Want to add a second board so we can family paddle without loaners but our current 10'2 Kahuna Wahine 'all around' board feels a little sluggish if I'm trying to "race" the family back from the beach on the ocean while they're in the car. Definately more work on the fjord coffee run whci makes it a less common occurrence than it would be for my wife with a quicker board.
Thinking am 11'3 or 11'6 touring board would be better and wonder if its worth looking anywhere beyond Red paddle?
As a play/lake/river/chill ocean board the Kahuna has been good but doesn't seem like they're addressing glide with any fancy marketing designs/gimmicks and still use glue at the seams (kahuna aleady repaired for a failed seam).
Starboard also seem to do well in the marketing dept, but would be special order for an 11'6 board while Kahuna and Red have distro/HQ local to me..
I've a Decathlon ItWit touring board - just as quick to paddle as a Red and hard to justify paying twice as much.
I have a McConks Go Explore. I have paddled a wide range of boards from Two Bare Feet to Starboard/Red. I like it, seems to be really good quality, for the price point. Glides/tracks much better than the all-round boards.
Go longer and narrower if you want a significant difference from what you have in terms of crusing speed. 12'6" - 14'. When you say tourer are you thinking lugging kit (aka equivalent of bikepacking) or just day cruising/ faffing about.
Would you/could you contenance a rigid board? Of our two the 14' Naish glide is streets ahead over the Red 12'6 voyager, especially when it gets choppy and a lot of that is the rigidity and hull shape cutting through the water rather than slapping up and down like a raft.
