The Aqua Marina Vapor is an entry-level SUP board, designed for very occasional use. Intended for a novice audience, we can regret the lack of stability and rigidity of the board, which makes it usable only by very light people who already have a good balance. A little paradoxical for a beginner board, isn’t it?
The maximum weight supported by the board is 90 kg but beyond 70 kg, the board already sinks quite a lot into the water and deforms too much due to the small volume and reduced thickness. That’s why the glide is unsatisfactory from 70 kg. The Aqua Marina Vapor comes with a carry bag, an aluminium paddle, a pump, and a leash.
Aqua Marina Vapor Construction
Aqua Marina boards are manufactured with a single layer of 800 denier PVC, which is rather below the average of what is done on the market (generally 1000 denier, or 25% stronger). The Aqua Marina Vapor is no exception to the rule, which partly explains the board’s lack of rigidity.
On the other hand, the light weight of the construction makes it easy to transport and allows the board to be light and very easy to handle. This manoeuvrability is accentuated by its very rounded shape which allows the board to change direction very easily.
The Vapor has :
- a lateral reinforcement on the rail
- a single layer of PVC
- an EVA foam pad
The Aqua Marina Vapor
From an aesthetic point of view, the Vapor Aqua Marina is quite successful. Like the other models of the Chinese giant ORPC brand, one finds a specific predominant color, and an animal symbolizing the model in question. Here, it is the blue and the animal symbol of the Aqua Marina Vapor is the jellyfish found under the board.
Equipment
The board is equipped with a carry handle but there is no other equipment, except for the four buckle bridges that allow a kayak seat to be attached to facilitate sitting.
The slide-in fin, with a key system to secure it. However, we no longer count the number of fins that were lost when they were improperly locked. The advantage is that the system is standardized, so it is very easy to replace the lost fin! However, there is only one fin, which limits heading stability and provides less balance than a three-fin assembly.
At the back of the board, next to the valve, there is a metal ring to attach the leash. On the other hand, we can regret the type of transport bag chosen by the Chinese brand: it is more a tarpaulin that is folded around the rolled board, than a transport bag strictly speaking. Even if we have to recognize a practical aspect, the fabric is not very resistant and if the folding is badly done, we risk losing things on the way. However, there are straps to carry it in a backpack.
Accessories
- Aluminium paddle 3 parts
- Leash
- Carry bag
- A pump
Technical characteristics
Length: 9’10 (300 cm)
Width: 30″ (76 cm)
Thickness: 4″75 (12 cm)
Volume: 220 L
Weight: 8,5 kg
Recommended weight: 60-80 kg
Construction: Dropstitch simple layer
Fins: 1 central fin
The advantages of theAqua Marina Vapor
- The aesthetics rather successful (if you like jellyfish)
- A bungee system on the board
- Rings to fix the kayak seat
- The lightness that ensures easy transport
- Manoeuvrability
The downsides of the Aqua Marina Vapor
- A lack of rigidity that limits the glide
- The reduced thickness that affects flotation and rigidity.
- A weak carry bag
- The high public price, not very representative of the real value of the board, and therefore never respected.
What about the SUP Aqua Marina Vapor?
This inflatable board is really reserved for light beginners and not having the ambition to progress too much. In addition, it is better to have a fairly good balance because the board is rather narrow for a beginner board. However, the overall quality of the board is not bad, even if the price/quality ratio is more in favour of other brands. A board to be reserved for those who make tours in the water in summer, without aiming for performance.