Author Topic: Inflatable Question/Advice-SIC/Starboard  (Read 3868 times)

soleandpaddle

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Inflatable Question/Advice-SIC/Starboard
« on: January 06, 2022, 06:18:28 AM »
Hi all-I have a race coming up this June where I'll be needing an inflatable board. I need something that's durable, reasonably fast, and stable. I need to carry a fair amount of gear and manage a lot of portaging.

My daily board is a SIC RS 21.5. I'm looking at the SIC RS Air Glide 14x26" and Starboard Airline 14x26". I'm writing off the Airline 24.5 as it seems to me that it would be too narrow. Am I correct to assume this? Last year I did a really long event (340 miles) on a SIC RS 24.5 hardboard, but I know that inflatables are typically less stable. Any thoughts?

Does anyone have experience with the durability of those? I like the "rails" on the Airline but that stringer on the bottom has some exposed parts that worry whereas the SIC as the carbon bit instead and seems more simple overall. It's cheaper.

I would rather test each, of course, but don't have access to either. I'll have to order online so trying to get it right the first time.

Thanks, everyone!

SupSimcoe

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Re: Inflatable Question/Advice-SIC/Starboard
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2022, 06:35:42 AM »
I would also consider the Naish Maliko inflatable. I put lots of gear on mine and still find it reasonably stiff, stable and fast. My review is in the review area.
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soleandpaddle

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Re: Inflatable Question/Advice-SIC/Starboard
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2022, 06:49:39 AM »
Hey, that's a great suggestion! Missed that one. More to think about.

Green Water Sports

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Re: Inflatable Question/Advice-SIC/Starboard
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2022, 01:59:05 PM »
Hi all-I have a race coming up this June where I'll be needing an inflatable board. I need something that's durable, reasonably fast, and stable. I need to carry a fair amount of gear and manage a lot of portaging.

My daily board is a SIC RS 21.5. I'm looking at the SIC RS Air Glide 14x26" and Starboard Airline 14x26". I'm writing off the Airline 24.5 as it seems to me that it would be too narrow. Am I correct to assume this? Last year I did a really long event (340 miles) on a SIC RS 24.5 hardboard, but I know that inflatables are typically less stable. Any thoughts?

Does anyone have experience with the durability of those? I like the "rails" on the Airline but that stringer on the bottom has some exposed parts that worry whereas the SIC as the carbon bit instead and seems more simple overall. It's cheaper.

I would rather test each, of course, but don't have access to either. I'll have to order online so trying to get it right the first time.

Thanks, everyone!

https://greenwatersports.com/shop/product-tag/race?ref=17

Usually I suggest paddlers coming from a hard board to go at least 1-2" wider than the hard board they are comfortable on. At a 21.5" hard board, I would say 2-4" wider. Inflatables are typically 6" thick and when you get super narrow, you end up with a sausage rather than a board with how the rail profile shaping is limited.

I like to consider the SIC race boards as a bare bones race board. The Starboards have the extra features, larger tie down, standing tray, airline system, nicer bag and pump. Both are fusion, Starboard a little more sturdy construction with rail taping.

The SIC 26" would be a little more stable than the current Starboard 26". Prior to the 2021/22 models they were more similar but for the current model, Starboard trimmed down the tail width to make it faster. This means less stability also.

I had a 14x28 Airline for a year in 2019 and found the standing tray to work very well. It gave you an inch or so more deck pad on either side and a nice edge to lean on/push against while paddling/balancing.

The airline is a simple system to set up and gets you on the water easily and stiffens up the board a little more. At 6" and 18PSI you've got a stiff board, but the airline adds a little more which helps for rougher days or larger paddlers/loads.

The underside stringer on the Starboard (also used as the airline sleeve) is much the same as the SIC. There is one small hole at each end for the line to come through. I don't believe, and I did not experience any issues with these. The only fiddly bit with the airline is tucking the string under the fin before you trim it to length and then just use the 4 hooks, and not adjusting the knot to set up the board.

We probably sell 2:1 Starboard to SIC.

New style Naish Maliko arrived in 2020 with some sweet tech. Quad carbon stringers,  2 on top and 2 on the bottom, which have evolved into one on each side, but wider. One of the stiffest boards out there. Also a good option, and a bit more stable if you're interested.

We've got all 3 in stock.

https://greenwatersports.com/shop/starboard-inflatable-14-x-26-all-star?ref=17
https://greenwatersports.com/shop/sic-14-x-26-rs-air-glide?ref=17
https://greenwatersports.com/shop/naish-inflatable-14-x-27-maliko-fusion-carbon?ref=17
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Caribsurf

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Re: Inflatable Question/Advice-SIC/Starboard
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2022, 03:46:55 PM »
I own a couple of SIC Recon inflatables...they are REALLY well built. I honestly didn't think we would use them much because we have carbon, fiberglass and epoxy SUPs, but the Recon is really really rigid, stable and has amazing glide for an inflatable. I had no idea inflatables could paddle and glide so well.  They don't make that model anymore, but I am sure the SIC quality build is the same.
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soleandpaddle

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Re: Inflatable Question/Advice-SIC/Starboard
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2022, 05:26:21 AM »
Hi all-I have a race coming up this June where I'll be needing an inflatable board. I need something that's durable, reasonably fast, and stable. I need to carry a fair amount of gear and manage a lot of portaging.

My daily board is a SIC RS 21.5. I'm looking at the SIC RS Air Glide 14x26" and Starboard Airline 14x26". I'm writing off the Airline 24.5 as it seems to me that it would be too narrow. Am I correct to assume this? Last year I did a really long event (340 miles) on a SIC RS 24.5 hardboard, but I know that inflatables are typically less stable. Any thoughts?

Does anyone have experience with the durability of those? I like the "rails" on the Airline but that stringer on the bottom has some exposed parts that worry whereas the SIC as the carbon bit instead and seems more simple overall. It's cheaper.

I would rather test each, of course, but don't have access to either. I'll have to order online so trying to get it right the first time.

Thanks, everyone!

https://greenwatersports.com/shop/product-tag/race?ref=17

Usually I suggest paddlers coming from a hard board to go at least 1-2" wider than the hard board they are comfortable on. At a 21.5" hard board, I would say 2-4" wider. Inflatables are typically 6" thick and when you get super narrow, you end up with a sausage rather than a board with how the rail profile shaping is limited.

I like to consider the SIC race boards as a bare bones race board. The Starboards have the extra features, larger tie down, standing tray, airline system, nicer bag and pump. Both are fusion, Starboard a little more sturdy construction with rail taping.

The SIC 26" would be a little more stable than the current Starboard 26". Prior to the 2021/22 models they were more similar but for the current model, Starboard trimmed down the tail width to make it faster. This means less stability also.

I had a 14x28 Airline for a year in 2019 and found the standing tray to work very well. It gave you an inch or so more deck pad on either side and a nice edge to lean on/push against while paddling/balancing.

The airline is a simple system to set up and gets you on the water easily and stiffens up the board a little more. At 6" and 18PSI you've got a stiff board, but the airline adds a little more which helps for rougher days or larger paddlers/loads.

The underside stringer on the Starboard (also used as the airline sleeve) is much the same as the SIC. There is one small hole at each end for the line to come through. I don't believe, and I did not experience any issues with these. The only fiddly bit with the airline is tucking the string under the fin before you trim it to length and then just use the 4 hooks, and not adjusting the knot to set up the board.

We probably sell 2:1 Starboard to SIC.

New style Naish Maliko arrived in 2020 with some sweet tech. Quad carbon stringers,  2 on top and 2 on the bottom, which have evolved into one on each side, but wider. One of the stiffest boards out there. Also a good option, and a bit more stable if you're interested.

We've got all 3 in stock.

https://greenwatersports.com/shop/starboard-inflatable-14-x-26-all-star?ref=17
https://greenwatersports.com/shop/sic-14-x-26-rs-air-glide?ref=17
https://greenwatersports.com/shop/naish-inflatable-14-x-27-maliko-fusion-carbon?ref=17

Ha, how funny that you replied! My plan was to buy a board from you guys. Thank you very much for the info and suggestions. I'm confident in grabbing a 26" and I likely go with Starboard. Despite that stringer sounding like a bit of the pain, it seems to be they have the best accessory package and I really like the side rails. Planning on doing Texas Water Safari this year so hoping it will hold up!

Green Water Sports

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Re: Inflatable Question/Advice-SIC/Starboard
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2022, 01:31:25 PM »
Ha, how funny that you replied! My plan was to buy a board from you guys. Thank you very much for the info and suggestions. I'm confident in grabbing a 26" and I likely go with Starboard. Despite that stringer sounding like a bit of the pain, it seems to be they have the best accessory package and I really like the side rails. Planning on doing Texas Water Safari this year so hoping it will hold up!

The Airline cord is a bit fiddly the first few times (only at the fin end). Once you get the hang of it, or trim the line, it isn't too much trouble.
Starboard put together a great package and are focusing more on the details of late.

We've got a few videos in our learning section (https://greenwatersports.com/knowledge-base) on the Airline and settings it up

1. https://greenwatersports.com/11136/how-to-set-up-your-starboard-all-star-sup-with-airline-technology?ref=17
2. https://greenwatersports.com/11141/how-to-set-up-your-airline-equipped-starboard-inflatable-paddle-board?ref=17
Julian
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Red Paddle Co, Starboard, SIC Maui, Tahe, Naish, Fanatic, Accent Paddles, Onyx, FCS, Vamo

deepmud

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Re: Inflatable Question/Advice-SIC/Starboard
« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2022, 09:54:25 PM »
I can't vouch for SIC but I've paddled an Airline 14x38 back to back with a Dual  Chamber Touring 14x30 and the Touring has a nice bit of extra stability you feel immediately without a penalty that I felt, at least in a sprint. I'm sure that there's advantages to the narrower board but sometimes I wish I'd gone to the Touring. The whole 'you are faster when you don't fall in" or stress about falling in. I'd you want to paddle with gear on the ocean get the Starboard Touring or  SIC equivalent.  If you want a semi race board get a really narrow Airline - go all in I think. And get it from Julian.  He's got good prices  with the Zoner discount and I can attest to the warranty support too...... I had a fibox detach and with good photos sent to him  it was 100% resolved I am super happy.

 


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