Red Paddle or MCIT for River Running?

[detourgreg]

I've got a 10'6" MCIT that I use for whitewater, fast moving rivers, and lakes. I like it a lot, but I'm also interested in checking out a Red Paddle Co board for the same uses. Anyone have any experience on a Red they can share? How are they in whitewater? The 9'6" All Water seems nice, but at 4" thick it seems you would catch an edge a lot on eddy lines and in boils and waves. Also, how are the 9'6" and 10'6" Red's for cruising on lakes?

Thanks

[Green Water Sports]

Hi detourgreg,

My all round cruising and general small wave SUP is the 10'6" Ride. Great board, comfy to ride and stable. Had it also in medium sized waves (5ft face) and it gets a bit caught out by the fatter rails. But this is beyond the purpose of the board so I was pushing it. Smaller 1-3ft waves it handles well.

Had it on the lagoon, glassy flat, glide was good. Bumping into logs or rocks wasn't a problem thanks to the inflatable construction.

I've not had experience in rough rapids/rivers but considering their on wave performance I think I would suggest the 9'6" for better control and manouverability. It also has the RSS rail battens to keep it stiff.

10'6" is 4.72" thick while the 9'6" is only 3.93". They are both the same width (32") and similar stability.

Cruising on lakes? Both would be about the same. Maybe a little more glide from the 10'6"...

I'm 6ft and 190lbs for reference.

Nice video of the 9'6" here: http://greenwatersports.com/shop/red-paddle-co-9-6-all-water
Close up of the boards here: http://greenwatersports.com/shop/red-paddle-co-10-6-ride

Full review of 10'6": http://greenwatersports.com/1293/red-paddle-co-106-inflatable-sup-review

Julian

[detourgreg]

Thanks Julian for the info.  I do wish the Red boards came with a removable center fin so I could put something longer in there for flatwater cruising. 

[Green Water Sports]

I find the 10'6" tracks fairly well. I've noticed while demo-ing boards with first timers, a lot of it comes down to your technique. But yeh, just the long boards have fin boxes. 12'6" Explorer, Race and both the 12'6" and 14' Elites.

[UKRiverSurfers]

If it's just for river running - MCIT! Hands down, full stop, period!

[UKRiverSurfers]

Worth mentioning that the MCIT is actually quicker, straight line speed on the flat calm stuff. The Red will be much better on the sea though in small chop.

We tried the MCIT 10'6 alongside the Red 12'6 Explorer and it was just as fast on the flat as the 12'6. It's the chambers on the sides that act as channels, running the whole length of the board, making it very directionally stable, meaning you can put much more thrust into your stroke.

The MCIT will become swamped very easily in chop because of the pooling water that can sit on the deck between the chambers.

On the Red 10'6 v 9'6... I have had both and I would say the 10'6 is much better in WW because of the extra thickness making the rails much softer and more forgiving with the change in hydrolic forces. Much better for breaking in and out, ferry gliding etc.

As I've said above though, if it was just for WW the Red wouldn't even get a look in. MCIT, all the way

[PonoBill]

I like the MCIT a lot, great board. I do find the swamping thing irritating, but it doesn't happen often. Haven't tried the Red, but the MCIT is the best thing I've tried for a low skill whitewater hack like me.

[UKRiverSurfers]

I'm expecting the new MCIT models to have self baillers.. Fingers crossed.?

[detourgreg]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think I will stick with the MCIT for whitewater and will check out a Red 12'6" RaCe for high flatwater paddling.

[UKRiverSurfers]

I did a downwinder  last Sunday, Red Race, alongside the Coastrunner. Believe it or not the Red Race was just as fast as the Coastrunner...!

[detourgreg]

Forgot to mention that it seems the MCIT will be unchanged for next year, so that means no self bailing. 

[K1SUP]

Someone told me the fishing version of the MCIT has drains of some sort so maybe they dont build up water so bad.