf, etc? Maneuverability?

I talked to a dealer who said he took out the Naish in Maui and had it planing...i have my doubts.

I'm in Austin Texas so demoing the boards is not really an option.


Any insight from you guy would be a huge help.

It's my understanding that most people leave these boards inflated as it's a bit of work to inflate to the high pressure required or get the air out and roll up. I think you are overestimating the convenience factor. The main advantage is the boards will not ding and you can fall on it, climb on it etc.. good for kids. Sailing it's strictly a beginner type board. They aren't even particularly lightweight. Comparing the performance characteristics is a bit trivial, planing? I think that guy is BSing you, why would you take one all the way to Maui where rentals are cheap and plentiful.

I haven't used the boards that your looking at but have used a Fanatic Air.
We use this board at the club as a rescue board and as an extra beginner board for when we have extras. It's very stable, forgiving to fall on and easy to move around .Does drift a bit down wind as it hasn't got a centreboard but with experience will track upwind.A centre board would make it a better board but might take away from its supping capibilities
YES they do plane and its a lot of fun as they absorb the chop quite well.Work out what you want to do the most SUP, sail or surf. If its sail and flat water SUP grab one with a centreboard .

just seconding the fact that these inflatable SUPs are heavy. Portable, yes, but you wouldn't want to carry one far.

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Windxtasy said...
just seconding the fact that these inflatable SUPs are heavy. Portable, yes, but you wouldn't want to carry one far.

No opposite for me, found it lighter and easier esp in the backpack

+1 for the weight of an inflato. light &easy to transport in the backpack. My 7 year old nephew has no problems carrying it around inflated.
There will be quite a few coming out with windsurf rig attachments around September if you can wait that long.

the naish is the best at planing
(according to wind mag review)

How long does it take to inflate? What is the process?

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westozwind said..
+1 for the weight of an inflato. light &easy to transport in the backpack. My 7 year old nephew has no problems carrying it around inflated.
There will be quite a few coming out with windsurf rig attachments around September if you can wait that long.

Thanks for the insight, maybe it would be best to wait until the new boards to come out to see who offers what and and what improvements have been made. I'm itching to try windsurfing this summer though. Maybe I can look for a used long board. What model do you have?

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kato said..

Windxtasy said...
just seconding the fact that these inflatable SUPs are heavy. Portable, yes, but you wouldn't want to carry one far.

No opposite for me, found it lighter and easier esp in the backpack

Hey Kato, what model do you have? Any insight on how it maneuvers? Thanks

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kato said..
I haven't used the boards that your looking at but have used a Fanatic Air.
We use this board at the club as a rescue board and as an extra beginner board for when we have extras. It's very stable, forgiving to fall on and easy to move around .Does drift a bit down wind as it hasn't got a centreboard but with experience will track upwind.A centre board would make it a better board but might take away from its supping capibilities
YES they do plane and its a lot of fun as they absorb the chop quite well.Work out what you want to do the most SUP, sail or surf. If its sail and flat water SUP grab one with a centreboard .

Sorry I just realized you mentioned the Frantic Air..very helpful info, sounds like a blast!

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Beaglebuddy said..
It's my understanding that most people leave these boards inflated as it's a bit of work to inflate to the high pressure required or get the air out and roll up. I think you are overestimating the convenience factor. The main advantage is the boards will not ding and you can fall on it, climb on it etc.. good for kids. Sailing it's strictly a beginner type board. They aren't even particularly lightweight. Comparing the performance characteristics is a bit trivial, planing? I think that guy is BSing you, why would you take one all the way to Maui where rentals are cheap and plentiful.

Yeah I think the shop owner tried (rented) one while in Maui but didn't take one there himself. I should of been clearer. Yeah form what I've been able to scrap together they are fun to play around on and learn to windsurf, but can't really be compared to a hard board performance wise. I'm hesitant to get a new Windsup like a Exocet or Bic because I'm afraid I'll beat the hell out of it trying to learn. Maybe an old longboard to learn on?

I just liked the idea of having a jack-of-all-trades type board that I can fit in my trunk on family outings...so I'm curious about the inflatable windsup.

At a recent fun race, one of the guys competed on an inflatable windSUP. He did not compete at the front of the pack where semi-serious racers used Fanatic Ultra/MegaCats, Phantoms, and Mistral longboards, but he usually was somewhere in the middle of the pack. Not bad at all. I think inflatable SUPs are quite decent for light wind sailing in general, not just for beginners. The no-ding factor makes them much better suited for light wind freestyle than lighter sailable SUPs that take damage from dropped sails quite easily. From videos I have seen, some even look like fun when the wind picks up. But I have never sailed on myself.

I still sail a 1994 Bic Rumba 310 and use it as a paddle board but my daughter finds it heavy and hard to turn (due to hard rails) and an inflatable SUP would be good to take on the boat so I demoed a starboard with centreboard in light wind and these were my impressions:

The inflatable SUPs are lighter than hard boards but not Inflatable WindSups when you add centreboard and larger fin
Inflatable was smooth to ride but there was a definite feeling that flex would suck the power and make it stick to the water with any more wind. Similarly when paddling you can feel the power being lost to flex in board compared to the glide of a hard board (and that is noticeable on the old windsurfer when paddling - it does glide quite well.
I much prefer the old longboard to sail and given you can buy one for a 10th of the price why buy a new WindSup unless you really value the portability.

So my decision is inflatable SUP only and then we have two SUPs. Windsurfing we will stick with the old long board and short boards.