BOTE DISCOUNT: For 10% off your first purchase of $200 or more from BOTE, use the link below: http://rwrd.io/948qwqj?c
BOTE Rackham Aero 12'4" (2024 model): MSRP $1649.00
BOTE Rackham Aero 11' (pre-2024 model): ON SALE for $799.00
(prices as of July 2024)
If you're new to the stand-up paddleboard (SUP) game, there are now all sorts of knock-off brands and new companies trying to insert themselves into the market. BOTE has made a name for themselves as being one of the more innovative companies when it comes to stand-up paddleboards and water-based activities. Their designs are tailored for a variety of purposes, with one of them being a board used for anglers who plan to fish off of their SUP.
This review is for the BOTE Rackham Aero, the 11 foot version (pre-2024). However, many of the features and design specifications of the 11 foot model will apply to the 12'4 model as well, with some additional features added to the newer (2024) model. Plus, the older model is on sale, so definitely worth checking out.
Initial Thoughts
After purchasing the BOTE Rackham Aero back at the beginning of 2022, I was beyond excited to have my own vessel to explore waters for the purpose of fly fishing with stealth, portability, and durability. After two and a half years with this board, I feel that I have put the board through adequate use to be able to honestly evaluate the performance of this SUP. I have sporadically used other paddle boards during that time, including the BOTE Aero Breeze, but the BOTE Rackham Aero is a prime fishing vessel for the independent angler.
Physical Specifications
According to BOTE's website, the above specifications apply to the 11' version of this board. I've found it to be a very respectable weight, and transport is simple with the board either inflated or deflated and stored in its included Rolling Travel Bag. The board is unique in that it includes two air chambers, one filling an upper level of the board and the other filling the lower level of the board. This provides these "guardrails" of sorts that help keep your gear from rolling over the edge of the board while you're on the water.
Performance
The BOTE Rackham Aero (11') has become my favorite solo fishing vessel I've ever used when compared to kayaks, canoes, or single-man pontoons/rafts. It is lightweight, quiet, quick, stable, durable, and provides an amazing visual experience when fishing or fly fishing from a standing position.
LIGHTWEIGHT - This 11' board weighs in at around 36 pounds inflated, and it is fairly simple to carry using the main carrying handle in the middle of the board. I can see it being a challenge for someone with short arms, but I'm 5'9 and I have no issues with carrying this board when it is inflated. I would feel comfortable carrying this board as far as a couple hundred yards if needed, though much farther would be a little difficult. The newer 12'4" boards are a little heavier, but still under 50 pounds.
QUIET - As a fly angler, I'm hoping for a stealthy approach when I'm fishing from this board. The Rackham Aero glides smoothly through the water without much disruption at all. The front of the board does have an upward angle (rocker) to help navigate waves, which can cause a little noise with splashing, but overall this vessel is very quiet. The color of my board is a little bright, and I wish I would have chosen a more subtle color scheme for the sake of not spooking fish, but even the bottom of my board is a wooden-colored design that isn't terribly obnoxious.
QUICK - Though not as quick as a solid paddleboard, these inflatable boards do cover water well. Because of their thickness and inflated chambers, they naturally will have more drag than a Gatorshell design from BOTE or from a fiberglass/solid SUP.
STABLE - I've never been on a more stable SUP than the BOTE 11' Rackham Aero. It is very stable, a lot of this being owed to its width. Movements such as casual fly fishing, bending over to unhook fish, switching between seated and standing positions, and reaching for the drinks in the cooler are all very reasonable motions that this board handles very well.
DURABLE - I take this paddleboard on rivers and lakes, and I am often bumping the bottom of the lake/river, hitting its rocks or sticks. While there are some scratches that have accumulated over time on my board, it overall has withstood all of this abuse with no leaks and no holes after over 2 seasons of use. The cosmetics of the board eventually begin to fade a little, but the functionality remains great.
VISUAL EXPERIENCE
If you've never been on a stand-up paddleboard before, it can be intimidating at first, especially if you struggle with balance. However, balance is not hardly an issue on these boards and that increases the visual experience being on this board since you have to worry less about balance and can worry more about enjoying the experience of gliding along the surface of the water.
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STILLWATERS AND RIVERS
I've been able to use this board on a variety of lakes and rivers. Performance on both waterbodies has been great. There are some fin varieties available (mine came with a 10" fin); having a shorter fin can be useful if you're floating shallower rivers or fishing shallower flats in lakes, but having a large fin can be useful when fishing big lakes and maintaining even more stability.
INFLATION
Inflating these boards is simple with the provided double-action pump, which includes a pressure gauge. The main chamber does take a few minutes to pump up by hand and you will probably be a little winded or tired after inflating the board from empty, but it is not an inappropriate amount of work to get this board inflated and ready to go. Be sure to not overinflate your board, especially if you're outside in extreme heat and/or sunlight (10-15 PSI recommended).
CUSTOMIZATION
The opportunity to accessorize is a great part of this board, and if you are a gear junkie, you will love all the customization features available on this board. Now that I've used some of the accessories like the Sandspear, the Rod Rack, and the Leash, I don't know if I could go back to fly fishing from a bare-bones SUP.
Cons
Some struggles that a board like this faces (like most paddleboards will) is performing in heavy winds. Especially for an angler, it probably isn't worth taking this board out very far in winds over 15 miles per hour, and even that might be a stretch. The other day, I was paddleboarding in about 15mph winds, and I had to use a lot of "oomph" to gain any ground when paddling into the wind from a standing position (pro tip - less wind resistance/drag if you're sitting down on the SUP).
This board, being an inflatable vessel, also goes through some growing pains as it inflates and deflates. Because of this, I try to keep mine inflated (though I deflate enough to take pressure off of the seams) to prevent some of those growing pains. These issues include some glue leaking out of the seams and the foam deck not quite fitting perfectly as time goes on.
Warranty
These boards come with a 2-year warranty from the purchase date. Some of the BOTE accessories have warranties as well, and I've found that BOTE's customer service representatives have been very helpful.
Summary
Overall, if you're looking for a solo fishing vessel with lots of opportunities to accessorize, the BOTE Rackham Aero is the way to go. The board is effective, useful, and customizable; easy to transport and fun to fish from. Having a solo vessel to explore lakes and rivers with opens a world of opportunities for the angler.
(prices as of July 2024)
BOTE Rackham Aero 12'4" (2024 model): MSRP $1649.00
BOTE Rackham Aero 11' (pre-2024 model): ON SALE for $799.00
BOTE DISCOUNT: For 10% off your first purchase of $200 or more from BOTE, use the link below: http://rwrd.io/948qwqj?c
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