Bluefin Cruise Review: SUP Board Test (with Video)

The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 is one of the best selling SUP boards.

In my opinion, it is one of the very best models on the market.

The board also convinced in our SUP board test.

In addition to the excellent workmanship, the five-year warranty that the British manufacturer offers on the board, the extensive scope of delivery and the extremely rigid construction are particularly appealing.

The complete set already includes all the basic equipment and is suitable both for beginners to stand up paddling and for advanced paddlers who want to switch from a very inexpensive model to a really good SUP with high-quality accessories.

Considering the extremely long warranty period and the accessories that come with the board, the price-performance ratio is tops.

The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 model has been so successful that the British manufacturer has launched it in several new variants.

In addition to the Bluefin Cruise Junior (Kids SUP), the Bluefin 2020 Cruise 10’8 (Allround SUP), the Bluefin Cruise 12 (Touring SUP), the Bluefin Cruise Tandem (SUP Board for two people), the Bluefin Cruise Carbon is also offered, which is an even stiffer version of the board, equipped with an extra carbon layer and two separate air chambers.

For most paddlers, the standard Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 model is the right choice. The all-round board is ideally suited for various applications and can also be used for touring.

Particularly ambitious paddlers, on the other hand, are better off using the Bluefin Cruise Carbon. With extra stiff construction and even better accessories, these inflatable SUP boards offer even more performance.

Video

About the board

The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 is 325 cm long and 83.5 cm wide. It is a typical all-round SUP board and best suited for cruising lakes, canals, slow flowing rivers and waters with smaller waves.

Both variants of the Bluefin Cruise are 15 cm thick. The 6 inch thick boards are stiffer than narrower boards. Another advantage is that more air fits into these thicker boards. This provides more buoyancy, higher load capacity and more stability.

Beginners should especially stay away from SUP boards that are only 10 cm thick. This is because these boards tend to sag in the middle. This has a very bad influence on the driving characteristics and when paddling the feet also get wet quickly. In colder temperatures, this is especially unattractive.

The wide design and extra high air pressure to which the Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 can be inflated provide plenty of buoyancy. The maximum payload of the Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 is therefore 130 kilograms (10’8) or 140 kilograms (12). The Cruise is also used for heavier paddlers, joint trips with a child or SUP with dog.

With a weight of 12.6 kilograms (Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020) and about 14 kilograms (Bluefin Cruise 12), respectively, the boards are not quite light, but they are in the average range.

However, the board can be transported comfortably with the included backpack, which has very well-padded shoulder straps. The higher weight is due to the construction with the very robust outer casing. In return, the board is also particularly durable and stiff.

The Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 is equipped with a large EVA deck pad. The non-slip coating of the deck provides a good grip and allows a safe stand. The deckpad on Bluefin is particularly grippy due to the deep profile of the chosen crocodile structure.

Another special feature of the Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 is that this board has a kickpad. At the back of the board, the kickpad is thicker. By stepping on the kickpad with one foot, the weight can be effectively shifted to the back. In this way, turns on the spot are possible.

Kickpads are very rarely found on Allround SUP boards. These are more common with longer touring boards and race SUPs. For beginners, turning with the help of a kickpad is very challenging, but with some practice and a feel for the board, the Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 can be turned very quickly using the kickpad.

Furthermore, the Bluefin Cruise 10’8 2020 has a total of nine D-rings that can be used to attach additional equipment and especially to attach a kayak seat, which is already included.

The Bluefin Cruise is equipped with a total of nine D-rings.

At the front of the Bluefin Cruise is a luggage net that can be used to transport a drybag or other equipment.

Also, the board is equipped with a central carrying handle and one handle each on the front and back of the board. The two additional carrying handles allow the SUP to be carried by two people.

A particularly positive feature of the center carrying handle is that it can also be used as a paddle holder. Therefore, if you want to go for a swim in the middle of the lake, you have a good place to store your paddle while you do so.

There is also an action cam mount in the front area that is compatible with all popular action cams.

Processing and quality

The board makes a very good impression in terms of quality. The edges are cleanly finished and there are no other blemishes on the board. The board shell of the Bluefin Cruise is much more robust than is the case with many other inflatable SUP boards. Overall, the board looks like it will last a long time.

In the production process, the drop stitch method was used, in which two layers of PVC were bonded together. The production process is today’s standard and makes the board particularly stiff. In addition to the relatively thick layers that provide extra strength and stiffness, the manufacturer also claims that the Bluefin Cruise has the highest density of stitches (another quality feature) among all SUP boards.

The Bluefin Cruise’s shell is built strong enough to withstand up to 28 PSI of air pressure. At this very high pressure, most boards from other manufacturers already give way. The recommended maximum air pressure is 15 to 18 PSI, which is also higher than most SUP boards, which are often inflated to 12 to 15 PSI.

The higher air pressure provides on the one hand for the high lift and on the other hand for even more stiffness. The extreme stiffness of the Bluefin Cruise can also be felt on the water.

In the Bluefin Cruise test, the board only gives way a little. This is a sign of much stiffness and is also noticeable on the water.

Another very positive thing is that Bluefin offers a five-year warranty on the board. This is, of course, a great sign of confidence in their own products. With the sturdy shell and good build quality, the Bluefin Cruise also makes a very good impression and looks like a board that will really last a long time.

The quality of the Bluefin Cruise can easily keep up with boards of well-known brands or is partly even better. However, their boards are also in the four-digit range.

Driving characteristics

The Bluefin Cruise offers a lot of tilt stability, which also benefits beginners in particular. With the Bluefin 2020 Cruise 10’8, the focus is primarily on stability. This makes it a very good board for cruising lakes, canals, slow flowing rivers and waters with low waves. However, with the sporty design and extreme hardness, the board is also suitable for medium-length tours.

With its relatively wide design, the Bluefin Cruise 12 also offers a lot of stability and sits securely in the water, but the elongated design provides better straight-line stability. This makes the Bluefin Cruise 12 the better board for long tours.

Bluefin 2020 Cruise 10’8 vs Bluefin Cruise 12

For beginners to stand up paddling, all-around boards like the Bluefin 2020 Cruise 10’8 are the better choice. The slightly wider boards offer more tipping stability. Especially in the beginning, this makes it easier to keep your balance.

The Bluefin Cruise 12 can also be interesting for advanced users, ambitious beginners and beginners who want to go on longer tours. The more elongated board keeps better track. When paddling, this means that the side has to be changed less often and higher speeds can be built up.

The construction with three fins, of which the two side fins are fixed and only the main fin is removable, gives the board further stability.

For smaller waves, the light Noserocker is also practical. With the high-curved tip of the board does not dive into every wave, but glides better over the water.

We particularly liked the very hard edges. Inflated, the board and especially the edges are extremely hard, which allows fast turns. The ride feel of the Bluefin Cruise, with its overall construction, is much closer to that of fixed SUP boards than it is to other inflatable SUP boards.

Accessories

The Bluefin Cruise is delivered together with a lot of accessories. The scope of delivery already includes all the basic equipment needed for the first tours. The purchase price of the Bluefin Cruise includes a backpack, leash, kayak seat, paddle, owner’s manual, repair kit, air pump and waterproof cell phone case.

Compared to buying the accessories individually, buying such a set can save a lot of money. The accessories included with the Bluefin Cruise would probably cost more than 250€ individually.

Bluefin has special promotions from time to time where the Bluefin Cruise is available with additional accessories via the bluefinsupboards.com/en/ website. This can be, for example, a free action cam or a better air pump, which is then additionally included.

Paddle

Included is a fiberglass paddle that weighs much less than the aluminum paddles included with many other sets. The build quality also makes a good impression. The connectors are well made and close well.

Fiberglass paddles are popular with beginners and advanced paddlers. The lighter weight makes the paddle much easier. Furthermore, the SUP paddle included with the Bluefin Cruise is floatable. Other manufacturers sometimes include aluminum paddles with their SUPs that can’t even float.

The height-adjustable paddle can be adjusted to a maximum length of 2.15 meters and can be used for paddlers with a body height of up to 1.95 meters. For transportation and storage, the SUP paddle can also be disassembled into three individual parts.

Another special feature is that the paddle of the Bluefin Cruise can be converted into a double paddle with a second paddle blade, which is also included. In this way, the SUP can really be used as a kayak.

Air pump

The supplied air pump also makes a very good impression. The handle is very wide and feels comfortable. It is a double stroke pump, which can be switched between single stroke mode and double stroke mode. In double stroke mode, the air pump can pump air into the board when pushing down and when pulling up.

In this way, the time for inflation can be significantly reduced. It is best to use this mode to quickly pump a lot of air into the SUP board in the beginning. From a value of five to seven PSI, the system then switches to single-action mode and pumps to the end.

With the included air pump, it only took us 6 minutes to inflate the board in our Bluefin Cruise test.

Backpack

The included backpack is very spacious and offers enough room for the rolled up SUP board as well as all accessories and other equipment. The workmanship of the backpack looks high-quality. This is a SUP backpack that can also be used for other purposes.

On the one hand, it is particularly positive that there is a strap inside the backpack with which the board can be fixed. When carrying the weight is thus closer to the back and the transport turns out easier. And secondly, both the shoulder straps and the back area are very well padded. This ensures a lot of wearing comfort.

Leash

Furthermore, the scope of delivery includes a leash. The tether is attached to the ankle with one end and to the rear D-ring with the other end. This prevents the board from floating away in the event of a fall into the water.

The Bluefin Cruise is a coiled leash. This type of tethers are coiled in the basic state and are also today’s standard. The advantage of coiled leashes is that these lines do not stretch to their full length until they are dropped into the water. This is an important safety measure, because these leashes can not get hooked on plants or rocks.

Other accessories

• Waterproof phone case: The included waterproof phone case makes a good impression in terms of quality and effectively protects even large smartphones from the water.
• Fin: The removable main fin is attached to the board by means of Smart-Lock system. The assembly takes only a few seconds.
• Kayak seat: The included kayak seat can be attached to the four central D-rings. With the kayak seat and the double paddle, the Bluefin Cruise can also be used as a kayak.
• Operating instructions: The operating instructions briefly explain how to set up the board.
• Repair kit: The repair kit includes several PVC patches in matching colors.

Conclusion

The Bluefin Cruise is one of the best SUP boards on the market. For beginners, the Bluefin 2020 Cruise 10’8 is the right choice. Advanced paddlers who want to reach even slightly higher speeds or also ride longer distances are well advised with the Bluefin Cruise 12.

For the various models of the Bluefin Cruise speak especially the high quality workmanship, the extremely rigid construction, the very high quality accessories that stand out much better than cheap SUP boards and the extensive scope of delivery.

We also consider the Bluefin 2020 Cruise 10’8 to be one of the best SUP boards for beginners because it strikes a good middle ground between a tip-resistant SUP board for beginners and a board that is also suitable for touring. You can grow with the Bluefin Cruise.

Techniques for advanced paddlers such as turning via kickpad or building up higher speeds are possible with the board due to the pointed design, but for beginners the board also offers a good level of tip stability.

The Bluefin Cruise is definitely not a cheap board, but considering the high-quality construction, the extensive and high-quality accessories and the incredibly long warranty of five years, the price is definitely justified. While other manufacturers sometimes save massively on the quality of the board and especially on the accessories, you notice the Bluefin Cruise’s class.