After 3 months of SUP I have decided that my 11" NSP is not the greatest board in the surf. My wife has also caught the bug and much to my suprise is keen as to learn to surf - ankle to knee slappers 
I'm 61 102 kg she is 44 70ish kfg- close as she will say. I'm a competent surfer ex-long boarder. Looking at getting either a couple of Manas or Allwaves. Will get a way better deal for 2 of the same, (different dealers). Where I get a bit confused is weight specs and volume. According to manufacturers I should be riding the 9'5" Allwave, (90 - 105kg) or Mana 10' ,(max 104kg). I will try both boards but will be limited to probably flat water or limited surf and my limited SUP surf ability. Could I get away with the 9'5" Mana or would I be better off with the 10? I would describe my surfing style as cruisey, big turns from the middle of the board cutbacks a bit of walking any ideas on which of these 2 would be more suited for this style. We will get either the 9'5" Mana or 8'11 Allwave for my wife and keep the NSP for flatwater etc. Any advice gratefully appreciated.
I can highly recommend the 10' mana GT .I'm 97 kgs .I've been using it in waves up to 4 foot ,catches waves easy .and also good in sloppy small waves.it is wide @33 ,and 190 litre ,so easy to ride .the 9.5 is good for people up to 95 kgs.@ 163 litres .....but you could still ride it ..
......10' for you ,and 9.5 'for the wife .then you are covered .
Im about 98kg on a bad day and i ride and 8'5 mana.
I havnt tried the larger manas but i also have a 9'1 allwave and it floats me fine.
I would go for the 9'5 Mana for yourself, the 10' is quite a big board and either the 8'5 or 8'10 for your wife, 9'5 will be big for her, i'm 89kg and paddle the 8'5 so she would have no problem with the or the 8'10. The 9'5 should have plenty of float for you.
Thanks for your replies. Wonder why they so consistantly under rate the weight bearing capacity - I thought the 10 looked big - it has the same volume as my 11' NSP which floats me fine. Do you find you turn it off the Mana off the rail, i.e. mid point, or off the tail. I used to ride my long boards single fin and I'm looking for the same style in a SUP. Thanks.
I really like and have owned all the boards you have discussed. They all bring different things to the table.
Float is a consideration, but not the only one. There is no need to go to the lowest possible volume just because you can.
At your weight the 10' Mana and the 9'5 Allwave will be about the same... float and stability wise.
I actually think that the 10' Mana surfs better in small waves than the 9'6 Allwave.
The 9'5 Mana and 9'1 Allwave are both doable for you, and will be better in bigger surf, but not sure that it will be an overall gain for what you want.
The Allwaves are very well built. The Mana's are not as durable... the paint chips off them very easily, plus I've had delams.
The Allwave is a better deal overall with lower starting prices and the board will not show wear after much use.
The Mana's surf better, in my view, above 9' in length
Below 9' long, I prefer the Allwaves.
BUT.... they are not longboard single fin type ride that you said you are looking for. (maybe an older 10' Mana will do for that)
If you really want a "longboard" feel in a board that will deliver solid surf performance in all waves, consider the 10'6 Nalu/Alana
Tha Alana/Nalu is only 30" wide and will present more of a challenge balance wise, but float is fine for me at 105 Kg plus full 5mm winter wetsuit gear.
I still have my 10'6 Alana and love it in tiny chop or solid OH surf.
It has the "longboard" single fin feel you mentioned. The GS Nalu or Alana are single fin only... and you can pick up an Alana for fairly short money. But buy some "Railsaver Pro" and install before you start hacking the paint off the rails.
One thing that stands out on the Naish Mana's and Nalu's.... the tail rocker allows for very smooth and easy turning with little effort if you stand near the tail, but they surf nicely off the front foot when charging down the line. (Harold Iggy knew what he was doing, these designs are timeless)
For your wife, I think that she will really be happy on a 9'5 Alana (girly version of the mana) or a 9'1 Allwave... way more float than she will need, but small enough to handle off the water and a good solid surfing/paddling board on the water. No need to go really small, she will probably appreciate the extra comfort.
Note:
Naish boards can vary a LOT in weight. I had one 9'5 Mana that weighed about 10.5 K, my next 9'5 mana weighed over 12.7 kg (my 10'6 Alana = 11.6 kg)
Pick them all up.... go with the one that feels right.
Here is a video I did on my 10'6 Alana... not a full review because the stats on the board are well known.
Lots of different wave conditions and camera vantages
Great post sup the creek .i mainly got the 10' mana ,as naish said it is a board for progression learning how to catch and ride waves .I've learnt heaps ..and will probably get a smaller wave board later .If you are just going to wave sail 9.5 might be the go .As supthecreek said the Nalu is more of a longboard feel .Ive surfed the 11.4 and you have to walk about on the board more ..I like the short board feel .I do use smaller fins on the mana ,for a more loose feel.good luck.
Thanks STC your reviews are legendary. I had considered the 10'6 Nalu but feel it is a bit beyond my skill level at present. have thought about getting a 11' Nalu and the 9'6" Mana for my wife. Use the 11' when surfing the little stuff with her and when it gets to big for her I have the option of the Mana. Will will check out the Allwaves as they sound rugged and also a good learning board with reasonable flat water ability. We like to go away to the East Coast for weekends , the surf is a little gentler than our local West Coast breaks that Anne finds intimidating and we will only take 2 boards so they have to be able to do a little flat water as well. Thanks all for your advise it has been very helpful.
Thanks
Very informative and entertaining
wouldn't have considered one previously
NIck
Well after some research and testing I have come down to 2 boards. I went to the Fanatic shop in Auckland who are also the JP agents. The more I looked at the Allwave and talked to the guys about how it surfed the more I relised it wasn't for me. On the other hand the 10'2 Fusion really appealed. I dont know how many round pins and squash tails I have owned over the years - I'm a big unit, ex front row rugby player - and used to ride 7 - 8' round pins when everyone else riding 6'6" prone boards.
I also tested the 10' Mana, no one had a 9'6. I talked with Nick at Sup Shed in Orewa and we agreed the Nalu 11' wasn't what I was after.
So I tested both boards in crappy 2 foot onshore Orewa slop over the last 2 days, windy heaps of chop, not ideal. I thought the Mana was the most stable of the 2 but the Fusion had the edge in directional ability and seemed faster. Quite similar boards really, both relatively manouverable for their size. At my current stage of SUP surfing they felt right stability and wave catching wise - my 2 biggest issues 
So I am getting 2 boards either a 10'2 Fusion for me and 9'8 for my wife. Or a 10' Mana for me and a 9'5 for her. The thing is the JP dealer is offering me a fantastic deal $1300 off 2 wood editions and a paddle where as the best deal I can get off 2 Naish dealers is 10% off. Meaning we end up with the higher spec Fusions for the same price as the GS Manas.
I know Shiresup rates the Fusions - I have never read anyone having problems with JP construction. Leaning toward the JP at present, will get Anne to test the 9'8next weekend. Anyone have problems with JPs or Fusions? Anyone who has ridden both Mana and Fusion who can offer any advice? Thanks again - Charlie
Hi Charlie i was in the same position as you.... I also love riding a single fin long board and was looking for the same feel in a sup....... My wife had an NSP elements 10ft 2 board which I learnt too SUP on & loved it. Although it wasn't the most refined board out there, it was lots of fun......I started surfing her SUP more and our two worlds started colliding so I decided to get a board of my own....Same predicament as you which board to get ????? Naish, Fanatic, JP ?????
I had a go on a Mana 9 5 in 2 ft surf..... The moment I got on it, it felt like home. I went to my local surf shop and bought one, and that's 2 weeks ago......The boards beautiful, it paddles onto waves nice and easy, theirs plenty of speed to make sections, it turns really well & you can even nose ride it.... You can surf it in 1 ft to 6 foot waves no problems..... I do agree with SUP the creeks review, the mana chips really easily so make sure you put rail tape on should you choose the Mana.....
My boy is 13 and had a go on it the other day & I couldn't the little bastard off it....He loves the bloody thing too....Maybe looking for a 3rd board hahahaha
This is my first post, I hope this helps in decision making........
CharlieF, I had a 10'8 x 34 Fusion.... I really liked the board, it was great to paddle flat-water and I loved the look of it.
The construction was fine and it surfed really well.... the ONLY reason I moved on from it when I did was:
I noseride everything I own... and the Fusion that I had, would simply blow out sideways when I got near the nose. It was a few years ago, and the nose may have changed since then....but something to consider if you are really into the "longboard" thing.
I wish I could have kept it longer... but, 1 in - 1 out.
Thanks Zozza and STC. The nose riding is not a deal breaker for me at the moment - what I liked about the round pins and long boards I owned in the past was the ability to bury the rail and project a long turn down the line aided by a bigger centre fin, something I''m sure a bigger surfer like you can appreciate STC! Given your feedback and the great deal I have been offered looks like the JP is coming out on top, I was just ticking the boxes after reading problems others were having with the Laird boards. Last thing I want to do is shell out my hard earned $$ for an inferior quality board.
Well after a bit of testing and negotiating with some Sup shops we finally ended up buying a 10' and a 9'5 Mana. The 10 is a 2014 GT and the 9'5 is a 2015 GS. We got them off Keith Jarmey the local Naish agent out at Raglan, He gave us a fantastic deal and is a really nice guy. I have had the 10 out in the surf 5 times and am really impressed, I expected it to be way less responsive than it is, obviously at 10 x 33 it's no shredder, but the v that runs through it and the thruster set up certainly makes for a board that can turn. Had to wax it pretty quick as well as you can get up front easily and it holds a trim line well. I have tried Anne's 9'5 as well and can paddle and ride it but am glad I got the 10. The reason being that although I can surf I am new to SUP and the stability and wave catching ability of the 10 is a real advantage, especially when conditions are a bit challenging, I can concentrate on surfing not staying on the board. Both Supthecreek and DJ advised that getting the smaller of 2 boards considered may not be the best choice. This was fantastic advise for me; in some conditions the 9'5 is the better board for me but most of the time the 10 is the best. Interestingly Anne caught her first ever standup wave on the 10 - you could have heard her hooting a kilometre away At 60 odd, with a bung knee and 103kg I need all the help I can get
Just got home from 3 days of little surf at Waihi. Once again - thanks for all the advise that this site has provided, it has been invaluable.
Well done Charlie ,you have a couple of good boards .put some FCS PG 5 SnapBack side fins on the 10' mana makes heaps of difference.I've ordered a Hokua 9.6 but the 10' mana is a keeper .Its just so easy to ride .just feels big when the waves are big ..but you have a 9.5 now too .enjoy .
Great to hear Charlie!
I'm glad you are happy with the boards you got, and thanks for letting us know.
Wow and I didn't get to comment 
But I was going to suggest the Mana for you and 9'8 Fusion for you.....wife.......cause as you get better, and on bigger days......you could "borrow" it
Have a blast and when your ready I reckon a Nalu for noseriding days and 9'8 for everything else 
(but if you get a chance try the JP 10'6 I know a few people have sold nalus to buy the JP in pro construction.......it would be my choice
And sadly I am not sponsored by JP (or SIC) but froth so much they should.........
