looking at buying a shortboard SUP after progressing on a 9' x30 x 4.5 @ 137 litres Hobie CMP, but I know I want to demo some out in the surf to try and get a feel for length , volume and width etc , I know for a fact demoing a board on flat water and going out at a beach break is completely different , and if I'm up for nearly $2000 I want to get it right, Looking at Naish Hokua x32 in either the 7'10 or 8'3, reason being I like the idea of not struggling out the back while waiting for waves and I had a brief try out of a 8'4 Hobie. 28.5 x4 something at 110 litres which I know was only brief but in the lake I was ok but in waves it was a nightmare for balancing
just wondering what shops if any hire out or demo Naish boards in the surf around the Central coast or Sydney area

Hi mate, most of the Naish boards are available on demo on the northern beaches at the moment. Good mix of used boards around also.
Sam.

Be careful with the demos: A board that will seem impossible at first may be a piece of cake after some sessions, and on the opposite (but mostly once you get to a good level), a board demoed in a good day may be too hard on the long term..

As a rule of thumb, if you do not aim for agressive surfing in hollow waves, keep a lot of width, but reduce length, rail volume & thickness if you want a manageable challenge.

If you get a chance to demo an 8.8X32 and like I have one for sale. Great board but going down the JP line.