HI all

So, I posted before and have now refined my choices for a new board. Here's my story:

I need a new board for lake sailing in the stat of Montana (USA). I mostly sail a 6.2. Here are my priorities

I am replacing an ancient, but well loved Seatrend World cup slalom (90L). I want a modern board that hopefully is a bit easier to sail, or slog!

Easy planing (15>20 mph)
Good jibing (I consider the Seatrend to be fun to jibe, although it is hard to always plane out of)
Upwind easy
Slogs OK when the wind dies

I don't do tricks, and I don't try to go Mach 10. I've been looking at the Starboard Isonic 111. but at $2000, I figure I should check out everything. Also looking at Dabou rocket 115?

Any ideas? I weigh 180lbs/90kg. This will be my first new board, so I am pretty nervous, I don't know a lot about the gear available.

I am now looking at The Starboard S-type, Tabou Rocket, and JP supersport. What do you all recommend and which size? I don't uphaul, but give my weight I was thinking 110-115 but reading other's posts maybe I should go down to 100-105?

Let's say I choose a board, and can't decide the size. Do I target my 6.2 to be the midrange of the board size and go with that?

go the 100-105

the others are too big, the modern wider style boards will give you more float with less volume if you no what i mean !

i'm 90kg's and use a 104ltr jp super-x for light winds with a 6.5m.. in 15-20 knts. on the Ocean.

i can slog back in on this when the wind drops off, and it gets on the plane with a bit of help from the forearms....also can uphaul when the wind 's not enough to waterstart...

But most importantly when the wind is sweet the board is sweet, and this is why I bought the board!

Hi Laura,

Any frreride board in the 110 - 115 litre range would most likely suit your requirements. You won't find a huge difference between a 110 litre and 100 litre unless you're maxed out. then you will most likely go back to your 90 litre seatrend. What you buy will depend on what your local retailer can supply. But might i suggest that you stick to a free move or free ride design - they are comfortable to sail and with the 110 litre volume you will have a huge wind range.

Talk to your local shop and see if there are closeouts from previous years - great way to get new gear without the new gear price tag - you can save up to $500 or more depending on stock and year model.

Good luck

Also you are using in fresh water so you need a bit more volume. Def 110 litre or more. Tabou Rocket 115 would be nice

100-105L freestyle board.
freestyles have a masssssive range.

I live in Montana, waaaay off the beaten path. There are no local shops, the closest is probably the Gorge, 8 hrs away. The sailing there is quite a bit different then here in Montana. I sail in the Gorge also, but I want this board for Montana, fresh water lake sailing. I am actually a better at sailing at the Gorge in high wind (4.2m & under) than here at home. I learned in the Gorge and sail there more so I am much more skilled there. So although I consider myself "good", I actually am not very efficient at sailing in low wind.

so I want a free ride board, but what is one? Tabou doesn't call anything free ride(Rocket is a "super-cross"). Starboard calls the S-Type a freeride/slalom, and JP calls the supersport a freeride/slalom. I'm also looking at the Mistral Screamer, but they don't classify the board types on their website.

Whew, the size recommendations are between 100-115. I think once I nail down the board I'll focus in on what they offer and talk to the shop that is selling it.

One other note, I don't want to "go back to my Seatrend". I plan on retiring it, I have an old Mistral Ecstacy I take out when overpowered on the 5.2. so that will be my next board down.

thanks a lot everyone!

OK, with these 4 boards, is it a wash which one to get? All would fit well?

Mistral screamer is a little more slalom oriented, the mistral syncro is more freeride, both are easy to ride. F2 stoke is also more slalom and probably a little more complex to ride than the screamer - the F2 XTC is a bit more user friendly free-ride'ish (is that a word?). I know a few guys using the fanatic eagle and it seems to be very friendly and controllable with good wind range the 114 litre could hypothetically run 5.0-7.5 if you really wanted to. Fanatic also do a hawk which sits in there somewhere as well. Naish freeslalom is definately more slalom oriented but is really quite nice jibes well as do the other freeslalom's. I know nothing about the starboards, JP's, tabou etc. But realise that all manufacturers are making quality product - make sure you get the best value for money.

If you are just using this for blasting then consider the free slalom style boards - they are a lot of fun and usually carve really well.
Good luck

I agree with going for a 115. I am about the same weight, and use a 116 JP Super X, and it is only a handful in 20kts plus and chop. On fresh water I reckon it would be a good fit. The Rockets are pretty good to.