I've been trying out a few boards from different manufacturers lately and there are some things I don't get and I think some of the manufacturers don't get either. Please feel free to add your thoughts on the way the major Sup manufacturers are handling the transition into a new sport. I know a lot of you think of your favourite manufacturers like your favourite football team, so don't take offence.

1 - I want a surf SUP, I don't want a potential wind surfer.

Why do SUP manufacturers think it is a selling point to whack a few more holes through the surface I want to stay waterproof for the sake of some never to be used mast and/foot strap mounts? It's only going to increase the likelihood of letting water in over time and if I wanted a windsurfer, I'd buy one. I'm guessing that a 7'8" by 31" jp wide body isn't a great place to start your windsurfing career?

2 - happiness = good handles

For anyone who hasn't had the chance to use a Naish or JP board, you should. Not for how they surf or paddle, but for how much easier they are to carry. The single biggest downside to SUP as far as I'm concerned is carrying the bloody things. The handle in the above mentioned boards makes them sooo much easier to carry that it is criminal that the other big manufacturers have neglected to copy it (starboard, fanatic?) but maybe they are compensating with under utilised mast mounts......

3 - Fins

Saw a thread on this earlier and have to agree, generally the stock fins on surf sups are the crappiest cheap stuff the manufacturers think they can get away with. Just because you put your logo on that crappy black plastic fin won't make it work better. It seems as though most people on Seabreeze buy a new sup and promptly. Go shopping for better fins.

Discuss.....

Totally!!!

The Naish handles make it a much easier walk for me to the beach & back home again after a 2 hour surf when I'm completely rooted!! Apart from my surf SUPs, I have a 14' JM & the handle in it sux! Almost enough for me to sell it & get a 14' Glide GX.

Gotta say, Starboard are pretty good with fins. Bought a 9'8" Pro once & was very satisfied with the stock fins. That being said, no other brand board that I've bought so far have come with anything good.

While the Naish handles are very comfortable they don't come without issues. Pretty sure you will find they are two parts which means another seam and from one of your other points can lead to another point where water can get in.

If you buy a standard board you shouldn't expect to get top if the line fins IMO. If you pay the extra for the pro or carbon or GX or whatever then you get the better fins as you are obviously concerned with performance. If your on an average board changing the fins isn't going to make you rip, it is just another factor. It is like getting a Holden and doing it up with extras, sure it might be nice but you are still working from a base model and you can't compare it to a Ferrari.

1: there are still heaps of people who want the insert and I have never seen one leak it adds nothing to the cost so really it's like you are getting it for free. If you don't like it there the good thing is you don't have to use it.

2: yes the new handles are unreal and I'm pretty sure all company's will have them very soon even to the point that if you check out the new fanatic stock coming in to your stores they have new handles.

3:nearly every short board you buy these days don't even come with fins.IMO fins are pretty personal and what suits me might not suit you andtthese days most people already have a few sets of fins and dont need to pay extra for a board for something they might not need.

DavidJohn said...

paul.j said...
1: there are still heaps of people who want the insert and I have never seen one leak it adds nothing to the cost so really it's like you are getting it for free. If you don't like it there the good thing is you don't have to use it.

2: yes the new handles are unreal and I'm pretty sure all company's will have them very soon even to the point that if you check out the new fanatic stock coming in to your stores they have new handles.

3:

I agree.. Especially point 3..

DJ

Haha u are to quick!! I hit the wrong botton

PTWoody said...
Regarding handles, there's one thing more frustrating than a non-ergonomic handle, and that's a handle that isn't placed anywhere near the balance point of the board.

Hahahaha......which manufacturer would be silly enough to do that with a production board?
That is what protptypes are for!!

I too disagree with point 1. You don't want them, don't buy a board that has them, the choice is yours. If dropping $1500 on a new board I personally would prefer it had a bit of a wider range of use, and the ability to windsurf it ticks that box for me at least.

I guess there is the for and against for point 3. I know at least with one brand the fins that come with the pro model well with-in my level of ability, and they look like a pretty good product. On this I can only speak for the board I ride. But Jacko is correct, a lot of short boards these days don't even come with fins. I guess the industry feels that SUP isn't quite ready for this step yet.