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Starboard Quad 82C 2014-631x420

STARBOARD QUAD 82L CARBON 2014 TEST REVIEW

Stats Volume (L) 82 Weight (Kg) 6.8 Length (cm) 229 Width (cm) 58.5 Construction Full Carbon Price £1799

STARBOARD QUAD 82L CARBON 2014 TEST REVIEW

BEST FOR
Any level of wavesailor will step aboard and love this shape. In terms of conditions we can only vouch that it’s outstanding in onshore slop, but it’s clear the board’s been developed to cope with the full gambit of side-off to onshore setups and surf of all levels of power.

RECOMMENDATION
We started with the widest stance possible and would recommend bringing the front straps aft a little and keep the rear foot as far back as possible over the fins. Leave the fins in the middle settings.

BRAND CLAIM
“The Quads are Starboard’s most versatile wave boards. The unique shape and the four fins generate maximum drive and acceleration, bringing an awesome production of speed, flow and power to your sailing in all wave & wind combinations.”

OVERVIEW
Outline: Wide point just to rear of track. Full hips, otherwise even curves front and aft. Pointed nose and squashtail.
Deck: Keeping the trend of the flat surfboard-style top surface.
Rail Profile: Uniform tuck, hardening by front fins.
Bottom Shape: Single concave in nose, no roll on rail shoulders – curves always out to edge, deepening under mast track, tapering through front straps
Rocker Line: Noticeably high overall rocker, even curve without any flat spot in concave or on centre line. Nose kick.
Fin Configuration: Narrow Quad cluster. Drake G10 13 cm rears, 11 cm fronts – all swept back.
Pads: Minimal deck pads,
Straps: Drake PU leather traditional adjustment with markers. Anti-twist inserts in strap plugs.
Construction: Full Carbon

PERFORMANCE
The Starboard Quad 82 is one of those instantly natural feeling, ‘invisible’ boards that you can just forget about under your feet. Stable enough off the plane, it’s nicely poised with about as lively a ride as you can get without any issues of tracking or spinning out. The speed and early planing is good too, which is obviously handy for jumping, but in general, ‘around the park’, this is a fast and vigorous shape. In the messy, small and weak surf we tested it in we found positive tracking and insane levels of security and grip. There’s something special going on in the acceleration and nature of the turning here. You feel very connected to the rail on this design with an awesome sensation of direct bite and projection to instantly set up a ride just right. Through and out of the turn we felt we could do anything!  Vertically hook, climb foam, carve, pivot off the fins, whatever, it always seemed reliable in the way it came off the top. In relation to the onshore situation it also carried speed well off the wind and always had a little extra squirt left in the tank to squeak turns out of short, tricky sections. A real tester’s favourite.

THE VERDICT
Wavesailing on autopilot! Like a sports car in automatic, the Starboard Quad 82 is a refined, alive and dynamic board that delivers confidence and amazing drive into, through and out of turns.

www.star-board-windsurfing.com

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