The Paddler Magazine Issue 70 Early Spring 2023 | Page 6

PADDLER 6
Aqua Marina Coral Touring board 2023 www . aquamarina . com By Sarah Thornely ( Supjunkie )
PADDLER 6
REVIEWS
TECH INFO :
Size : 11 ’ 6 ” x 31 ” x 6 ” Volume : 328L Weight : 9.3kgs Max Payload : 130kgs

Aqua Marina Coral Touring board 2023 www . aquamarina . com By Sarah Thornely ( Supjunkie )

Incredibly compact in a neat rucksack , this board weighs in at 9.3kgs due to its lightweight drop stitch technology . The fast and efficient double action pump with two settings meant I would be on the water once the recommended max air pressure of 15psi was reached .
I ’ m used to longer and heavier boards , so this was an absolute pleasure to lift easily with the comfortable neoprene centre handle and pop on top of the van . The swift attach fin is just that , no screwdriver to fiddle about with ; snap-in , and it feels secure . The three-part fibreglass / carbon paddle could well be sufficient for the beginner paddler , but I ’ m guessing the intermediate paddler might want to upgrade to something a bit lighter – we all do eventually !
Designed specifically as a shorter touring board but with an advanced cruising shape , it is loaded with adjustable bungy straps front and back , gliding effortlessly across the water , tracks well , and has good manoeuvrability . Once you get used to stepping back and over the rear bungees , you can easily spin this board around . The comfortable EVA deck pad runs to the back of the board and incorporates a tail kick pad .
The rectangular rail edge ‘ for cleaner back-end water release ’ did seem to work – my other half on the bank was getting me to move up and down the board to check the weight front and back . It created a cleaner and smoother release , reducing tail wake and increasing glide . With a moderate nose rocker , I ’ m guessing you could also have fun in small waves .
Adventure paddling and touring have become so popular over the last few years . I believe this board would suit a beginner / intermediate - maybe someone who has owned the classic 10 ’ 6 beginner board and wants to move on to longer distances and
further their adventures . Plenty of straps for dry bags with a payload of 130kgs . Also included are a coiled ankle leash and a carry strap for the board .
I had great fun paddling the Coral Cruiser on my local river and could easily compare it against my other boards , which range from 10 ’ 6 to 14 ’, and it has its place . It ’ s a nice board ; tracking , manoeuvrability and speed are tops for me . I ’ d love to see a couple of extra carry handles added and , as standard , a quickrelease belt added to all board packages . Although the board was packed with mostly cardboard and paper , there were a few plastic bags I ’ d love to see less of – simple remedies to make the whole package even better .
If you love pink , you will be delighted - the colourways are Raspberry ( pink ) and Night Fade ( purple ).
Aqua Marina has a huge range of inflatable boards , from all round , touring , racing , river and surf to fitness and kids ’ boards with funky designs . Definitely worth checking out their website . Price : £ 649