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NEW GEAR
dinghies can seem alien to the young.
But give them an inflatable paddleboard,
something they can’t hurt themselves
(or the topsides) with, and watch them
become veritable ducks to water. In an
instant, small kids literally cannot get
enough of being in and around the water.
As a parent, it is intensely satisfying
to witness and, for that reason alone, I
cannot rate this product highly enough.
The quality of the board is
commensurate with how much use you
will get out of it. Red has been in the
business for ten years and arguably has
the best reputation for the stiffness of its
boards, its superb pumps and carrying
cases. I’ve tried cheaper, less stiff
alternatives which result in more of the
banana shape you might expect from an
inflatable when you step onto it.
Red’s secret lies in its Monocoque
Structural Laminate (MSL) Fusion
technology. It creates a laminated layer
on both surfaces to offer the stiffness
of a double-layer board with the
comparative lighter weight of a single
layer type. There is a great To p G e a r-style
video on its website of Red lab-testing a
10’6 board, including firing paint balls at
it and driving a 22.5 tonne digger with
caterpillar tracks clean over one.
The deck pad is robust and
comfortable for bare feet and the
integral bungee tie-downs on the bow are
Kayak
For those who like to do things as a couple, a two-
person inflatable kayak can be an economical
solution to exploring creeks. The Intex Explorer
K2 is one of the best selling models in the UK –
and is often available for under £100
Price: £169.99
http://www.amazon.co.ukA SUP as a second tender
After the demise of his previous dinghy in Lanzarote,
Aleko Stephan used a SUP as the primary tender
aboard Beduin, a Nicholson 32, for a voyage to the
west coast of Chile via the Magellan Straits and
Beagle Channel. “At first everyone laughed at me,”
he says, “but when they saw how good it was they
also started to buy paddleboards.”
“It’s good to have a board with lots of buoyancy –
at least 10cm deep – and a longer one: mine is 3.85m
(12ft 8in). It will take two people, and I have used it
for carrying anchors in the Patagonia Canals, as well
as provisions and up to 70lt of water and diesel.”handy for strapping a bag/barbecue/
child in place. Red’s Titan twin-chamber
pump is superb. It allows you to quickly
pump in around 10-15psi pressure,
before switching to a single chamber
for the final, crucial extra
pressure. Five minutes
pumping on the foredeck
and you’re ready to go. The
wheelie rucksack makes
it easy to pack away the
board, three-part paddle
and pump and keep it in a
locker or in the car boot.
Yes the Ride is expensive –
but you’ll quickly get your
money’s worth in fun.
Price: £849
http://www.redpaddleco.com3 OF THE REST
Sailing dinghy
The Tiwal stows into two compact
bags and can be launched,
assembled and sailed in 20 minutes.
It uses the same high-strength PVC
material as inflatable paddleboards,
but an alloy structure gives it a
backbone and allows the helmsman
or crew to sit out. The carbon mast
splits into four. The 2018 models
are more streamlined, practical and
comfortable and hiking rack pads
are on the accessories list.
Price: €5,490
http://www.tiwal.comWindsurfer
The rise of SUPs, windsurfing SUPs and inflatable
SUPs led to a hybrid of all three. Since Starboard
launched an inflatable windsurfer five years
ago, the design and build quality has risen to
produce fun, planing, freestyle boards. Inflatable
rigs are available, but for those wanting more
performance, a four piece solid mast and three
piece boom makes a compact solution with an
inflatable board.
Price: Blend WINDSUP £1,799
http://www.star-board.comThe best investment for
parents of young children...Inflation is a five-
minute job on the
foredeck