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So, the other day I lost my big ass alaia (165x60) that i use for light wind messing around with a strutless. It's a sort of soul surf, looking for little swells etc. Was thinking about making a new one and I stumbled across the new Gong surf inflatables, particularly the compact. They have rails and FCSII thruster fin setup.
https://www.gong-galaxy.com/en/product/ ... -compact-3



Looks like they have a lighter construction than the HIPE or SUPs. Anyone tried anything like this for low wind? Anyone try these boards period ?

....and before you respond " just learn to foil"...I know, Ill get there, for know i was looking for a cheap LW surfer for now.

Price is right: 149,00€ – 165,00€

I have a similar one „The wave 7.0
https://www.stemax-boarding.com/shop-1/sups-2020/
It works well. Also for the kids!

You are joking, right?

You expect a 3" thin kids SUP with a veeeery round 2/3 rail to ride upwind like your alaia?! On top of that it's even shorter (the effective rails) and narrower than the Alaia you lost.
Even if you ride it upwind off the fins (like a kite race board) I doubt it will come remotely close to a low rocker, sharp rail lightwind twintip.

The price is a killer indeed! If I hadn't read the product description full of top grade marketing BS that makes me sick, I would have ordered one for the kids to play with.

I know nothing, but the strips to make the rail harder near the tail seem like a great idea, and my only experience with this type of board is an 8’ version of one of the very first inflatable SUPs which came out 10 years ago or maybe more.

Based on my limited experience, the concept is reasonable so long as you are willing to give up performance in exchange for ease of transportation and storage.Make sure you pump it up to the correct pressure.

In light wind and small or mushy waves it might be adequate.

Just don’t expect it to perform like a real board.

Having said that, the price is right and I’d totally like to try one out myself.

It would be fun - enough i kind of want one!
But more for surfing or to throw in the boat for whatever.
I am skeptical it would go upwind in light air because rails look not hard enough in the middle and forward. Too round rails are not good in light especially if there is any chop. For my riding, at least, it really helps to have more length of rail that will bite the water when needed.

Joking....no, very serious

Digging a little further (thanks, Nem0), look what we have here. Looks like plenty of rail engagement.









It seems to have quite a long rail.

That's a pretty big surfboard. When I've used my larger surfboards for kiting they slapped the chop real hard. It worked but not that fun.

I think get a foil. That's what I'm doing now. You mention you have a boat. I can wake foil behind my 10HP inflatable. Learning is fast with the boat.

Shall we please put things in perspective?
The sharp rail of that 7'0 board has double the length of the gongy rail. And the fins are parallel. Just imagine riding upwind with that short rail and a heelside fin pointing downwind
And if this was really working, Stemax wouldn't have discontinued the Wave 7'0. Coming from Germany - the birthplace of the TT door, where every second kiter has a lighwind TT and is flying to kite.

Btw, I tried once my kids 8'4 inflatable windsurfboard that has and additional center 9" fin - it does go upwind pretty well! And if wind dies completely, paddling back is absolutely no issue

Nix,

Thanks, that was also the analysis I was looking into. It's a small niche, but I really enjoy the feel with a strut-less and big area board. Also easier on my 50 year old bones (not so high load on the body).

To others: yes also have a 160x50 door. Not the same thing, and I don't get the same low end as the alaia. RE foiling...see initial post .

165 bucks for messing in the LW slop seems like a bargain. Maybe could go for the 6'3" or 7'3". Would still have the same problem as Nix indicated (main issue i see is the "short" rail).

Hmm!

Thanks everyone for the input thus far.

Mikey,
You can try gluing a center fin and you'll surely get a ton of upwind performance.

If you're in Europe, Decathlon have a basic slide&click one, 20€ for a set with the base. Glue not included, you can use that provided in the board repair kit.

A much better option is a JP spare fin with a US box base, bur not easy to find and will cost 1/3 of that board.

Slingshot stick-on center fin is huuuge (pretty much a keel) and although not meant for inflatable boards, some have tried it already and it works.

Drop me a PM if you need more info