I’ve been looking for a standup paddleboard that I can carry across the dunes for quick trips to the other side of the breakers. Spanish mackerel and bluefish hunt the backside of the surf line and a SUP is perfect for overland hauls and a short sprint. To qualify, a board has to be light enough to throw under my arm, quick enough to shoot through the surf and seaworthy in current and chop.
Boardworks Tracker Sepcs
Length: 11′
Width: 36″
Weight: 43 lbs
Thickness: 5″
Max Capacity: 285 lbs
Price: $1,849
boardworkssurf.com
Boardworks’ new Tracker SUP is the perfect answer. At only 43 pounds, it features a beefy handle in the middle of the deck to make it even easier to carry to the water. I don’t hang out at Muscle Beach, yet I was able to lug my board, rod, paddle and bag of tackle to the launch in one trip. Try that with another 11-foot-by-36-inch hard board.
The Tracker really shined on the water. Long enough to glide easily and very stable at 36 inches wide, the Tracker had no problem skipping over the waves, then stopping to fish. The flared nose rises over waves and a broad tail improves stability. A unique double-concave bottom and a single touring fin further increase stability and tracking. Best of all, it is low to the water for less wind resistance. If Lamborghini made a pick-up truck, they would do well to take notes from the Tracker.
FISH FRIENDLY FEATURES:
• Double concave bottom
• Low profile
• Multi Connex deck plugs
• Flat deck
• LiftSUP handle
• Single touring fin
• Realtree camo accents
• Durable Krypto- Mat construction
The topside is a blank slate. A flat deck offers plenty of room for fishing and gear. Closed cell foam keeps my feet in place and padded. Nine leash plugs and four screw-in plugs make it easy to add and arrange accessories. I rig up with a single Zooka Tube rod holder attached with a YakAttack Leash Plug Adapter for quick trips. For longer expeditions to the flats and creeks, I’ll use YakAttack Vertical Tie Down to secure a cooler or BlackPak crate.
Jumping on the Tracker and paddling away from the launch, the board picks up speed quickly and skips through the water. The low profile keeps the board from being blown around, just don’t expect gear to stay dry on the deck. Using Boardworks’ FGR adjustable carbon fiber paddle, propelling the Tracker was easy compared to other SUPs I’ve tested. Even though this board feels like a flyweight, the Tracker is constructed with a foam core and Boardworks’ Krypto Mat outer shell for a light board that can take a beating. RIC BURNLEY
This article was first published in the Early Summer 2016 issue of Kayak Angler Magazine. Subscribe to Kayak Angler Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
