South Bay Hippocamp 11’6” - Review 2023

Review

• DIVEIN.com Score: 4.7/5
• Construction: 4.7/5
• Stability: 4.8/5
• Maneuverability: 4.5/5
• Portability: 4.7/5
• Price/Quality: 4.8/5

The South Bay Hippocamp 11’6” paddle board is a stable and rigid board perfect for fishing. The board’s big dimensions and innovative design make it exceptionally stable and easy to maneuver, allowing any paddleboarder to feel confident and comfortable when on the water.

The Hippocamp comes with many features that make it the perfect vessel for SUP fishing. Clearly the best of them is the actual fishing rod holder that clips onto one of the 3 action mounts already attached to the board.

In addition to the mounts, it has D-rings and large bungee storage systems at the nose and tail for all your fishing gear.

The Hippocamp package includes a plethora of exciting and useful accessories that allow you to transform your paddle board into a kayak with the provided kayak conversion kit. The cooler bag is also a welcome accessory included with this bundle.

South Bay has also included an amazingly durable and conveniently portable carrying bag that even has wheels so you can easily transport all that gear in one container. It’s an incredibly big bag that makes getting all the accessories in much easier. On the other hand it’s not rigid at all, so unless it’s packed the brim with all the bits and pieces, it sags and doesn’t roll well.

The South Bay Hippocamp inflatable paddle board is the perfect option for paddle boarders of any level who would like a high quality, stable paddle board for fishing.

Features

• Textured IXPE grip top foam deck pad with dual layer, two-tone style for a clean look that affords the rider comfort and grip.
• Carbon fiber wrapped rails and bottom stringer for maintaining rigidity when loaded with gear and equipment.
• Side fins that, along with the central fin, form a tri-fin setup for maximum stability and control
• Extended 6 point bungee system at the front of the paddle board for attaching equipment and gear.
• EZ Carry Handle for easy and convenient out-of-water transportation when inflated.
• Many D-rings allow you to bring all your gear along on the water and convert your iSUP into a kayak.
• 3 pre-installed mounts for securely attaching fishing rod mounts and other action accessories.

Accessories

The Hippocamp paddle board package is one of the most extensive SUP packages available. South Bay provides you with all the necessary high quality accessories for paddle boarding and much more.

Included is 2 fishing rod holders, a South Bay 4 piece adjustable carbon fiber paddle, a SUP leash, fin, and even a patch repair kit. Additionally, the Hippocamp package provides riders with a kayak conversion kit and a cooler box for fishing. All of these incredible accessories can be stored in the provided South Bay XXL carrying bag that features convenient wheels for easy transportation.

• Paddle: The South Bay 4 piece adjustable paddle is made of lightweight and robust carbon fiber and has a nylon blade that allows for powerful strokes when paddling. The 4th piece provided is a second blade for easy conversion of your SUP paddle into a kayak paddle.
• Leash: The SUP leash that South Bay provides is a comfortable and robust safety leash that can be attached at the ankle and can stretch up to 11’ when fully extended.
• Pump: The South Bay high capacity hand pump is a great tool for pumping up the Hippocamp inflatable paddle. With some effort, you can blow up your board in about 10 minutes. That said, it does take time and some muscle is required to fully inflate the board to the recommended 15 PSI.
• Backpack: The South Bay XXL iSUP carrying bag has wheels making it extremely portable and easy to transport. It sports a large bungee on the front of the bag for extra storage. The bag is also durable and robust and will last you a long time. The bag features comfortable waist and shoulder straps and easily contains the iSUP board, the included accessories, and any other valuables you want to bring with you on your trip.
• 2 fishing rod holders that attach to one of the 3 action mounts

Stability

Designed with fishing in mind, the South Bay Hippocamp offers riders a superior level of stability. The board has a rigid core when inflated and features bottom deck strings and carbon fiber wrapped rails that increase the board’s stability when stationary.

The tri-fin setup also ensures balance and maintains the board’s tracking. Nevertheless, like most iSUPs, the Hippocamp tends to lose some stability when waves or wind are in effect. This board is perfect for flat, calm water and will provide the perfect stability for fishing.

Maneuverability

The South Bay Hippocamp provides a high level of maneuverability as the board’s dimensions and innovative design are perfect for turning and making basic maneuvers. Small changes to your course are easy to make as the board boasts excellent traction.

Additionally, the carbon fiber paddle included in the package is incredibly lightweight and easy to maneuver ensuring you always have control of the paddle board’s direction and speed. However, the board is not made for sharp turns and advanced maneuvers can be hard to perform quickly.

Portability

The Hippocamp board is convenient to transport due to the well-placed EZ carrying handles and the board’s lightweight design. The South Bay Hippocamp package is extremely portable since the included XXL carrying bag comes with wheels and is spacious enough to contain all the provided accessories with room to spare.

The bag sags quite a bit though, unless it’s filled up with all the included accessories. This will only really affect the experience if going on a paddling lite excursion without the cooler, kayak set and holders, etc. Then it’ll really sag, making rolling somewhat awkward.

Price/Quality Ratio

Due to the huge variety of high- quality accessories as well as the sheer number of activities (SUP, kayaking, fishing) that this paddle board package provides you with, the price to quality ratio is very exceptional.

For the price of a premium paddle board you also get a makeshift kayak and fishing boat thrown into the mix. This is one of the most comprehensive paddle board packages currently available on the market.

Optional Accessories from South Bay Board Co.

• South Bay 4 piece adjustable 100% Carbon fiber paddle
• South Bay SUP pump
• South Bay cooler
• South Bay board bag
• South Bay SUP leash
• South Bay paddle clips
• South Bay waterproof fanny pack

Do we recommend it?

We definitely recommend the South Bay Hippocamp iSUP board for SUP fishers, as well as beginners and experienced paddle boarders as this is a comprehensive package for quite a competitive price.

Compared to Blackfin’s XL Model, the Hippocamp costs less, but it lacks some of the performance features of the XL.

The paddle board’s performance and features make it the perfect instrument for fishing expeditions and the board can even be converted into a kayak with the included kayak conversion kit.

Ultimately, the Hippocamp is the perfect paddle board for aspiring iSUP fishermen that want a useful paddle board that can be loaded with fishing gear and offers the stability necessary for an enjoyable fishing experience.