looking to purchase a down winder style board for use on the bay in melbourne. main purpose is to keep fit between surf breaks down the coast. ideally a board that could also be used to catch some small waves if used at shoreham or similar as well. there seem to be a few good second hand boards available in melbourne. iam about 98 kgs average sup surfer ( currently have a 9"1 hokua) .All advice greatly appreciated.
Hey bomberdave. I'm affiliated with SIC (and other brands: Infinity and Starboard) so my opinion will be biased. But I think you have just described SIC Bullet 12'6. I already owned one (now I've got a 17'4) and the 12'6 was a perfect all-round board: downwind pedigree, great touring board and also a fun surfing board for smaller waves.
The Bullet is 12'6 x 28.25'' (really stable) with 237 liters. If you prefer some wider board you can check the F-12 (12'0 x 30'0 with 265 liters).
One of the best DW boards going for rougher windier conditions, which is also one of the best for surfing, is the Jimmy Lewis M14. Comes on 12 6 and 14 ft. If you are serious about DW I would stick to 14 ft imho.
Coreban Dart also a good possibility. If you want to take em surfing you need a bit of rocker....unless you are super skilled and can manage the flat rockered all water race/ DW boards.
looking to purchase a down winder style board for use on the bay in melbourne. main purpose is to keep fit between surf breaks down the coast. ideally a board that could also be used to catch some small waves if used at shoreham or similar as well. there seem to be a few good second hand boards available in melbourne. iam about 98 kgs average sup surfer ( currently have a 9"1 hokua) .All advice greatly appreciated.
If you can find a dw specific board for a good price go with that ether 12'6 or bigger go with that but don't worry to much a 12'6 ocean race board will do just fine in down winders up to about 30knots as you don't have big ocean swells to worry about in the bay and you will probably be able to pick one up a lot easier and cheaper plus it will be a little more versatile.
thoughts on these offerings??
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Stand-Up-Paddle-Surfing-and-Cruising-Boards/~vfolr/2015-Coreban-Dart-Down-Wind-Carbon-14-0-298-inches.aspx?_page=2&search=XY18oMsXky33wNXtmKSSKQ%3D%3D
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Stand-Up-Paddle-Surfing-and-Cruising-Boards/~vviuv/2015-JP-Australia-Sportster-Carbon-12-6-29-inches.aspx?_page=3&search=XY18oMsXky33wNXtmKSSKQ%3D%3D
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Stand-Up-Paddle-Race-and-Downwind-Boards/~vhbe1/JM-Paddleboards-Jm-Surftech-126-12-6-30-inches.aspx?_page=1&search=TTipMvwLkmCl8aJq0pHTnQ%3D%3D
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Stand-Up-Paddle-Race-and-Downwind-Boards/~v8s68/2016-Starboard-All-Star-12-6-28-inches.aspx?_page=1&search=TTipMvwLkmCl8aJq0pHTnQ%3D%3D
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Stand-Up-Paddle-Race-and-Downwind-Boards/~vj-ru/2015-Naish-Javlin-Gx-126X28-12-6-28-inches.aspx?_page=1&search=TTipMvwLkmCl8aJq0pHTnQ%3D%3D
javelin ,or the Dart 14',I like the lightness of the Javelin ,It just skips across the water .Mines a 14'
it will catch a ripple.I would like a 12,6 ,it would be fun in the waves .the 14's are the go for long distances ,just gives the extra glide needed .
whoops I just brought a naish 11,6 GTW glide .