Best Inflatable SUP for surfing?

Never surfed the ULI but the 9' Starboard Astro Converse is very good in waves! I can't imagine a better made board. It turns, it's stable, it catches everything. But maybe wait for the 2013 models because manufacturers are making big technical steps forward with inflatables. They're also great for kids and newbies - they can't damage the rail and they're quite springy if you hit them (the board that is...).

Note: Copied from another post.

Hi Guys

Our apologies as we need to be more active on seabreeze. We do monitor it from time to time.

The 'wiki' rail has only recently been released in the U.S. and we won't see it on Oz until early next year. We haven't seen one in the flesh ourselves but are awaiting a couple of demo's which should arrive around Sept/Oct. By all reports including from well renowned surfers the 'wiki' rail makes the board perform as well as any hardboard. The improvement in glide and stability is unparalleled. Essentially, it reduces drag, turbulence and suction inherent in other inflatables.

We've only recently built the Oz website meaning anyone from Oz and Asia Pacific automatically gets re-directed to our site.

We currently have only one 12'6" left in stock as well as one 14". They are both single skins - the new versions will only be offered in double skins. We have a lot of 11' Steamrollers in stock. Furthermore we currently have a 20% discount offer which translates to $300 plus saving on all boards. Also 10% on accessories.

For the record the U.S. are offering the "wiki" as an option whereas we are intending to make it standard on all boards offered in Aus (current stock aside) without increasing current RRP.

For those of you in Vic we are based in Vic and have a factory in Tullamarine and are often around Port Phillip Bay. Stay tuned as we are also on the cusp of starting an all inflatable SUP school.

Thanks for expressing interest in our product and for your kind posts.

Cheers
Fab

You or someone at Bris Kites said about the BOTE Fishing SUP... 'It's really just a wide board with tie downs... In the USA you could make a Sponge Bob Square Pants Board and eventually someone would buy it...' let's face it, that's bagging the board. I don't feel the boards you recommended - the Naish 12' Glide or the Fanatic Ray could be compared with the options available on the BOTE model. I'm dissappointed that Bris Kites can't see the potential for the BOTE type SUP board for the Australian market.

Ive ridden the RED paddle and the Naish inflatables and 2 others in the surf and the Red and the naish both worked but not like a non inflatable .They were fun and the big fin on the naish seemed to help with turns but the stiffer rail on the red cut harder for me but im only 73kgs .To me inflatables arnt so much about performance, but more about ease of transport and fun, can take them anywhere ,the kids cant break them, and they dont hurt the kids either.
Have fun George

hey benno
i'm 90kg too, and when coming back from a bad knee and and leg injury, a mate organised an inflatable sup for me (through a chinese manufacturing contact, but turned out to be identical as far as i could tell, to the C4s) to ease my way back on the water and to break the rehab boredom.
started on river, and yeah, they do bend a bit, even when pumped to 12psi, but i took it out on some 4km or so adventures and it would cruise fine once you worked on your technique. got it in the ocean and waves as soon as i was confident (well, actually before i was really ready, but everything turned out fine ) and the first thing is that the flex gets magnified 10 fold with waves, that is when actually riding, but also when dealing with chop and paddling out etc - it takes some getting used to - but if you are after fun, and not performance, i'm sure you'll be right. the next thing is that with any wind, these bad boys try to swing quicker than a compass - you will need really glassy conditions to be able to relax and enjoy, otherwise it is a real battle. that follows on to making sure you get one with decent detachable fins, and a longer centre fin will definitely help (or even by itself and just ride like a mal) - don't go for the molded hard rubber fins that are already attached on some sorts.
your kids will love it though, and it is heaps safer and user friendly for those fall backwards moments when learning - my girlfriend doesn't know why i come home with all these bruises and fin chops after i surf on short boards - as she is used to the mattress as i call it haha
finally a general comment as i don't post here often, SUP is definitely small wave fun and great exercise, but i have upgraded to a new board myself and used a few major brand name boards of of friends of the less inflatable variety now, and i can honestly say despite the froth evident on these forums, that it does not even come close to shortboards for surfing performance when the waves are good (despite the skills shown by keahi and the crew at the nationals, i mean, they'd be throwing alaia's around if they spent enough time on em), so don't sweat on choosing between an inflatable or some other tank on "surfing" performance, go the convenience to match your needs... and surf when it's pumping.
hope that helps.

After extensive research I have just ordered an ULI 9'3" FAQ and a Werner Carve 3 Piece Paddle. I will be on flatwater this weekend and on the river in some small rapids ASAP. Will get in some waves by the end of September. If anyone would like to know how it goes I'm happy to reply to any posts.