Anyone seen or tested any of the latest inflatable wings boards in Aus . I'm delivering a couple of boats up North from the Gold Coast starting next month an inflatable would come in real handy pretty tight on space. Something 5-8 ish would be nice. Needs to be Aus supply no time to get one from OS.

This Fanatic looks pretty good , anyone seen or used it . Found 7 brands post anymore I missed. Can't find anything from Starboard ?....

Did Not test it due to lockdown but Indiana has years of experience and making rigid inflatables. Some brands mentioned above even copied some of their technology. For travelling or winging from a boat that could be the option.

My 2021 5-7 inflatable Naish was actually pretty cool once I modified the Axis mast base to move it an inch further back, in 15-20 knots, anyway. I live in Wellington where it seems to be 25-35 knots all the time, except over winter, and I didn't realise how much windage that 135 litres generated. Riding the 90 litre Wing Drifter was like removing an air brake! Those big rails in big chop were also pretty draggy.

I'm only a beginner intermediate but in terms of stiffness it seemed fine. I rode an older F-one Rocket Air which was flexy as hell and the Naish was nothing like that. It took about 4 minutes to get up to pressure with their pump and packed down pretty small. I think it's a great travel board as long as you check foil compatibility first.

For the Gong Hipe, you may want to look at their new version (v2) with hull handle and rear footstrap.

I own two rocket air from last year, a 6'6 and a 5'4. I still prefer my hardboard, but for a quick trip, compact limited space, the 5'4 (90L) weight only 4.5kg..in light wind it's quite amazing and no swing weight!! It does have a bit of a lag..so more advanced rider will notice that lag..might be annoying the first few transitions...but I'm confident it helps newbies in transition because the lag is more forgiving when doing errors.I compared a Gong and I'm not convinced the plate is better or worst. It gives a tad more rigidity, but it's still has the same inflatable feeling, still got lag(less) and much heavier. The good news is the plate is not that long, so the heavy part is near the mast and that limiting the swing weight du to the extra weight, but the f-one got less swing weight if it's important for you. The gong also felt it a bit stickier, don't know the reason. Two different technologies and they both got their purposes. I'm not convince straps/jumps is a good combo in inflatables, long runs will tell us. ;-)
It's way better than an inflatable sup!!! I really beleive everyone should have an inflatable!!!

Based on my experience with the Hype I'd recommend a board which doesn't have raised footstrap mounts, has a bottom handle and which has a sharp release at the tail. I think the JP comes closest.

Also realise that inflatables have a limited life span. It's the glue that gives up and the actual time period can be 4-6 years depending on how the board is stored. Once the seams start letting go it's like playing wakamole as they all eventually go.

Inflatables are great for travel or where storage is an issue, just don't pay too much for one

Great point about life span Airsail , never thought about that.

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airsail said..
Also realise that inflatables have a limited life span. It's the glue that gives up

That's why you want welded boards (like the Gong and some others), not glued ones.
Woven drop stitches is also more reliable than the plain ones. Drop Stitches are not all equal, they come in different qualities, the cheapest ones (used in no-name brands) are really bad.

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colas said..

airsail said..
Also realise that inflatables have a limited life span. It's the glue that gives up

That's why you want welded boards (like the Gong and some others), not glued ones.
Woven drop stitches is also more reliable than the plain ones. Drop Stitches are not all equal, they come in different qualities, the cheapest ones (used in no-name brands) are really bad.

Hi Colas, you have gotten me interested, my inflatable starboard failed at the join between the sides and the drop stitch panel. I vowed never another expensive inflatable.
I've been on the Gong website, yes it talks about a welded drop stitch and the double side panels are welded together, not glued, but it doesn't say about how the sides are attached to the drop stitch.


Do you have any info on how this join is made, mine just blew apart there as the glue aged. If you have a inflatable Gong a welded seam should be visible, a picture would be great. Thanks

Hi, first to be clear, welded woven drop stitches are not a Gong exclusive, you can find them in most reputable brands.
(As I am a Gong ambassador - but not an employee -, I must be cautious, some people here are quick to over-interpret what I say)
And brands can have both glued boards (typically the cheapest, entry-level ones: for Gong, the "Chip"), and welded ones.
Plus things change constantly.

This is to say that questionable quality for model X of brand Y in year Z do not apply automatically to another model or the same model of another year in a brand.

Generally, on welded inflatable boards (at least for Gong), the pieces making the body of the board are welded together (deck, hull, rails). But all the addons (handles, plugs, inserts, boxes, the Hipe carbon plate...) are still glued.I only have an old Gong inflatable, before the advent of the welding tech, so I cannot help you with pics. You may want to ask your questions directly to Gong or on their forum or Facebook group.Note that for best durability, inflatables should be stored long-term slightly inflated out of the sun and heat. Storing them folded tight is not ideal as it will stress the rail seams on the long term.

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colas said..

airsail said..
Also realise that inflatables have a limited life span. It's the glue that gives up

That's why you want welded boards (like the Gong and some others), not glued ones.
Woven drop stitches is also more reliable than the plain ones. Drop Stitches are not all equal, they come in different qualities, the cheapest ones (used in no-name brands) are really bad.

A mate runs a Paddle Board business using exclusively Red Paddle Co which is pretty fair to say is the benchmark for inflatable Paddle Boards in terms of construction.

Although better than any boards from other brands that he has tried, Red Paddle boards are still all failing after a while (between 2 and 3 seasons of 4 month each). While the manufacturer offers a 5 years warranty to private customers, business users are entitled to only one even on the beefed up version they sell to schools.

I reckon this says a thing or 2 about inflatable boards in general. Gong certainly wouldn't be exempted.

Storage and weather certainly affects the lifespan as well.

As Airsail pointed out, once they start going, they're done.

Red Paddle will send you a RIB boat repairer and repairing a leak would cost $150-$300 (and that is if they can be bothered dealing with it....)

Note that rentals and schools typically leave their boards fully inflated and in the sun for the whole season.
If you take care of your board, it can last MUCH longer than the ones in a school.

PS: buying used inflatable school boards at the end of the season is quite risky...

PS#2: although structural seams like the rails getting unglued is a bad omen, pad, handles and boxes getting unglued are easily repaired.

Can you use a car tire inflator 12V or 120Volt for a board or wing ? for faster inflation ? Would you want to ? Are adapters available ? TIA

One of my mates has the 5'-10" Fanatic and while I have not used it, I have towed him behind my boat a few times. I am very impressed with it and if I was starting over I would consider one for traveling.

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SparkEV said..
Can you use a car tire inflator 12V or 120Volt for a board or wing ? for faster inflation ? Would you want to ? Are adapters available ? TIA

Yes, I've used a 12V portable air compressor to blow up my iSUP a few times. As long as you don't overinflate no reason not to use one. I bought an adapter that has a gauge built into it, very handy.

Does anyone know where I can get an adapter from so I can use a 12v air compressor to inflate a wing/board?

I've tried a makeshift adapter but it was very slow. Either due to a poor seal or the 12v pump being high pressure but low volume.

It would be great to get a electric pumping setup going, so let me know if anyone knows how to make this work.

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gybeski said..
Does anyone know where I can get an adapter from so I can use a 12v air compressor to inflate a wing/board?

I've tried a makeshift adapter but it was very slow. Either due to a poor seal or the 12v pump being high pressure but low volume.

It would be great to get a electric pumping setup going, so let me know if anyone knows how to make this work.

I built one out of a 4wd 12 volt compressor, 140ltr/min. I use a 12 volt airbed pump to get the initial inflation then plug in the high pressure pump. I'm in Brissy if you want a look.

We use the F-One's at our school. Dont have any experience with other inflatable wingboards, but do have experience with some inflatable sups and an inflatable windfoil board. The F-One can be pumped up hard! 21PSI really gives it its stiffness. If you get one, make sure you get the version with plate mount, as thats more rigid torsionally aswell (vs the tuttle box). However, compared to a rigid board it isnt that great. Because of the flex in these boards they dig the nose earlier on touchdowns and feel more backfoot powered than a ridget board. As long as you dont touch the water they're fine. I personally fitted a spacer to rake the foil backward a little more to compesnate for the board bending. Have to add I'm relatively heavy at 95Kgs.

I'm interested in the new Slingshot inflatable lineup for this year. I currently have the OG Shred Sled for wingfoiling and windfoiling (although I have only used it for that twice, with poor success). I'm looking for something around 105-110L to pair with the Shred Sled for stronger wind. I am doing more wingfoiling than windfoiling now, and totally love the simplicity of the gear as well as the "compactness". That's why I am interested in the SS inflatables.

I tried the fanatic inflatable. Didn't feel right with the Armstrong foil. I needed to move it more forward, but was maxed.

Whatever board you get make sure it has a bottom handle and a sharp rear rail. The Gong Hipe had neither and was not a good choice.

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airsail said..
Also realise that inflatables have a limited life span. ...

But depending on your environment they may also be more durable at least within their lifespan. Hitting rocks does not matter :).
I have rocks at my lakes and can leave my board washing up against them which gives me time to take the wing to a save place.

Or ok when bumping into a peer when my son has a go with it.

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Grantmac said..
Whatever board you get make sure it has a bottom handle and a sharp rear rail. The Gong Hipe had neither and was not a good choice.

Just to be clear, this was for the old (v1) version of the Hipe. The current one (v2) has a bottom handle (but no sharp rear rail, which in all honesty may not be important for foil boards where you pop on a plane rather than glide into it: some rigid foil boards do not have them).

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WhiteofHeart said..
We use the F-One's at our school. Dont have any experience with other inflatable wingboards, but do have experience with some inflatable sups and an inflatable windfoil board. The F-One can be pumped up hard! 21PSI really gives it its stiffness. If you get one, make sure you get the version with plate mount, as thats more rigid torsionally aswell (vs the tuttle box). However, compared to a rigid board it isnt that great. Because of the flex in these boards they dig the nose earlier on touchdowns and feel more backfoot powered than a ridget board. As long as you dont touch the water they're fine. I personally fitted a spacer to rake the foil backward a little more to compesnate for the board bending. Have to add I'm relatively heavy at 95Kgs.

hi
i use same board
how much hight you added in the back? how you did it?

cheers

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WhiteofHeart said..
Because of the flex in these boards they dig the nose earlier on touchdowns and feel more backfoot powered than a ridget board.

This is why it is important that the bottom rigid plate extends forwards up to the front foot position.
Basically you want to actually stand on the plate, the inflatable part being used only in compression, not in torsion.

The drawbacks are that it adds more weight, and increase the dimensions of the folded board.

Air Beluga 170 arrived yesterday.
No wind until late Dec., here, it's winter.
No bottom handle, soft tail rails.
Taking it to Puerto Rico.