TABOU ROCKET PLUS 113 TEAM 2022 TEST REVIEW
VERDICT
It may be a four-year-old design, yet the Rocket Plus is no less relevant today than on its first day of release. Offering a stunning all-round performance, the most impressive aspect of the 113 is its adaptability to riding styles and conditions. Spending time on it can’t help but bring a smile to your face.
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- Tabou Rocket Plus 113 Team
THE LOWDOWN
We tested the Rocket Plus in this size back in March 2019, its design remaining unchanged for this, its fourth season. With its low entry rocker line, rounded outline and thinned rails, the 113 proved quite a hit back then, with us summing up that it was both fun and exciting to use in all conditions. Time has been kind for the Rocket Plus, its design looking as relevant today, with plenty of detailing and features to discuss. Firstly, there’s the vee with double in the nose and shoulders – easily the most pronounced of any in this test group. It has the lowest quoted volume, yet the longest length, its overall width and tail width once the standout feature being so wide, yet now decidedly average amongst its peers. And finally, the complex cutouts in the tail remain, intended to increase top speed and acceleration. Available in both Team and LTD construction in this size, there’s also a third option for the three larger sizes in the range, each available in MTE for £1474.00. Tested in the premium TEAM construction here, it boasts a full biaxial carbon wrap and comes complete with a blue (carbon) Tabou fin, four of their soft, easy-to-adjust straps (with multiple inboard and outboard positions) and thin diamond-grooved deckpads.
BRAND CLAIM
“The Rocket+ masters the balancing act between peak performance and user-friendliness to perfection and makes breath-taking speed easy to handle. A low entry rocker provides early planing power and control, even when the blasting at full speed in overpowered and choppy conditions.”
PERFORMANCE
Despite having the least quoted volume amongst this test group, the 113 is capable of carrying weight well and tracks easily whilst off the plane. Provide power and it releases smoothly, accelerating with interest as you push it off the wind. The straps are easy to find and help to wrap the rider’s feet around the thin rails, the thin deckpads accentuating the direct feedback provided as the rider drives against the fin. Used in powered conditions and partnered with an efficient rig, the Rocket Plus is still such an electric board to use. The extra acceleration delivered as a gust hits is tangible, the board flying high over the water’s surface and skipping over the back of chop, with just the fin in contact. It is fast on all points of sail, the fin supplied with the board being an excellent compliment to explore its potential on all points of sail. The big difference between the 113 and others though is the amount of control and response it provides. You never feel that it is getting away from you or that it is about to buck you off. It always remains incredibly responsive to the rider’s demands – stand upright over the board and it settles down, allowing the rider to sail a half pace and catch their breath before the next hell-run! In the gybe the Tabou’s thin rails and rounded outline allow it to respond admirably to the rider’s demands. Enter the turn tentatively and it will glide through the turn willingly, or push hard and it responds with plenty of bite. As with its sailing nature, the 113 has a real willingness to adapt to all rider styles and experiences. It can be tempered and calmed with use of the inboard straps and a more forward placed mastfoot position, but set it up with outboard straps and this 113 has the performance, response and control to challenge even a full slalom setup.
TABOU ROCKET PLUS 113 TEAM 2022 TEST REVIEW
VITAL STATS
Price: TEAM: £2174.00 LTD: £1909.00
Volume (Quoted): 113 L.
Length: 237 cm
Width: 73 cm
1ft off: 48.0 cm
Bottom shape: Flat in the nose, before quickly possessing vee with pronounced double by the shoulders, both diminishing by the front straps to become mono-concave between the straps and flat vee (with complex cutouts) in the tail.
Weight (‘Naked’): 7.2 kg
Fins: Tabou Freeride 38 cm (Foil Tuttle)
Sail Range: 6.0-8.4m
Sizes Available: 103, 113, 123, 133, 143.
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