All Arounder that leans more toward the touring side

[MKE]

I am pretty new to SUP and I am ready for my first purchase and hoping for some buying advice from the vets on the board.
I'm looking for a good all arounder that leans more to the touring side as I plan to use it more for core workouts than surfing. I am 6'3" 205 and 27 yrs old. It'll get most of it's use out on Lake Michigan and smaller flatter lakes. Also wouldn't mind being able to take my 4 legged friend out with me.

I've heard good things about the Starboard Cruiser as well as the Pau Hana Ez rider. Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated 
 

[balance_fit]

Please consider Jimmy Lewis Mission, also called Albatross in earlier times. Very stable and floats well with 235 liters on 12'6".

[carvemeister]

2nd the JL Mission.  Floats, my 215 lbs. and dog or 2nd person easily.  Add bungees to the nose tie downs.  Great for touring - tracks pretty well - quick and light too. 

[MKE]

Thanks guy! You guys were spot on, the Jimmy Lewis Mission looks perfect for what I am looking for. The only downside to it is the price. At $1,900 it prices me out. I was looking in the 1500 range +$300 for paddle and $200 for roof rack etc.. So I'm working with only $2000.

[Hamakua]

I like my Albatross but I picked it up used for $800.  You'd be hard pressed to find a bad review of the SB Cruiser.  Check out the Naish 10'10" and Amundson TRX 12'6".  Amundson has good pricing and is durable, but sometimes hard to find a dealer.

[shankfoo]

Coreban Alpha?  A used one might hit your price point.

http://distressedmullet.com/coreban-alpha-126-stand-up-paddle-board-sup-review

[jdmotes]

 The Exocet 12'6 Edge is very stable (30") and retails at $1295. Check it here: http://exocet-original.com/2013/edge126.php 
 Not sure if there's dealer up in your area but we could ship it from Daytona Bch... Paddle on; JD

[Cardiff Kook]

Boardworks Raven 12'6 is specifically designed for what you describe, and it is under $1500.

[SUPfan]

Haolebuilt,

It sounds like an Amundson 12'6" TR would be a good fit for you. http://www.aquaglide.net/products/12-6%20tr.cfm
The TR stand for "Touring and Race" but it really is a very nice gliding, efficient, touring board. The nose of the TR is a hybrid V with rocker, so it goes over chop and engages the V to cut through about the foot or so down the board.  Very cool design. We have one in stock as we are a Amundson and Starboard dealer.  Another benefit of an Amundson is the AST construction from the Cobra factory in Thailand (same as Naish, SB and other better quality lines) and the price point of $1,349.00 MSRP.  If your interested I can chat with over the phone and we ship anywhere in the US.

[robon]

+1 on the Amundson T/R. The Amundson is easily one of the best deals out there for price, performance and durability. Great stability for a 29.5" wide board and the glide is good too. Haven't had a chance to try the Raven yet, but it's also very highly reviewed for it's price point as well. Check out online distributors like paddleboardspecialists.com for package deals on the Amundson and for comparisons to other boards. There is a comparison video with the Amundson T/R and Tahoe Zephyr (I think) on their site. Look for deals on last years models on various boards on PBS and other dealers online and in person.

[DavidJohn]

The Naish 10'10" Nalu and the new shape 12' Glide are other good options worth checking out.

DJ

[hdearing]

You might also want to take a look at the Coreban Cruiser.  It is 11'6" and carries a ton of volume.  A lot of the displacement hull boards do not lend that well to taking your dog along for a ride as the shapes tend to focus a little more on shedding water off the deck than a more traditional surf style shape. 
Might be a good idea to consider a board with a full deck pad as well.  Most of the Starboard shapes are offered in a construction that has the full pad.  The Cruiser, The Atlas and the Avanti all have tons of volume and stability and track really well for what they are.  Funny thing is that the more time I spend on boards, the more I tend to ride the more traditional surf style shapes.  Not sure why...

[DavidJohn]

Even a board like he 12'6" Glide with it's BOP shape would be a good choice.

See what your local shops sell and try and demo as many as you can first.

DJ

[Tom English]

The Ron House Coastal cruiser is at home in the surf or touring and has a $1,500 price tag.
http://www.alohastanduppaddle.com/Boards.html
Chase waves or dolphins on this board. "Try before you buy" at Aloha SUP's retail store in Leucadia, CA.

[MKE]

You guys are awesome. Thanks guys for the advice.