QLD
40 posts
Gday all
I am looking for a small board to use in higher winds say 25-35kts with 5.3 and 4.5 sails I have a 105L free-ride board but it is a bit too big (bouncy) for the higher winds. I sail around SEQ anywhere from Mooloolaba to Goldie on flatwater or bump jump type stuff rarely venture into the surf. I have seen a F2 Maui wave 8'4" 2002 and a newer but more expensive tabou rocket air both similar volume (80-85L) anyone know or ridden these, would I be better off with one as opposed to the other? hard to make a decision when you cant try before you buy and shop advice is usually biased towards the boards they have in stock. Any other suggestions for suitable boards, got one you want to sell?? I am intermediate level sailor (80kg) can gybe a bit, sail in straps, waterstart etc no problem.
Thanks in advance for any unbiased advice/comments
Luke
WA
23684 posts
I can comment on the F2: Don't. It is a very loose and skatey waveboard for the new skool wavesailors (at that time) such as Levi Siver (or how he sailed at that time). Very very nervous and twitchy in B&J... and worse still a very weak construction compared to top line Cobra double sandwich.
Sounds to me like you want a freestyle wave: not as nervous and skatey but still turns well. In the 70-77L range. Many of the don't go that small though.
Try RRD FSW, *board Kombat, JP FSW etc. They will crap all over F2 for strength, and be a million times better in B&J stuff.
Trouble is, for MY weight (90kg) in 25-35kn I'd be using a 75L, seems you maybe need a little bit more float for the gybes etc.
Remember a small fin helps, so a 20cm fin in a 75L FSW will be just the business
QLD
40 posts
Thanks Mark
Advice appreciated dont like the sound of the F2 now glad I didnt make that mistake. I will look at some of the more freestyle wave boards you suggested, have any of these been around for a couple of years so that I can get something a little cheaper? Maybe I should also mention that I have never ridden any boards smaller than my 105L.
Luke
WA
23684 posts
Should probably qualify my remarks now:
if a 105 is too bouncy, an 80-85 will be a LOT less. But it is big for that wind range and your weight... and a 70-75 is more appropriate. However a low 70's will be a LOT harder to gybe than your 105 as in it will tend to sink at the end of a carve. Then again the carve itself will be easier cos you can carve hard on them compared to what u are used to. I'd say at a rough guess... if you nail 80% of your gybes (not necessarily planing out of them) on your 105 in 16-20kn.... then you'll handle the drop to a 75L in 30kn pretty well. But if u r still coming to grips with the gybing, maybe a slightly faster rockered FSW in the 80-85 range is better. Will still be what I'd call bumpy in 30kn and chop.... but you won't call it bumpy I guess. Makes sense (prolly not).
See what the other dudes reckon
NSW
79 posts
I agree with mark in that a FSW is most probably the best bet. They do everything pretty well. Dont get too stuck on the volume, the max width and tail width are just as important. A wide tail is likely to feel bouncier and more volume in the tail can cause gybing in really windy conditions be a bit harder.
The older FSWs (2002 .. 2004) were a bit longer and a bit narrower and you'll most probably find that an older 84 litre FSW (read JP) will do just fine in windy conditions. I cannot comment on the newer stubbier FSWs. The older 85 liter boards can be used in a huge wind range, go smaller and you'll have to use the 105 in conditions where an 85 liter board would have been more enjoyable.
good luck!
NSW
2016 posts
can i comment? i ride a 70lt rrd wave zone on flat water in 25kt+, there bullet proof.
my advice is buy a good freeride fin at 25+ you need soft rails to jibe and sail off your fin to windward
