Review of Seattle Sports Lashmates Superstik Attachment System

Wednesday morning before going out on my SUP I attached the new Seattle Sports Lashmates Superstik Attachment System.  With my Ark being a foam board with soft top I was concerned that the super glue used with EZ-plugs would cause damage to the board, but I knew I needed some kind of cargo-carrying system on the board.  Searching Amazon the pickings were slim, but I settled on these and I'm glad I did:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009V60I92/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1375990379&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX110_SY190

I measured out a 15in x 15in grid on the front of my board, and attached the lashmates with the easy to use peel-and-stick 3M adhesive that comes pre-installed on the bottom of the lashmates.  An hour later, I strapped a bungee cord to the lashmates and took off for the beach.

I was out in heavy chop for about 3 hours, with waves crashing over the front of my board constantly.  I had a type 4 pfd cushion strapped to the board, as well as my water bottle, dry bag and for a while my inflatable pfd.  The lashmates held strong, and upon arriving home and hosing my board off (don't leave salt water on the lashmates!) I was happy to find them still completely secure to the board - not a single spot that looked like it was coming loose one bit.  I know one day doesn't say much about durability, but after drying they are still securely attached today, and I'm confident they will hold for a long time to come! 

Below is a picture of my Greco Ark with Seattle Sports Lashmates Superstik Attachment System:

Got my Ark!

Got my Ark w/ Staff of Moses from http://www.grecosurfboards.com Monday!  The DHL guy wouldn't go under the Merritt Parkway bridge, so I had to drive down the street and throw it in the back of my mom's car.  So I got it back to my house, took off the box DHL trashed, and marvelled at my first SUP!  I threw it in the pool and jumped on, paddling back and forth to make sure it would float me.

Tuesday I loaded my board up on my car with my soft car racks, which are suprisingly easy to use.  I put washcloths around the edges of my board where the ropes make contact with it, and was happy to find that no marks were left on the board on my 30mph drive to Birdseye Dock.

Launching at Birdseye, my first thought was how windy it was and how big the chop was.  I've only been out on an SUP once, and although I had no trouble standing I was using it in a lake with only minor boat wake.  Between the wind and the waves I wasn't sure how easy it would be to get going, but as soon as I launched I realized how stable my Ark is which allowed me to quickly get accustomed to the feel of paddling through the waves.  I crossed the Housatonic River, paddling along the edge of the marsh checking out the fish swimming beneath.

As I crossed back to the other side, I was suddenly greeted by a "BANG" on the back of my board.  Thinking I might have hit a piece of driftwood I looked back quickly only to see a silvery streak as a large fish flapped and darted away.  A few minutes later I cruised by a man-o-war the size of a garbage bag, it's brainy-looking tentacles hanging far beneath the large, bell-shaped head.  I saw a few smaller red jellyfish, but mostly just harmless white ones which scattered the river (I knelt down at one point to scoop one up, remembering my brother and I having a white jellyfish fight on the docks when I was younger).

Definitely hooked on SUP!  Next time I'll write about my 2nd time out, even heavier chop launching from Short Beach, as well as my review of Seattle Sports Lashmates Superstik Attachment System.

-TreeburnerCT