JP ALLWATER GT 12’6” WOOD TEST REVIEW
JP ALLWATER GT
12’6 WOOD
TEST REVIEW
Verdict: Tuned from JP’s All water race boards this new GT combines a bang up to date surf friendly nose with a super flat wide dry deck area. The best-looking board on test this issue (according to our testers), it also offers bump-friendly performance touring. We loved the fresh unique futuristic shape in this comfortable race / touring size. The JP 12’6 is stable enough to tour for most people, also fast enough to pass your mates on anything other than a true race board. Head turning looks with bump-friendly performance to match.
Overview: Our (heavier than Biax) wood model has a slightly lifted rounded nose with massive volume in the front section. On top, a small cargo bungee and side humps (to prevent water reaching the standing area), sit on the very high vol nose. As you drop down to the deck, it’s wide and fully covered in EVA and has a small ledge handle. Underneath the rounded nose it draws back to a slight concave running throughout the board to a fairly wide tail, with single glass swept back 8.4” fin.
Brand claim: The main strong points of this magic shape are; high volume in the nose and the tail area for lift and stability in all conditions, wide square tail and the concave bottom for ultimate in stability and water line efficiency. The boards work great in rough water conditions, on downwind runs and in flat water – the true All Water shape.
Performance: Simply wider and more friendly than the JP All Water race boards, this spritely GT feels quick and slippery though choppier conditions. The All Water was very happy punching through small swell maintaining good speed, it was also very comfortable catching small bumps and swell. Dropping into larger swell it was easy to control with its large flat deck to run around on. The finish and look of the board was well liked however having a small surf style handle in a board of this size was less than ideal and really should have had a larger handle to make carrying over larger distances easier. The wide flat dry deck area had no chance of collecting water – superb. On the flat this racy tourer was very easy to paddle, as you’d expect, maybe not as suitable for carrying large amounts kit high up on deck as some other boards but it’s such a pleasure to paddle. JP have produced a lovely coastal grand tourer that would thrive in pretty much any conditions you could throw at it, of course it’s not as wobbly or as fast as a race board but you’re not always in a hurry! A futuristic looking GT, great for down winding and bump chasing and would be admired by your friends on a trip to the pub paddle too.
OTHER BOARDS IN THIS TEST:
Bic Cross Adventure 11’
Fanatic Ray 12’6
JP All Water GT 12’6
Loco Amigo 9’11
O’Shea HD 10’6
Red Paddle Co Ride 10’ 6
Riber Deluxe 10’2
Starboard Go 11’2