2020 Starboard Airline 14' x 28" inflatable

[deepmud]

Man - I got a great board for me. This is what I hoped my Red Elite would be like  - but that was TOOOO tippy/race-oriented, at least for me. I wishy-washed around the 14x30 Touring Dual Chamber - my friend has one, and I LIKE it - but I'm 98% lakes, the Airline flex resistance advertising got me and I like to try to go fast(er). The extra stability vs the Red - made all the difference. There is not a lot of primary but if you let it go over the secondary stability kicks in. I have only had it on the glass so far - but for an old (53) 275 pound (yay Keto! Was 285 a couple of weeks ago) dude to rip off a 6:07 and a 6:09 half-mile back-to-back is awesome! (for me! lol). I find I can "fast cruise" just under 5mph, and burst to 6 mph - maybe better ( I didn't do sprints ). You can get a clear indication of speed from the wave peeling off the bow - if you get it to curl, you are over 5mph. Lots of 5.2/5.3 mph time (Speed coach/3 stroke averaging). As soon as it stops curling, it's 4.8mph or less. I will be comparing the Touring DC side by side soon, and the owner Andrew is a more normal weight of like 170 ( my guesstimate), so he can report on the Airline too. I'll add I went fishing by sup yesterday -  5 hours on the water and my legs were still shakey this morning.

Relive confirms the speed.  Top Speed https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qkNzPJNK6

[deepmud]

Trouble uploading... Off site work?

[deepmud]

nope - no pics. Hmm.

Different machine, PC -

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I can't post pics

So a link to them - just 3, and the screenshot of my Garmin output is one.

Heck I missed I did a 1/2 mile in 5:49 . If you just take the 3.5 miles that I pushed hard,
 in 43:38, it's an average 12 and half minute mile pace . I think I've hit some 5-somethings on the Red Elite 14'x26" - but no way connected so many. I wonder how an Airline 26" compares with the Red Elite 26" - in stability. So far, the Starboard is miles better - but we'll see how I do with jekski and boat wakes.

This is with the Airline cord tension on the first step, and the psi at 15. Stock fin. I'm down to about 273 as of this morning.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/E1ndnnxQY2rMEct97

[deepmud]

Maybe delete the failed upload posts above? Eh.

Pics of the board
, time splits, and a teaser of King fishing the Knik the day before (Andrew on his Starboard DC he got from Greenwater Sports last year).

[Green Water Sports]

Great pics. Sounds like you enjoy the board!

[deepmud]

I've been out twice - been busy as heck at work. The only problem so far is I find myself holding above 5mph so much I'm getting sore muscles The more I use it the more stable it gets     - partly, I'm learning to trust it has that secondary to lean into. I have yet to paddle when not sore and exhausted lol. I plan to get with Andrew and his 14' Touring DC for side-by-side comparison - plus comparing the way oversized paddler experience to the normal sized guy (Average Man  - come try this! ). He's actually a way better athlete than I am  - avid mountain biker winter and summer plus paddling and fishing all the time - gotta' love Alaska

I do wish I had more tie-downs - oy, Starboard - you gypped me on tie downs! And I need to get some of those FC mounts next and get a few cameras going - then if the Zone isn't broken, I'll post up!

[singingdog]

I do wish I had more tie-downs - oy, Starboard - you gypped me on tie downs!

Just add your own. Sea to Summit makes some great add-on tie downs, or put your own on with clear Gorilla tape and accessory cord. NRS has d-ring kits made specifically for inflatables

[deepmud]

yeah I have a bunch I bought from Amazon - the price is ok at 15 to 20 bucks for 4 d-rings - problem is - warranty? will I void it by sticking glued down stuff on the board(and I'm still mad they aren't already THERE the Touring DC has 6 more than the Airline) and - I would actually like to try to keep this board "pretty": for now  - and that means I 'd need the same type/style as Starboard uses....and so far I haven't found them for sale.

[singingdog]

yeah I have a bunch I bought from Amazon - the price is ok at 15 to 20 bucks for 4 d-rings - problem is - warranty? will I void it by sticking glued down stuff on the board(and I'm still mad they aren't already THERE the Touring DC has 6 more than the Airline) and - I would actually like to try to keep this board "pretty": for now  - and that means I 'd need the same type/style as Starboard uses....and so far I haven't found them for sale.

I tour occasionally with a Starboard dealer. He does the Gorilla tape tie downs, then removes them after a tour.

[deepmud]

well.that should be OK for warranty as long as I don't leave it on too.
Still love it. It's just getting better. I need to get out in some chop but I think I will be OK.

Hey pictures again.

[Area 10]

You are doing well: it's extremely hard to make an inflatable go fast. Mostly, above about 5 mph extra energy you put in just starts to add bouncing and flexing rather than forward motion. For this reason my top speeds on my inflatables (I have 5) are surprisingly similar even though the boards are different lengths and widths etc. The range of speeds I get with my hard boards (I currently own about 25 I think) is much greater.

[deepmud]

Thanks for the encouraging words: ) I am dying to figure out phase 2 of getting my unlimited boards (or just one) up here. I feel like the bigger boards penalize my extra pounds less. However your are right that a  hard board has great advantages. I only have 1 lol but I am nearly as fast on the relatively stubby 12'⁶ by 31". As I keep reading it's the engine that matters most.  I need test back to back with the 14x26 Red but the Starboard feels like way better glide. The nose seems to behave like a bulb on a ship, with a smooth wave pouring up over the top of the bow . I have played with moving my feet forward and back but way forward  my "fast cruise" seems about .2 mph faster (5.3 ish vs 5.1ish). Top speeds recorded by GPS have been 6.6 to 6.7 mph. From what I can tell..that's about hull speed plus some.