Question for all the ACE owners out there.

I want one. 14 foot 25 wide: Problem is brand new 2015 25" apparently all sold in Aus. Haven't seen a used 2015 model for sale yet (and don't expect to for awhile due to 2016 prices I imgaine most will hold onto them). The 2016 model is looking out of price range in near future. There is a few 2014 models going fairly cheap atm in fair conditions.

The question: is the 2014 really that more unstable than the current 2015? What else am I missing out on if I went with 2014 model over the 2015 and 2016 besides a little stability?

A couple that own the 2015 say it's certainly the best ace and most stable ace they have paddled but they haven't owned 2014 models. I've paddled 2012/2013/2015 models briefly.
It will be used for flat water training but 90% down winding Moreton bay conditions.

Anyone who has owned a 2014 and now 2015 reckon it's worth holding out until a 2015 becomes available on the used market?

I'll take ya coast runner then!

Kierannq said...
I'll take ya coast runner then!

Not for sale brother
It's about to go through another face lift that should see it through a couple more years. Few repairs, new deck grip, new paint, New fin.
Same hopeless rider haha

Only minor changes to 2016 I believe Andy. Little less rocker and more dugout round the tail I am told only very minor improvements. Little less from 2014 to 2015 too but the volume on the nose and the dugout was the major changes.

Na, hanging on to 2015 Andy, exchange rate up a bit for 2016. Yes I had 2014, great board still. The blue ones have been pretty light. In a downwind situation 2015 is better than 2014 but its only minor. I dont think the lower rocker in the 2015 really equated to that much faster on the flat, maybe because of the larger nose volume that has no affect in those conditions and the rocker change is minor. The 2014 felt about the same speed on the flat or a light wind downwinder to me.

AndyR said..
Or I'll play my best hand with the boss and see if a 2016 board will see myself killed or just wounded ;)

good luck with that!

Hahah jas that's gold. I to have been down that same path before. A new tactic is being planned this time round haha

So do you mean their will be two construction types for the ace model for 2016?

Interesting.

Cheers

Goochi said..
I've heard the new 2016 ACE has a flatter rocker as Scottie mentioned it also has these new after market side additions, small buoyancy shims that screw onto the sides of the board aft -

This is serious? Can't wait to see this!

And at 5k

PTWoody said..
... The call on which board is better for downwind is a matter of personal choice in my opinion. 2015 has more volume in the nose but less rocker. Some people prefer that, others like a SIC style with more rocker but less volume.

I have the 2013 Ace (same shape as 2014 although the 2014 has a slightly wider standing area due to thinner side walls at deck level) and I like the idea of my board having a bit less nose volume and a bit more rocker than the 2015 model. I find my board has enough nose volume as it is. More nose volume may make it pearl less when plowing into a wave downwind, but it also means the nose gets blown around more in cross winds. I'd rather have better cross wind performance of the 2013/14 design.

The lower deck on the 2015 would be nice though - for a bit more stability in rough water.

With the 2015 Ace, does the lower deck mean that there's water in the standing area when paddling in flat water? I had that issue with the 2011 version of the Ace called the New back then -VERY deep sunken deck.

I've had 3 versions of the board since 2011 and it remains my favourite board. It's the one constant design I keep, despite switching out a number of other race and downwind boards.

I just got a 2015 14x25. Last one in to the U.S. (Thank you Chris at OneLoveBeach in Greenport NY). I already have a 2013 starboard allstar 14x25 w/ gladiator fin that seems about the same speEd in the flat as the ACE, but mush less stable and slower in any chop. 5'7" 175lbs / 80 kilos 48 year old.

Got a VMG 37 Fin from Australia and it seems to have fine stability and a little less tracking than the Allstar/gladiator combo.

Keep hearing that learning how to ride an ACE is an acquired skill, can anyone share some of the knowledge. What are all the secret tricks and hacks to get the most of it in different conditions. Especially interested in foot placement and/fore aft trim in various conditions (flat, choppy, downwind) as well as all the other little tricks that has made the ACE so popular in Australia

Also anyone know what bag fits the ACE. (myFCS race bag does not)