Paddle boarding is perfect for everyone in the family, including the kids, for exercise and spending some quality time together.
However, choosing the right paddle board for your kid can be a bit tricky. Luckily, Bluefin has designed the Cruise Junior SUP that is well suited for young paddleboarders!
So let’s have a deeper look to see what makes it so unique.
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Bluefin Cruise Junior 8′ SUP Features
The Bluefin Cruise Junior 8′ SUP is a craft with the perfect balance of stability, speed, and maneuverability. It’s 8 feet long, 29 inches wide, and 5 inches thick. These measurements mean that the SUP is versatile enough to keep your child happy!
Similar to its bigger brother, the junior SUP sports top-quality construction materials and cutting-edge technology. With a pro weave Drop-Stitch core and a 1000 Denier Exo Surface PVC laminate, it’s sturdy enough to survive most impact-based damage.
The package has nearly everything your kid will need to get out in the water. The lightweight fiberglass paddle and the comfortable padded Sup leash are highly suitable for the junior paddle-boarder.
Main Advantages
- Sturdy
- Versatile
- Stable
- Comfortable
- Beginner-friendly
Main Drawbacks
- Not suitable for paddlers over 154 lbs or 70 kg
- No length scale on the paddle
The Specifications
- Brand/Model: Bluefin Cruise Junior
- Length: 8′
- Width: 29″
- Thickness: 5″
- Type: PVC (Inflatable)
- Color Option: Blue & White
- Suitable For: All-around, Flat Water
What is the Bluefin Cruise Junior SUP Best Suited For?
This iSUP is suitable for kids and young paddleboarders. Nevertheless, it performs best when the paddler is below 5 feet 3 inches in height and weighs less than 154 lbs or 70 kg.
It’s an excellent board for kids to learn the basics of paddle-boarding. This SUP is pretty stable, and the fiberglass paddle shaft is lightweight enough for kids to handle.
In addition, the board can hold an insane inflation level of 28 PSI. With 15-18 PSI (being the ideal inflation pressure), your child will feel like they are on a solid SUP. Plus, a soft EVA deck pad with croc texture will offer comfort and prevent your child from accidentally slipping and hitting the water.
Having molded-in handles on the nose and tail allows little ones to easily carry it from place to place on land or water.
Besides these significant aspects, the Bluefin Cruise Junior is incredibly flexible. It comes with a padded kayak seat that even your kid can install effortlessly.
Just add another paddle blade to the fiberglass shaft, and this SUP will become a Kayak (SUP-Yak)!
VERDICT:
This SUP is designed to be ridden by kids and youths and has the complete package making it easier for them to use.
What customers say about the Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board
An astounding 88% of buyers who chose the Bluefin Cruise Junior appreciate the versatility and durability of this junior SUP. Kids have a hard time outgrowing this board, and that’s saying something!
No matter what your looking for in a paddleboard, most likely, the Cruise Junior has it. In short, it’s a stylish, lightweight, and an all-around great fit that your child will love to paddle.
Buyers often praised the board for its smooth performance out in the water and the reliable durability it offers.
Plus, they are happy that the kids can take care of their junior SUP and carry it around effortlessly!
The most striking feature that attracts the kids is the ability to customize the board. It has just enough D-rings to put a kayak seat, an adjustable lightweight paddle, and three attachable fins to satisfy the child’s desire to tinker!
The only complaint is, the paddle shaft does not have a length indicator for precise adjustments. But, it’s doubtful that your kid will be annoyed with this small detail.
#1 What does the Bluefin Cruise Junior SUP Package contain?
The SUP package contains,
- The Bluefin Cruise Junior Paddle Board
- An adjustable lightweight fiberglass paddle
- Coiled SUP leash with padded ankle cuff
- Easy kayak conversion kit
- One sizeable central fin and two side bites
- Double action pump with PSI gauge
- Bluefin SUP Backpack
Except for the PFD, the SUP package has everything needed to get in the water straight out of the backpack. So, remember to bring a Coast Guard-approved kids PFD, and your child will be good to go!
Guru Tip: A life jacket not only aids in saving your child’s life. It also provides padding to reduce injury, if your child falls on the board.
#2 How Durable is the Cruise Junior SUP?
It’s pretty sturdy. The board is made of high-quality materials and constructed to last for years of use.
Moreover, with ultra-tough ESL, the board’s surface is UV proof. So, you won’t have to worry about sunlight damaging it out in the water.
The overall construction has 11200 stitches of space yarn per square meter, and double heat welded side rails. Not only does this make the board extremely durable, but it also makes sure that it remains lightweight!
#3 What is the Maximum Weight Limit for Cruise Junior iSUP?
This SUP can support up to 264.5 lbs or 120 kg. Still, it’s best not to load the board over 154 lbs or 70 kg for optimum performance.
However, the board itself weighs only 22 lbs or 10 kg. Most of the accessories, paddle, and paddle blades are pretty lightweight. So, even with a bit more weight, you’ll get decent performance from this board.
#4 What is the ideal PSI level on the Cruise Junior iSUP?
It’s strong enough to hold 28 PSI. However, it’s better to inflate the board till it reaches 15-18 PSI.
In the 15-18 PSI range, this SUP will be rigid enough to rival a solid board. Any more than this would be unnecessary and will shorten the lifespan of your paddleboard.
Fortunately, it comes with a double-action pump. With it, you can quickly get to 12 PSI as you will be pumping air with every push and pull.
However, getting past 12 PSI will be a bit hard, so you may want to switch to the single-action mode to reach the 15-18 PSI.
For a better alternative, you can invest in an electric pump. It will save you a lot of time and effort!
#5 Is the Cruise Junior board safe for kids?
Bluefin designed this SUP with kids in mind, and they installed some extraordinary safety measures onboard.
For instance, the deck pad is not only comfortable, but the texture is anti-slip, so kids won’t easily fall off of the board.
It also has a coiled safety leash to ensure your child will be safe while paddling.
If your child falls off, they can quickly get back on with the help of the conveniently placed handles.
#6 How to convert Cruise Junior iSUP into a kayak?
It comes with a kayak conversion kit. There are four D-rings around the deck pad for the seat. After you attach the seat, all you need to do is add the extra paddle blade on the other end of the fiberglass paddle shaft.
Once you do, your SUP will transform into a sit-on-top kayak! or for short, a SUP-YAK.
Comparable Boards to the Bluefin Cruise Junior SUP
The Bluefin Cruise Junior and the Thursosurf Prodigy Junior are both kids’ boards with outstanding performance.
The Thursosurf board is a bit more affordable than the Bluefin. But it’s also less sturdy and doesn’t include a pump.
For a budget board, the Retrospec Weekender Nano also performs well enough in the hands of a junior paddleboarder.
Be that as it may, the nano board is still a bit harder to handle!
Our Verdict on the Bluefin Cruise Junior SUP!
It’s versatile, durable, and easy to paddle. Its small but sturdy design makes this board perfect for young paddlers.
It is also flexible enough to keep your child engaged for an extended period. With the Bluefin Cruise Junior, you won’t need to worry about the child’s safety or the board’s durability.
In essence, the Bluefin Cruise Junior SUP is an ideal choice for young paddleboarders!
Guru Rating: 9.2/10