Starboard Roamer 2027: The New Performance Expedition SUP Coming This Autumn
There has always been a slightly awkward gap in the paddleboard market.
If you want to go fast, there are excellent race boards. If you want an easy touring board, there are plenty of stable 12'6 and 14'0 options. But what if you genuinely want to cover serious distance, carry proper expedition kit and paddle through changing conditions without ending up on a slow, oversized platform?
That is exactly where the new Starboard Roamer 2027 comes in.
Due to reach the UK this autumn, the Roamer is one of the more interesting new hard paddleboards we have seen from Starboard for some time. It takes some of the efficiency and hydrodynamic thinking behind the hugely successful Starboard All Star and turns it into a dedicated touring and expedition platform.
The result is a 14ft board designed not simply for going further, but for going further with kit.
If long-distance paddling, coastal exploration, multi-day trips or simply owning a very capable performance touring SUP sounds like your sort of paddling, the Roamer deserves a close look.
Starboard Roamer 2027: the quick answer
Choose the Starboard Roamer if you want a fast, efficient 14ft hard paddleboard that can carry significant expedition kit without turning into a slow, cumbersome touring board.
- Size: 14'0" x 28.5"
- Volume: 324 litres
- Maximum combined rider and gear load: up to 130kg
- Construction: XTEC Carbon D2
- Purpose: performance touring, adventure and expedition paddling
- Cargo: front and rear storage areas with 12 lash points
- Deck: recessed standing and cargo areas
- Water management: twin scupper drainage system
- Design heritage: heavily influenced by the Starboard All Star
- UK arrival: expected autumn 2026, with initial deliveries currently anticipated around October
You can browse our wider Starboard paddleboard range while we await the first Roamers.
Why has Starboard made the Roamer?
The Roamer has been developed with expedition paddler and adventurer Bruce Kirkby, and that matters because this is clearly not a board where a few extra bungees have simply been added to an existing touring shape.
The starting point was a much more specific question: how do you build a paddleboard capable of carrying the equipment required for genuine adventure paddling while retaining the glide and efficiency that make covering distance enjoyable?
That distinction is important.
Adding camping kit, food, water, safety equipment and dry bags can completely change how a SUP behaves. The board sits lower, responds differently through chop and can start feeling considerably less stable. Extra drag also becomes much more noticeable over a long day.
The Roamer has therefore been designed around carrying load from the outset.
All Star DNA, but this is definitely not an All Star
Anyone familiar with Starboard will immediately understand why the All Star is part of the Roamer story.
The Starboard All Star 2027 is one of the benchmark all-water race boards. It is quick, efficient and particularly good when conditions become less than perfectly flat.
Starboard has borrowed some of that thinking for the Roamer, particularly the emphasis on maintaining an efficient waterline, tracking well and carrying speed.
But the intended rider is very different.
| Board | Best for | Main priority |
|---|---|---|
| Starboard Roamer | Adventure, expedition and performance touring | Glide plus stability and load carrying |
| Starboard Touring | Day touring and regular distance paddling | Accessible glide and straightforward touring |
| Starboard All Star | Racing and high-performance training | Maximum all-water race performance |
The main difference is simple: an All Star is fundamentally built to get the paddler around a course quickly. The Roamer is designed to get the paddler and their equipment a long way efficiently and confidently.
14'0" x 28.5": why those dimensions make sense
The Roamer launches in one size: 14'0" x 28.5" with 324 litres of volume.
Fourteen feet makes complete sense for this type of board. A longer waterline carries speed more efficiently, tracks well and means you do not have to constantly accelerate the board again between strokes.
That becomes increasingly important as distances increase.
The 28.5in width is interesting too. It is wide enough to provide useful stability, particularly alongside the recessed standing position, but it remains much narrower than many big recreational touring boards.
This isn't designed to feel like an enormous floating platform. Starboard still wants the Roamer to move.
For comparison, something like the Starboard 14'0 Touring Lite Tech is a more conventional 30in-wide touring board. That remains a very sensible choice for paddlers wanting good glide, reassuring stability and general day touring.
The Roamer takes things a step further towards performance and expedition use.
A recessed standing area makes a big difference
One of the key features is the lowered standing position.
A recessed deck places your feet closer to the water and lowers your centre of gravity. In plain English, that gives you more control for a given board width.
That is useful on any performance SUP, but potentially even more important once the board is carrying luggage.
Rather than simply making the board wider to create stability, Starboard has used the deck shape, rail volume and hull design to help keep the Roamer composed.
The advantage should be a board that still feels efficient rather than unnecessarily broad.
Proper cargo capacity rather than token bungees
This is probably the area where the Roamer separates itself most clearly from a race board or ordinary tourer.
There are 12 lash points, with front and rear storage areas allowing equipment to be spread across the board rather than stacked into one large pile.
More importantly, Starboard has created a large flat recessed cargo zone ahead of the paddler.
Keeping heavier bags lower and closer to the middle of the board is a much better way of loading a SUP than piling everything high on the nose.
It helps keep the centre of gravity down and should reduce the effect the load has on stability.
For a UK paddler planning an overnight trip, that could mean space for dry bags, shelter, sleeping equipment, food, drinking water, spare clothing and appropriate safety kit without having to improvise a carrying system.
Up to 130kg combined rider and equipment load
Starboard rates the Roamer for up to 130kg of combined rider and gear weight.
The word combined is important.
If you weigh 90kg, for example, that does not mean you have a further 130kg available for luggage. Rider, clothing and everything loaded onto the board all contribute to the total.
For anyone planning serious trips, weighing your equipment and thinking about how it will be distributed across the board is good practice regardless of the SUP you use.
High side rails and extra nose volume
The Roamer also has noticeably high rails and increased volume through the nose.
The higher rails contribute to secondary stability – essentially how much support the board gives you once it begins to lean rather than simply how steady it feels perfectly flat.
That can become particularly useful in confused chop, tidal water and when the board is carrying extra weight.
At the front, the fuller nose is designed to ride over chop and swell rather than constantly punching underneath it.
There is also a dedicated nose deflector intended to move spray away from the deck.
It does not mean you or your equipment will magically remain dry on an open-water paddle, but reducing the amount of water coming onto the deck is worthwhile on long sessions.
Twin scupper drainage
Once you build a recessed deck, you also need somewhere for water to go.
The Roamer uses twin scupper drains together with a central drainage channel to clear water from the deck.
This is more important than it might initially sound.
A dugout or recessed board that collects several litres of water becomes heavier and less pleasant to paddle. Allowing water to drain away helps the board return to its intended paddling weight and trim more quickly after taking water over the deck.
Low nose rocker for efficient flat-water glide
Starboard has kept the nose rocker relatively low to extend the effective waterline.
Rocker simply describes how much the nose and tail curve upwards.
More rocker can be useful in surf and steep open-water conditions, but too much can shorten the board's effective waterline and create additional drag on flatter water.
The Roamer is primarily about covering distance, so retaining a long, efficient waterline makes sense.
The fuller nose and additional volume then help it deal with texture and chop without turning it into a heavily rockered surf-style shape.
What is XTEC Carbon D2 construction?
The Roamer introduces Starboard's XTEC Carbon D2 construction, developed specifically around performance touring and carrying load.
The challenge with a board like this is that making something lightweight is only half the job.
An expedition board also needs to deal with repeated loading, transport, beach launches and the everyday realities of moving a 14ft composite SUP around.
Starboard uses strategic reinforcement around important areas including the standing area, rails, nose and tail, together with what it calls Carbon Load Frame Technology.
The purpose is straightforward: retain the low weight and stiffness that make a carbon board enjoyable over distance while strengthening the areas most likely to experience load or impact.
For anyone comparing composite board constructions more broadly, browse our hard and composite paddleboard range.
Who should buy the Starboard Roamer?
Best for serious touring paddlers
If you already enjoy 10km, 20km or longer paddles and want a board that makes covering distance more rewarding, the Roamer is exactly the sort of platform worth considering.
You do not have to be disappearing into the wilderness for seven days to benefit from an efficient 14ft board.
Best for SUP camping and overnight trips
This is the obvious use.
The cargo layout, load capacity and stability-focused design make the Roamer particularly interesting for anyone building a SUP camping or multi-day touring setup.
Best for paddlers coming from race boards
There is another customer we think will really understand this board: the experienced race or fitness paddler who enjoys the efficiency of a good composite board but now wants to explore rather than race.
A conventional wide touring board can feel rather uninspiring after a performance race SUP. The Roamer is designed to preserve more of that efficient feel.
Best for coastal and estuary exploration
The high rails, fuller nose, deck drainage and load-focused design should make considerably more sense in variable conditions than taking a pure flat-water race board and covering it in camping equipment.
Who probably doesn't need a Roamer?
The Roamer is a specialist premium hard board, so it will not be the answer for everyone.
Don't choose the Roamer simply because you want a stable first SUP. There are considerably more practical choices for learning, casual paddling and family use.
If you need something that packs into the boot of a car, start with our touring paddleboard range, where there are inflatable options designed specifically around storage and transport.
If you want straightforward hard-board touring without the expedition focus, the Starboard Touring range will probably make more sense.
And if every second matters and you're lining up on race starts, the Starboard All Star remains the more appropriate tool.
What about heavier paddlers?
The 324-litre volume sounds enormous if you compare it directly with a race board, but volume alone does not determine whether a board is suitable.
The Roamer's published maximum is 130kg for rider and gear combined.
A heavier paddler therefore needs to think carefully about how much equipment they intend to carry. Someone already approaching the upper end of that figure in paddling kit will not have the same useful expedition capacity as a lighter rider.
If you are unsure, speak to us before ordering rather than choosing from litres and width alone.
The Roamer makes particular sense in the UK
Britain is arguably an excellent place for this type of SUP.
We have estuaries, canals, navigable rivers, lochs, lakes, harbours and stretches of sheltered coastline that lend themselves perfectly to longer-distance exploring.
What we do not always have is perfectly flat, predictable water.
Wind direction changes. Tides turn. Boat wash appears. A sheltered route can quickly become choppy.
That is why a board combining efficiency with genuine stability and load-carrying ability is potentially much more useful here than a narrowly focused flat-water shape.
Good route planning, suitable safety equipment, appropriate clothing and an understanding of tides, weather and local access remain essential. A more capable board does not replace good judgement.
Roamer or Starboard Touring?
Choose the Starboard Touring if you want a simpler, more conventional board for day trips, fitness paddling and regular recreational distance paddling.
Choose the Starboard Roamer if carrying equipment is a serious part of what you want to do and you value greater performance over distance.
The Roamer is less about replacing the Touring and more about creating another level above it for paddlers whose ambitions have become bigger.
Roamer or Starboard All Star?
Choose the All Star if speed and racing come first.
Choose the Roamer if exploration and load carrying come first.
They share some design thinking, but they are built around very different jobs.
What paddle should you use with the Starboard Roamer?
On a board designed to cover serious mileage, paddle choice becomes particularly important.
A heavy paddle or an oversized blade might not feel like a problem during the first kilometre, but repeat thousands of strokes and that difference becomes very noticeable.
Starboard specifically points towards its Velocity paddle as a natural long-distance match for the Roamer. The Velocity uses a more efficiency-focused blade concept intended to give a smooth stroke over prolonged paddling.
That will not automatically make it the right paddle for everybody. Blade area, paddle length, shaft stiffness, paddler size and cadence all matter.
This is precisely why we encourage customers buying a premium board to compare paddles rather than treating the paddle as an afterthought.
Try before you buy at the Woodmill SUP Test Centre
A board at this level is something we would always encourage customers to choose properly.
At our Woodmill SUP Test Centre in Southampton, customers can test suitable paddleboards and paddles on the water and compare how different widths, shapes and constructions actually feel.
We expect the Roamer to be particularly interesting to existing touring and performance paddlers, and once UK demo availability is confirmed we will be able to advise on opportunities to get onto one.
Even if the Roamer itself is not available to demo immediately, trying comparable 14ft touring and performance boards can tell us a great deal about the width and stability level that suits you.
Starboard Roamer UK availability
The new Starboard Roamer is expected to arrive in the UK during autumn 2026, with current launch information pointing towards initial deliveries around October.
As with any incoming premium composite board, dates can move and initial UK quantities may be limited, so we would not recommend planning a specific expedition around an estimated delivery date without checking first.
There is not currently a live Roamer product page on The SUP Company website. Until that is added, you can browse the Starboard range or contact our team to register your interest in the Roamer.
Finance options are available on qualifying orders, which can be useful when investing in a premium board and paddle setup. You can read more about finance at The SUP Company. Finance is subject to status, eligibility and the options available on the particular order.
Delivery of 14ft composite boards requires appropriate handling, so if timing is important please speak to us before ordering and we can confirm the position for the incoming UK shipment.
Our view on the Starboard Roamer
The Roamer is niche, but that is exactly why we like the concept.
Starboard has not tried to produce another board that does a little bit of everything. Instead, it has looked at a growing part of SUP – longer-distance adventure and expedition paddling – and designed something around the specific problems those paddlers face.
What really stands out is the combination of the All Star-inspired efficiency with the recessed cargo platform, serious lash-point provision, drainage, high rails and a construction specifically intended to deal with load.
For somebody paddling five kilometres around a sheltered lake, much of that will be unnecessary.
For somebody looking at a map and wondering how far they could travel under their own power, it starts making an awful lot of sense.
We are looking forward to getting the Starboard Roamer onto UK water this autumn.
Starboard Roamer FAQs
What size is the Starboard Roamer?
The Starboard Roamer launches in a single 14'0" x 28.5" size with 324 litres of volume. It is designed as a dedicated performance touring and expedition paddleboard.
How much weight can the Starboard Roamer carry?
Starboard specifies a maximum combined rider and equipment load of up to 130kg. Remember that this figure includes the paddler as well as luggage, clothing and equipment.
Is the Starboard Roamer a race paddleboard?
No. It takes design inspiration from Starboard's All Star race board, but the Roamer is an expedition and performance touring SUP. It prioritises efficient glide, stability and carrying equipment rather than pure race speed.
Is the Starboard Roamer suitable for beginners?
It would not be our first recommendation for somebody simply learning to paddle. It is a premium 14ft performance touring board intended for paddlers who know they want to cover distance or carry expedition kit. Beginners wanting easy stability should normally start with a more forgiving all-round or touring SUP.
What is XTEC Carbon D2?
XTEC Carbon D2 is Starboard's performance construction for the Roamer. It combines a lightweight carbon-based structure with strategic reinforcement and Carbon Load Frame technology around areas including the rails, standing area, nose and tail.
Can the Starboard Roamer carry camping gear?
Yes. That is one of its core purposes. It has front and rear cargo areas, 12 lash points and a recessed flat cargo zone designed to keep heavier loads lower and more central on the board.
Should I buy a Starboard Roamer or Touring?
Choose a Starboard Touring for more conventional day touring, fitness paddling and recreational distance paddling. Choose the Roamer if you want greater performance over distance and genuinely intend to carry more equipment or undertake multi-day trips.
Should I buy a Starboard Roamer or All Star?
Choose the All Star if your priority is racing, training and outright speed. Choose the Roamer if your priority is adventure, touring and carrying equipment efficiently over long distances.
Can I try the Starboard Roamer before buying?
The SUP Company operates the Woodmill SUP Test Centre in Southampton, where suitable touring, race and performance paddleboards and paddles can be compared on the water. Roamer demo availability will depend on incoming UK stock, so contact us if you would like to register your interest in testing one.
When will the Starboard Roamer be available in the UK?
The first UK boards are expected during autumn 2026, with current launch information indicating initial deliveries from around October. Dates can move, so contact The SUP Company if you need the latest arrival information.
Interested in the new Starboard Roamer?
If the Roamer sounds like the board you have been waiting for, get in touch with The SUP Company and tell us a little about your paddling, your weight, the board you currently use and the sort of trips you are planning.
We can help you decide whether the Roamer genuinely makes sense or whether a Starboard Touring, All Star or another performance touring board would suit you better.
Browse the Starboard SUP range at The SUP Company, compare our touring paddleboards, or arrange a session at the Woodmill SUP Test Centre.
The Starboard Roamer is due in the UK this autumn. Contact us to register your interest and we will keep you informed as UK availability becomes clearer.