(sigh) first "real" board advice wanted...

[whitewater girl]

I am a new sup-er from a whitewater kakaying/flatwater canoeing background. I have an Ocean Kayak Nalu 12.6 cross-over sup/sot kayak (it fits a "niche" need of mine). I'm starting to look for what my next (first real?) board will be...

I've been getting out suping with some local paddlers (lake & calm river) who paddle Bic Ace Tec 10'6"s & 11'6"s and been struggling (badly!) to keep up with my Nalu 12.6. Mostly though, I expect to be doing river paddling (Upper Delaware & some other very lite whitewater, plus some small, calm-but-twisty rivers/streams), with a little lake paddling mixed in.

I've been considering inflatables, but have been concerned that they will be slow compared to a rigid board (?-or am I carrying over sit-down experiences to where they no longer apply?). I have also been looking at the Surftech's B1. (I was considering some of the plastic boards, but they mostly seem to be heavier than I want to go.).

Thoughts? Opinions? Am I missing any good candidiates for my type of paddling? Does anything exist that will (all else being equal) keep up with the Ace Tec boards on lakes, but still do easy rocky/bouncey rivers well? [how well does the Surftech's B1 do here? Pelican Surge's "hype" makes it sound like an option - any first hand knowledge on this? (Pelican's kayaks & canoes aren't generally taken very seriously)]

Thanks!

[SaltH2Opaddler]

I haven't tried it but I would look into Naish's ONE.  Looks like it might be the ticket.

http://www.naishsurfing.com/one/

Starboard and Mistral look good too.

Check out this link for pic's.(Has all three)

http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/Naish-The-ONE/

[raf]

I am always surprised by the ULIs' speed and glide.  Unless you are going to a displacement style hull, the difference between a good inflatable (i.e., ULI) and a comparably sized all-around made of glass is very marginal. 

[SUPra]

I tried b1 before at local rental place, seems to be really  durable although I can feel some of the exposed bounce fiber on the sides where the coating has worn off.
If you are looking for Inflatable I would definitely recommend ULI as they seems to be more rigid and durable than other boards.

http://www.uliboards.com/2012/fat-ass-quad-skip-brown-awesomeness

[lucabrasi]

B1 would be good as would the inflateables suggested here. I have taken another Surftech with a very similar (same??) shape into whitewater and it worked well and is great for cruising around on too. It would be a good choice if you only get one board and do both rivers and lakes. There are many of the B1s in the rental fleets out here that run the rivers and lakes every day. They are bomber. There are probably a few out there in demo fleets from the summer going up for sale now. Check some of the kayak sites that also have boards and you may find something. Consider a rubber fin for the river runs.
Hobie makes a way durable board like the B1 also but I can't remember the name of it off hand....xtratuff...duratuff... and an inflateable line too.  I have always been way impressed with Hobie and their quality and commitment in everything they seem to do so that should be considered too.
If you are familiar with the Pelican Kayaks already then you already know how happy you would eventually be with one of their boards.
I have also rode a Surftech inflateable and would go ULI or one of the others suggested for inflateable.