Starboard 12’6 Touring Deluxe - Ex Demo

Starboard 12'6 Touring Deluxe - Ex Demo

The Starboard 12'6 Touring Deluxe is a premium inflatable touring SUP for paddlers who want to cover more distance without stepping up to a long 14ft board. At 12'6 x 30", it combines noticeably better glide and tracking than a conventional all-round SUP with enough stability to remain comfortable for everyday river, lake, harbour and coastal touring.

This ex-demo board has been used as part of our demonstration fleet, making it a great-value way to access Starboard's higher-specification Deluxe construction. It comes as a practical package with a Starboard wheeled board bag, double-action Tiki pump, removable touring fin and leash.

If you are currently paddling a 10'6 or 10'8 all-round inflatable and increasingly find yourself covering 5km, 10km or longer distances, the 12'6 Touring is exactly the sort of upgrade that makes those sessions feel smoother and less effortful.

Who is the Starboard 12'6 Touring Deluxe for?

• Paddlers progressing from a shorter all-round inflatable SUP.
• River, canal, lake, harbour and sheltered coastal touring.
• Longer recreational paddles and fitness sessions.
• Paddlers wanting better tracking without committing to a 14ft board.
• Riders who want room for a dry bag and lightweight touring equipment.
• Confident newer paddlers through to experienced recreational tourers.

The 30-inch width is a particularly useful middle ground. It is narrow enough to give the board genuine touring efficiency while remaining considerably more forgiving than narrower race-oriented shapes. Starboard positions this size for riders up to approximately 110kg.

Why choose the Deluxe construction?

The Deluxe construction is the more substantial performance option within Starboard's inflatable touring range. It uses Fusion Woven Dropstitch alongside reinforced rails to create a board that feels impressively stiff once inflated.

That stiffness is important on a touring SUP. A board that flexes excessively wastes energy every time you take a stroke. The Touring Deluxe creates a firmer platform, helping the board maintain speed and giving it a more composed feel when you are paddling longer distances or carrying equipment.

Starboard also uses Welded Rail Technology, mechanically bonding the rail layers rather than relying solely on traditional adhesive construction. It is a premium build designed with regular use and longevity in mind.

Built to travel efficiently through the water

The Touring shape is quite different from a wide, rounded all-round SUP. Its straighter outline allows you to paddle closer to the rail, which helps produce a cleaner stroke and reduces the number of times you need to swap sides simply to keep the board travelling straight.

A fuller nose gives useful stability and carrying capacity while still moving cleanly through chop. At the rear, the wider squared tail provides a reassuring platform when moving your feet back for turns.

Starboard's Rail Edge Technology creates a more defined release at the tail, allowing water to leave the board more cleanly rather than wrapping around the rails. In real-world terms, that means less drag and better glide between paddle strokes.

Key features

• 12'6 touring waterline: better glide and tracking than shorter all-round SUPs.
• 30-inch width: balances touring efficiency with useful stability.
• Fusion Woven Dropstitch: creates a stiff and responsive inflatable platform.
• Welded Rail Technology: mechanically bonded rails designed for durability and long-term airtightness.
• Galvanised 2000D rails: reinforce the board and contribute to its firm feel.
• Rail Edge Technology: provides a cleaner water release from the tail to reduce drag.
• Fuller nose: adds confidence in light chop and provides useful support when carrying kit.
• Squared tail: gives extra stability and a better platform for step-back turns.
• Touring cargo system: ideal for carrying a dry bag, spare clothing, drinks and other day-touring essentials.
• US fin system: gives secure tracking with the supplied Starboard touring fin.

Specifications

What's included?

• Starboard 12'6 x 30 Touring Deluxe inflatable paddleboard - ex demo
• Starboard wheeled board bag
• Starboard double-action Tiki pump
• Starboard Dol-fin 22 Net Positive touring fin
• Starboard SUP leash

Please note: a paddle is not included. If you are upgrading from an entry-level package paddle, moving to a lighter touring paddle at the same time will make a significant difference over longer distances. Browse our SUP paddle collection for suitable options.

12'6 Touring or 14'0 Touring?

The 12'6 is the easier board to live with. It is simpler to carry, turn, store and transport while still delivering a major improvement in glide compared with a shorter all-round SUP.

A 14ft Touring is worth considering if maximum straight-line efficiency and longer-distance mileage are the priorities. The additional waterline carries speed better, but a 14ft board is physically larger both on and off the water.

For general day touring, mixed waterways and paddlers upgrading from a 10'6 or 10'8 board, the 12'6 x 30 is a very sensible sweet spot.

Touring Deluxe or Touring Deluxe Lite?

The Starboard Touring Deluxe Lite follows the same touring philosophy but prioritises lower weight and easier transport. The Deluxe model here uses the more substantial construction and is the option we would favour if stiffness, regular use and a more solid feel underfoot matter more than shaving every possible gram from the packed setup.

If you travel frequently or carry the board a long way to the water, Deluxe Lite has a real advantage. If your priority is the board's on-water feel and you expect to use it regularly, the Deluxe construction is particularly appealing.

Our buying advice

This is a board for people who actually want to paddle distance. If your sessions have moved beyond simply pottering around a beach or staying within a few hundred metres of your launch point, the advantage of the Touring shape becomes very clear.

Compared with a typical 10'6 all-round board, you should find yourself making fewer correction strokes, maintaining momentum more easily and travelling further for the same amount of effort. The 30-inch width means you gain those benefits without needing race-board levels of balance.

It may not be the right board if you mainly want something for children to play on, regularly paddle with a dog or passenger, or simply want maximum stability. In that case, a wider all-round SUP may be the better choice.

If you want something more versatile for a mixture of touring and small-wave use, it is also worth comparing the Starboard 12'6 Generation Deluxe.

Ex-demo condition

This board has been used as part of our demonstration fleet and should therefore be expected to show normal cosmetic marks associated with careful on-water use, inflation, packing and transport.

For someone more interested in performance than pristine retail packaging, an ex-demo Touring Deluxe represents an excellent opportunity to step into a premium Starboard inflatable at a reduced price.

Try before you buy

If you are unsure whether a 12'6 touring board is the right step up from your current SUP, visit our SUP Test Centre at Woodmill. Comparing an all-round board and a touring shape back-to-back is one of the quickest ways to understand the difference in tracking and glide.

Frequently asked questions

Useful links

• Shop Starboard SUP equipment
• Compare touring paddleboards
• Compare the Starboard Touring Deluxe Lite
• Compare the Starboard 12'6 Generation Deluxe
• Choose a SUP paddle
• Visit our Woodmill SUP Test Centre