Just using just these boards you have mentioned as a reference, if you gave the most stable board a 10 for stability on flatwater, that would be the Naish 17.

The 2011 28" Fanatic would be around 7.5 to 9 (depending on ability).

The Turbo is a tricky one. It can be a nightmare for the balance-tested at our weight, or it can be mildly challenging absolute flyer with the right pilot. Compared to the other two it would be between a 3 and 6.5 (again depending on ability).

Please note these are based on my experiences only. As a guide I am also 6' 2", and over 100kg.

If it helps, I own a Naish 17, raced on the 2011 Fanatic, and tested the Turbo with an interest to purchase.

Despite all this the Turbo still fascinates me. It is the sort of board that, if the situation allowed, I would like to own just to say I have one, as it is quite unique. However I am only allowed to have so many boards.

I never tried it with the extra 4 fins fitted, as they apparently help limit roll of the board and aid tracking (although tracking isn't a real issue with it's shape).

Being heavier, paddlers like us on the Turbo will sink the board more and make it more subject to having the nose tuck under if you don't keep the board level. By this I mean that the deep cutting-nose will - if the board is tilted while under power - sometimes pull down and to one side. This is a balance/management issue and takes nothing away from the fact it is a quick board, just in the high-maintenance-to-paddle department at our weight. The extra fins may help in this area.

As an extra guide I used to own a 14 Javelin as a training board, and the Turbo made me concentrate so much more than the Javelin.

Hope this helps.

The Turbo was tippy by the standards of it's day, but not by the standards of the current thinner raceboards. IMO there are plenty of tippier boards out there now, including the narrower raceboards by Starboard or Fanatic for instance. It's definitely far more stable than the Fanatic flat water 14x24", as an example, or the Starboard Sprint. So it all depends on whether you'd classify those boards as particularly tippy I guess.

Well that just goes to show how personal "tippiness" is. I can't even stand on many boards that charlieuk has no problem at all with, and yet I took out the Turbo and did upwind/downwind laps in confused 1-2ft chop and didn't fall in. I was managing over 5mph average upwind which is pretty good for me. But I agree that the domed deck is horrible. You stand with your legs bent as if straddling an imaginary horse. I can't imagine what possessed them to do that. I would certainly not have any problem with the Turbo in flatwater, and my balance is crap. So it's just back to that old thing: there is NO substitute for a demo. Ever. I'm totally gobsmacked that Charlieuk found it tippier than I did because his balance skills are in a different league to mine. I'm heavier but shorter (and older) than he is so maybe it is a height thing.

Area10 said..
Btw Charlie, I know you are tall, but are you really 7ft 2"?

yea thats a typo was in bed almost asleep lol

I have had the turbo for a while , im 62 85kg and have no problem on flat water. You don't need the extra fins , the board tracks very straight , I have a small 9 fin in the back only. I did try do downwind it a few times , picked up bumps really well , but the tracking is a problem. Flat water board only , it is very fast and unlike some boards that tend to bog down when you really go hard , it keeps going faster. It would be lighting fast if it was lighter , quite heavy compared to some these days. But if you only want a flat water flyer it ticks the boxes. Don't use mine much these days so if you want a bargain let me know.