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Starboard Touring Elite

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Only best products in a given category receive “A” grade.

Category: N/A

Overview:

Paddle Board Highlights

Who is it for?

If you’re looking for a stable, non-inflatable touring board to paddle mid to long range distances then the Touring Elite by Starboard is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board has the Starlite construction which is durable and has both positives and negatives. Due to its width of 29 inches the board is somewhat stable. The board has 2.79 lbs per foot and weighs a total of 27.9 lbs which is slightly heavy for only a 10ft board. Its shape makes the Touring Elite a touring board best for intermediate paddlers designed with touring in mind. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for recreational paddling between 3 to 10 miles max. Retailing at $1,999, the board is among the high-price point boards but is among the best of what the brand has to offer.

First Impressions

On first impressions, the graphics and color are good, the design is uncommon and the construction strikes as rugged. The Touring Elite has some clean looks coming with minimal use of color and is quite simple. The shape design is unique for boards in these categories with features tailored primarily for recreational touring. The construction does appear strong, as something that can survive heavy use. This paddle board feels difficult to carry and the glide feels somewhat slow. The board has bungee inserts for both the nose and the tail of the board and also has FCS compatible plugs on the nose tail and center of the board. Another cool thing worth noting about this board with its particular construction is that it uses a full plant based Bio resin infusion which helps the brand have a lower impact on the environment. Once you put it all together the Touring Elite is a somewhat stable board that most people should be able to stand on with ease and paddle away.

Benefits

  • Primary Use

    Touring Use

    Paddle Boards fall into two broad categories, All-Around and Specialty boards, with all-around designed primarily for recreation while speciality boards for top performance in specific disciplines

  • Durability

    Very Strong

    Durability is largely a result of the board construction and shape, with more durable boards typically carrying more materials (added layers, PVC, etc) and as such adding to the weight.

  • Carrying

    Easy

    Carrying ease is determined by board weight and handle type, where a board weighing under 20lbs with a Liftsup handle is extremely easy to carry while a 35+lbs board quite difficult.

  • Stability

    Stable

    Stability is a product of construction and shape, where boards w/ 30”+ wide and 200+ liters in volume offer plenty of stability for your AVG adult while a board under 26” wide is a challenge.

  • Glide

    Slow

    Glide is a result of board shape and construction, w/ boards weighing under 30lbs and designed for racing offering best glide while recreational boards normally being on the slow side

  • IMG 1171
  • IMG 1168
  • IMG 1169
  • IMG 1172
  • IMG 1174
  • IMG 1176
  • IMG 1175
  • IMG 1177
  • IMG 1179
  • IMG 1186
  • IMG 1191
  • IMG 1192
  • IMG 1196
  • IMG 1199

 

Learn more on the Starboard website.

Features

  • Dimensions

    10' x 29" x 7.9"

    Industry standard in board dimensions reads: L (length, from nose to tail) x W (width, from rail to rail at midpoint length), and H (height, from top to bottom of board at midpoint length).

  • Weight

    27.9 lbs

    Standup paddle boards tend to fall into 4 different weight classes: extremely lightweight (under 20 lbs), lightweight (20-28 lbs), average weight (28-35 lbs), heavy (above 35 lbs).

  • Volume

    211L

    Volume is a key metric to determine how much weight a board can carry. Boards w/ 200+ liters offer most floatation with boards under 150 liters typically for high-performance surf

  • Capacity

    180 lbs

    Capacity is the max cargo weight a stand up paddle board can carry, considering not only the paddler’s weight but whatever else the paddler may choose to carry alongside him/her.

  • Add On's

    FCS Deck Compatable Plugs on Nose, Center, and Tail/Bungee in Deck and Tail

    Add-on’s include bungee cords, a minimalist way to haul things; Connexsup, which allows for all sorts of attachments, even fishing rods; and FCS II/Connect, for easy fin instal.

  • Handle

    Internal Ergo Grip

    Handles directly affect carrying ease, with external grip handles (Liftsup & EZgrab) offering most comfort, Internal Ergo Grip the mid-tier comfort, and box handles as least comfortable.

  • Holders

    No

    Fishing rod holders and/or paddle holders can make paddling that much more pleasant, esp. when needing holders for the rod or having a safe place for the paddle during yoga.

Sizes Available

LengthWidthThicknessVolume
11 Feet 6 Inches 29 Inches 7.8 Inches 245 L
12 Feet 6 Inches 29 Inches 7.9 Inches 274 L

 

Learn more on the Starboard website.

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Last modified onThursday, 10 May 2018 11:19
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