Starboard Drive
- Written by Staff
- Published in Reviews
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Only best products in a given category receive “A” grade.
Overview:
Paddle Board Highlights
Who is it for?
If you’re looking for a stable, all-around inflatable board to paddle short distances then the Drive from Starboard is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Deluxe construction which is highly durable for an inflatable. Because of the width being 30 inches the board is stable and it has 1.81 lbs per foot weighing only 19.1 lbs total. Its shape makes the Drive an all-around board that can be used by everyone and it’s designed primarily for recreation. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for short-distance paddling, around the beach and dock. Retailing at $1,299, the board is among the popular mid-tier market in terms of affordability.
First Impressions
On first impressions, the graphics and color are good, the shape design is thoughtful and the construction strikes as rugged. The Drive has some nice looks, coming with an interesting mix of colors and graphics intended to be quite lively. The shape design is unique for boards in these categories, offering features tailored primarily for recreation. The construction does appear very strong, as something that can survive heavy use. This paddle board is very easy to carry being that it is so lightweight (under 20 lbs) and the glide feels average which is to be expected since speed-centric design are minimally at focus. The board comes with an FCS II fin which is great because no tools are involved and the extra handle on the tail can definitely come in handy. And once you put it all together, the Drive is a stable board that most people should be able to paddle on and enjoy.
Benefits
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Primary Use
All-Around UsePaddle 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
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Durability
Very StrongDurability 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.
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Stability
StableStability 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.
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Glide
AverageGlide 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
Learn more on the Starboard website.
Features
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Dimensions
10'6" x 30" x 6"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).
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Weight
19.1 lbsStandup 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).
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Volume
288LVolume 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
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Capacity
200 lbsCapacity 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.
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Add On's
Bungee/FCS II/D Ring on Nose and Tail/Extra Handle on TailAdd-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.
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Handle
StrapHandles 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.
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Holders
NoFishing 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
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|
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For more detailed reviews and to look at similar models, visit Supconnect.com. If you like this review, give us the thumbs up. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments. And make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss the latest news and reviews from Supconnect.