Solent Boat Works F14 custom 14′ x 26″ x 220L review

Solent Boat Works’ F14 custom hollow race SUP is an interesting design

Words & photos: Tez Plavenieks

Solent Boat Works’ F14 custom hollow race SUP is an interesting design. For a start, it being custom pricked my interest. (There aren’t many custom SUP board makers in the UK). And secondly, the F14 being hollow is also a talking point.

First up, it should be noted that the finish is top-notch. The chintzy (as designer Ant puts it) paint job looks awesome, while the overall shape itself certainly suggests speed. Although the F14 isn’t super narrow, therefore making it accessible, a tiny bit of tail rocker gives wave to a flatter displacement hull shape with rounded rails. The board’s nose, meanwhile, is pronounced and shaped to pierce and then shed water.

It’s a relatively lightweight and quite robust board, but you must still be careful when carrying it. If you smack it into something or chuck it about the beach, you’ll definitely end up with a ding or two. On deck, the pad is super grippy, and the handle is well-positioned for transport and portages if necessary.

Afloat, the F14 sounds like a hollow board – as odd a statement as that may be. When chop slaps against the hull, the resonating sound vibrates and makes a distinct noise that tells you the internal is a cavity. Although this isn’t a performance trait, I think it adds a unique angle to the overall paddling experience.

Created with flat water speed in mind, testing was done in moderately choppy waters, and it handled the froth without issue. There’s certainly a degree of roll because of those rounded rails and hull, but it’s doable for any skilled paddler. On flat water, there are fewer roll stability concerns. But it’s nice to know it works with less-than-ideal water states as well.

With peddle to the mettle, the F14 certainly gets a wriggle on. Efficiency is the name of the game with this sled. Any SUP racer with a pedigree will undoubtedly appreciate this and be able to eek the most out of it across a race course. It does like the power kept on and a high cadence paddle stroke. Therefore, pairing with a super light and efficient paddle is best. Tweaking the fin type will also yield decent results. The board’s hollow hull increases the feedback riders receive. This inspires confidence to push harder and for further, should riders be inclined.

CONCLUSION
The F14 delivers a boutique-style riding experience that can only be attained by going custom. It would be nice to see more of this in the paddleboard world. With its unique hollow hull, the performance is distinct yet no less applicable to its intended purpose. If you’re a SUP racer looking for something different, you’d do much worse than a paddle stick like this.
Price: on asking
Info: www.solentboatworks.co.uk/