Late final summer time whereas standup paddling, I watched a fisherman glide up atop a seafoam inexperienced multihulled paddleboard. Although pushed alongside by a trolling motor, he was gracious sufficient to cease for a fast overview of his 14-foot Dwell Watersports L4 Expedition. The dude was armed: battery field, sort out field, a Yeti cooler seat, a facet observe/rail system to carry rods, a cupholder, and a paddle. He’d normal a throttle management deal with from a size of PVC and easily slipped it over the tip of the tiller deal with to pilot from mid-board. An aluminum bolt-on mount held the motor and beige no-slip EVA decking saved his ft cool. It was unhealthy ass.
I’d seen these setups earlier than on social media. Jimmy Buffett even had a Dwell 12-foot “Mango” fishing mannequin he co-designed with firm founder John Cleckner. Buffett used to strap his to a flats boat to achieve but skinnier water. My son was in quest of a small boat for himself puzzled how one in all these 70-pound multihulls—fitted with a gasoline kicker—would possibly examine to a 600-pound skiff for our native waters. I pinged Cleckner and shortly sufficient was shoving off with a $3,099, twin-hulled L4 Expedition “microskiff” from our yard dock. Immediately, I found that these boards make tons of fishing sense. First, they’re extremely steady. Second, the cat design means they draw mere inches of water relying on how shut you might be to their 700-pound load restrict, and third, with their modern sponsons, they’re extremely quiet on the flats the place a ripple on a hull might spook a jumpy pink or bonefish.
Since then, my son and his mates and I’ve experimented with the board—quite a bit. The L4 is fairly heavy. One can lug it, however a two-wheeled trailer is best. It paddles very quick and is remarkably maneuverable for its measurement. It’s fairly high-sided although, so with a beam breeze, staying on track requires appreciable effort in any wind over 8 knots (an excellent excuse for a tandem-paddling date). Our board additionally got here with two FCS surfboard fins that snap into packing containers in the back of every sponson. These do assist keep route in delicate following seas and crosswinds, however in addition they improve the draft by 6 inches and catch on marsh grass in case you’re in critically skinny water—so simply unsnap them while you attain your flat. To carry place, you would mount a mini power-pole (sure, they really promote these), however we simply throw out a small anchor.
My keen son purchased a 6-horsepower short-shaft Yamaha kicker off Craigslist. We thumb-screwed the extremely light-weight, SUP Customs motor mount to the strict and bolted on the gasser. We rapidly discovered that the mount, motor, and human weighs the strict down while you’re making an attempt to start out the motor. You may counteract that with one other human or a giant battery or ice-filled cooler up entrance, however barring that you just’re in your knees proper on the waterline to drag begin—a moist and unstable course of. And even with a counterweight, don’t count on choking, priming, beginning, and working a gasoline motor—whereas connected to a kill swap—to be easy. We additionally discovered that whereas L4’s are modern and lovely, a 6-horsepower outboard is just enjoyable to possibly 15 knots. They’re simply not meant to go the appreciable velocity a 6 (or increased)-horsepower kicker can push them and also you’ll chine stroll with out the fins.
No, the elegant resolution is an electrical drive and an excellent deep cycle or lithium battery. We saved it easy, with a Minn-Kota trolling motor and a ahead AGM that retains the velocity round 4 to five knots. The board’s so steady that we have now but to dump something overboard. Principally although, I want engine-less simplicity; paddling to a secret spot close to house to solid from the board or sand by no means will get outdated. I get a stable exercise, and I’m far more in tune with all of the wildlife—particularly the dolphins and tailing reds. And that, to me, is what these outstanding paddleboards are really all about.
LOA: 14’
Beam: 2’10”
Weight: 70 lbs
Draft: 2-3”
Worth: $3,099
Live L4 Expedition Paddleboard
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