20 posts
Dears,
Ealier this year I bought a 12' 6" x 30" 2014 Naish Glide GS which is in excelent shape. Recently an opportunity has appeared to buy an used 2012 14' x 28" AST Starboard Race also in great shape, which got me interested. The thing is, the money I would spend to buy such board is pretty much the same I would have to invest if I sold my Glide and bought a brand new 2015 12'6" x 28" Naish Javelin GX, with the new nose and all.
One thing that bothers me on the glide is how the nose gets thrown around on side chop, a problem that seems to be solved by the new Javelin nose.
We do not get many downwind conditions here in Rio, so downwinding would not be a condition I paddle, but I like to do medium/long distance cruises (for which I would use the 14') and take part into races (where the 12' 6" has a lot more options). If I upgraded I would use the 12'6" for all situations, what would not be bad also...
I am really sorry to take this question here, but I cannot make up my mind, would anyone be able to bring an insight to this situation? I am short (5' 7") and fat (230 lbs) but consider myself to be an intermediate level paddler.
VIC
3982 posts
This is pretty much the only time you will ever see me telling anyone to buy a Naish instead of a Starboard, and a 12'6" board over a 14' board, but even though I love the 2012 Starboard Race 14', the fact that you are not going to be seeing much in the way of downwind conditions really negates the value of that particular board. It has such a generous rocker shape that you will almost certainly have more water line for flat water conditions on the 2015 Javelin 12'6". So that's to say, there is absolutely no benefit for you in having this particular 14' board over the 12'6" board you are looking at.
20 posts
Ok, but in terms of sea conditions, would the 14' starboard race be more of a jack of all trades than the javelin ? I would buy a second 14' board for long distances, where conditions might change considerably, so a board that could perform well on all sea conditions would be welcome.
Getting a little off topic, I have looked at the bullet V2, which seemed liked the perfect board, but it is too expensive, how does the V1 compare to it in being a "jack of all trades" ?
