What can possibly be better than to enjoy your free time with friends and loved ones doing the sport you like the most?
Let me tell you about that.
Being an outdoorsy water person, I felt kind of down lately because summer in the United Arab Emirates is very hot and there is very little you can do outside. If you want to go to the beach, you need to wake up at crazy hours (like 5:00 a.m.) or you need to travel outside of the country. For me, being the mom of a nine-month old child, neither are suitable options. But thanks to GO Sport and the fact that I work for OutdoorUAE, I could steal one morning for myself. I had the perfect excuse to arrange for a babysitter then I called my crazy friends and hooray! – I was ready to meet them on the beach!
As I love paddling I have the chance to try different types and brands of Stand-Up Paddleboards. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes – the classic hard type, inflatable and the modular snap-tap take-apart type we have now – the Point65 Rum Runner.
Packs Well and Quick
The Rum Runner promises to fit into almost any car. First we tried to fit it in the smallest one – a Suzuki Swift. We managed to pack it tightly into the trunk and backseat. Although we lost all of the space at the back and the passenger seat was jammed right up to the dashboard, it saved time and money installing a roof rack and strapping down a traditional hard, longboard. It easily fits into most small cars as well.
Closer Look While Setting Up
The split of this SUP is possible due to snap-tap-take-apart system with top clips on each side of the body where joints are created. The straps look very durable and water-friendly and will last a long time. I would imagine those would also be the first replacement parts, and with only two screws per strap, this would be an easy task for anyone with a screwdriver and two brain cells. The rest of the body is sealed in a layer of durable Polyethylene apart from the watertight compartment front and we have an awesome feature here that no other SUP has – a sealable hatch for basically anything you may want to store.
Another cool feature is a retractable fin at the back. I also found two beverage cups/fishing rod holders which is an interesting addition. Other features such as draining plugs for draining and handles on all sides actually could make this SUP more of a hybrid kayak. It would seem it is built for a SUP feel and performance but with the comforts and stability of a kayak.
Into the Water
We have assembled the Rum Runner on the sand but in retrospect, it is much easier to do it in calm water. The pieces, although none being heavier than seven kilos, are light and are easier to handle in the sea. The clips are super easy to use even for three blondies. Another super-convenient feature of this SUP – due to the “water launch” design of the back, is you can literally slide your body up onto the SUP and not risk falling when approaching from the side if you haven’t mastered this move yet. This feature will make you look like a pro even when you’re using the Rum Runner for the first time! Very cool.
Transition between kneeling to standing is also very comfortable; this SUP’s stability is due to its PE composition and the “flat kayak” body design. All pieces are rigid and hollow, yet provide stable footprint on the surface of water. Central section includes EVA padding with cool design – cushioned to support you in any position.
Load testing (i.e. three chicks trying not to fall off at the same time) revealed that you could get two adults and one kiddo on deck for comfortable small to medium distance paddles. The Rum Runner is stable enough for SUP yoga, sun tanning, performs well in speed tests in comparison to hard SUPs however do not expect to be winning any races with it. For most hobbyists, this is not the main goal anyway so for recreational use, the Rum Runner stands well. It also is quite affordable for what it is promising to deliver – performance, convenience, versatility and fun.
The Point65 Rum Runner is available in two colours – blue and red at any GO Sport store. Price for 11.5 foot is 1,895 AED (205.00 OMR) and for the 12.5 foot, it’s 1,995 AED (216.80 OMR)
Words By: Linda Turcerova Delgado
