supanimal said...One of the one's for sale was mine prior to selling to the guy who has it listed now.
I found it stable and quite fast but found the tail squirted on the water line a bit (I'm 104kg) however also had a couple of other negative aspects that pursuaded me to move it on.
First one being that there is really no room for foot momement given the bridge down the deck and the standing position is pretty much fixed so it was a jump on, brace and go type set up.
The second was the lightness compromising the strength. It is carbon on the rails and in the standing (bracing) area for strength but the remainder is typical surftech construction (which I rate VERY highly) but it and the Lahui Kai 14' are hollow unlike the heavier 'solid' surftech boards that are hard as a rock (Lairds etc).
I put my paddle across the deck of my Bark and it indented which lead me to ask why and get the answers above-mentioned....so a weight reduction means a strength reduction in the 'low risk' area's.
They are great boards and do go very well however don't treat them rough.
Hope that helps.
personally i'm pleased that some companies are making lighter boards for the more serious paddlers.
the bark are a very good weight. if you aren't a big person, know what your doing then this type of board is just the ticket.
i've got my hands on a newish bullet. it weighs what looks like a bit under 14 kgs. its a big volume board too.
now paddling it out around the creek mouth i'm aware that a board of this size- 17'4 and the good weight that it is i can't go smashing out in decent waves. not many long boards you can. the glide 17 is probably the strongest, but you pay for it weight wise
common sense really.
i'm surprised the bark haven't done better sales wise.
the new jms are a bit wider than say the one jamie took down to vicco.
they appear to be very well built and look the goods and if they are like the proto's they will be fast. however they are no fly weight.
i would suggest going for a jm if durability is a must
Luke
