Well i got "the call" this morning, collected my new Glide 14GS from the local depot. Thought I'd add my first take here too, because other newbies opinions have helped me so far with this and my other board - hey, ive got a quiver now!

The "bad" then the good:

First thing I noticed down at the water - has a very suss 1inch long pressure ding right on the rail. Hairline split too, damn. so i gave all rails the thumb pressure test and yeah, there's places where they aren't as rock hard as the rails on my Allwave, so I'll give it a glass strip treatment tonight - thats so a nice man at a repair shop doesn't "sand my rails nice and smooth for me - look you cant even see the repair". Aargh!

Anyway second thing I noticed - the carry handle isn't quite at the centre of mass which means got to carry with three fingers wedged as forward as you can go and keep board down with other hand. Not cool. Looks like another glassing job - I will beam-balance, but i reckon the handle needs to be placed forward by its own length would be perfect. Naish are u listening? (The water that leaks into the ding might keep the tail down just enough tho?) ;)

On the water (after forgetting to do up the vent screw - nice walk back to car to get screw driver :P ):

Wind was a measured 15 kts.

It goes upwind! mind you theres a weight on, just apply plenty bodyweight, shorten the stroke and increase the tempo, but my Allwave just stalls at about 20kts, but this thing is moving, and piercing - no see-sawing. Very noticeable, the Glide is plenty stable in every wind angle, in fact like a jetty for me at 75kgs.

however (!) when i bear off the wind more than 20degrees, whoa Nellie! she wants to bear away i mean severely. She's a downwind machine for sure! On that, couldnt hold a side-wind course; my 75kgs vs 280L plus windage forced me into pivot turns instead to just point upwind and start again. Mind you, that was with back foot planted rear of the rear deckpad, nose sky high and sweeping flat like heck to bring her around. Heavy guys would not have this issue I think. I wanted to glide on that bearing but it just wasn't on.

Downwind runs - magnificent. That drop nose moving through the water, peeling water off it, is poetry in motion, a deadset work of art. Played around with fwd/back trimming the whole way, first tried nose just piercing, then tried even further forward til nose averaging 2" below surface, and that kept me on the small runners the best. That put my feet half forward of the deck pad, just crouched there and sailing along, leaning fwd/aft to stay on runner, and feeling the point when broaching gave a whisper, only paddling a little, mainly to move my course to the right. Wow, "glide" is the only word to describe it.

The $200 Naish board bag seems worth the money too. It's actually red on three sides with white on the fin (sun) side. has got "Glide14" label sewn into the seam. Great colour because black would be too hot for sitting on my car all day. Padded and silver lined.

Anyway, there's a few realities for you, especially lighter guys, but downwind - awesome. Hope it helps someone like youve helped me. Now I'm gonna cut me some glass matting. Cheers

Yeah, but the wind is blowing and the shop is in Qld! but youre right because i can actually see the impression of what squashed into the board theres no way that happened in transit through all the wrapping that was on the rails. Anyway I sealed it with resin last night and when this wind stops blowing I'll glass the rails, just like rail tape but sanded smooth. Should end up better than new. Stronger at least. Right now I'm off to Freo, (check seabreeze perth weather metro). Cheers

sup46 said..Anyway second thing I noticed - the carry handle isn't quite at the centre of mass which means got to carry with three fingers wedged as forward as you can go and keep board down with other hand. Not cool. Looks like another glassing job - I will beam-balance, but i reckon the handle needs to be placed forward by its own length would be perfect. Naish are u listening? (The water that leaks into the ding might keep the tail down just enough tho?) ;)

Interesting - mine feels pretty much perfectly balanced.
I agree with the ease of paddling upwind. Did a bit of that against a strong onshore the other day and it was hassle free and nicer to pierce through waves rather than feel the shudder of the nose slapping against every chop.

DavidJohn said..

I really enjoyed mine today on our 1/1/2014 downwinder.. I got some runners that went on and on..

I found myself moving forward and back.. forward and back.. and forward and back without taking a paddle stroke and I could controle the speed of the board so I could keep myself in that perfect spot in the trough.. It was awesome.

Maybe it's the added weight of the heavier board that kept the board gliding.. Shame I didn't take my camera.

yip - it's like having a throttle......