Yes here's another one sorry guys but its important to me at least !!!
Have spent the last 3 months on a family 10ft6 32 in Art in surf cheap **** thingy which has served well to learn to paddle.
I'm now at the point where I've worked on technique and have been out every day, and I'm pretty confident ( I didn't say good )
Now I want to progress to a better board to look at touring and entry level racing.
I'm 45 years Old, 5ft 9 and 95kgs and based in Auckland, only paddle on ocean but hey I'm open to fresh too when I need to be.
I'm looking at a 14ft board I think, and am confused as to the width I should get ?
Soooooo.....
Fanatic Falcon ?
SIC Bullet V1 or V2?
SIC X14 ?
Javelin 256 or 26 ?
As you see I need help !!
Many thanks
Hey, 14' is the way to go and you are right that you should be thinking about what width as that as more important than what brand. Also try and demo a few as the width and stability are critical and you should try them out in choppy water to really see where your ability is at. To be safe go for between 30" and 28" wide and that should get you focused on what brand to buy. There are a few boards popping up on Trademe so keep an eye out. I would include NSP and Starboard in your shopping list.
I have been chopping down race board widths over the last 5 years from 30" Starboard, 27.5" Fanatic, 26" NSP/DC and now looking at a NSP 24.5". I SUP surf a lot on little boards so have some balance. I am also based in Auckland and your age, 85kg, and do some social racing and downwinders in the harbour. I have found 14' is so much faster than 12'6 on the GPS for racing, plus heaps better for touring as you go further/faster and for downwinding as you catch all the bumps and really glide.
I agree with StevO - width is your friend when you are getting started, and demo as much as you can as there are a lot of different designs/shapes.
Also think about what your future may hold. Will you want to play on waves? Will you want to downwind? Tell the SUP sales person as different designs perform differently.
Good on you for going for a 14' Its the way to go ..
Im also 95 kg and find my naish .14 ' x28 javelin carbon ...a great board for my weight .
they are a fair price ..but check out the buy and sell on the breeze ..some great deals .on all brands . 
Great advice thanks to all. I think it seems 26 will possibly too narrow to begin with. There's a good priced SIC X14 Pro Carbon on trade me he wants $2800nz but listening to you guys that might be too much too soon ?
The X14 would probably be a good choice for you, but the X14 Pro is a much narrower and less stable board and I suspect you wouldn't have much fun on it, especially in the sea.
Especially for the first couple of years of SUPing, stability = speed. Stability means you can commit to your stroke, maintain a good rhythm, and keep the board flat in the water, reducing rail steer (and therefore improving tracking). These factors will outweigh any theoretical advantage that having a narrower board will make (at least until you are really quite experienced, expert even).
Agree with the above and you are right on the money. I think if this is your first race/touring board I reckon go in the 28-30 width.
This board is a good place to start, durable construction in TWC:
www.trademe.co.nz/sports/surfing/stand-up-paddle-boards/auction-1063887426.htm
the X14 pro carbon at X26 wide would be your ideal race board in the future.
I also recommend Naish GX, Naish glide, Older Fanatic flys.
Stay away from boards with pin tails if you want to learn to pivot turn as they aren't stable in the tail when you step back.
The auction must have just closed. It works just click on it.
Yeah mate it's the X14, solid board. Great in flat and all around.
Then later as your skill improves in a season or two you can match it with a downwind, or all-around board more narrow ;)
Cool great advice so is the price ok ? I'm not too concerned sbout the small tear in the deck pad it looks to be in a pretty Safe position
Final question, for a 5ft9 guy what paddle would you recommend as I'm using an off the shelf cheapy. I'm ok to spend money I love this new sport !!! Base your answer on what I've written above and let's pretend I bought an X-14
Looks in good nick and has rail tape. If it comes with leash could be a fair price. NZ retail as of this year is $3599, couple years ago rrp was 2900.
You could maybe ask how long he has owned it for (to further determine condition/use of board), it doesn't say.
If it has had a fair bit of use you would be looking to offer closer to 2000.
Haha anything better than an alloy or off the shelf cheapy!
Too hard to recommend as there are so many now.
Stay away from cheap china carbon ones from trademe.
Stick to a main brand and should be ok.
FYI I've gone from naish to Kialoa as I think more about the durability of my gear now.
Maybe stick to a fixed length at your weight as may put too much pressure on an adjustable. The shop should cut the paddle to the correct height.
Maybe see if you can find a deal this weekend....
I know JC kite and sup in the city are having a store location moving sale on Friday 3-8pm and bbQhttp://jckitesurfandsup.co.nz/shop/Example+Category+2/Paddles/x_item_sort_by//page/2.html
And, I heard Matakana Beach Outfitters are having a moving sale too this weekend:
www.matakanasup.co.nz/product-category/sup-paddles/ (i'm sure their range is bigger than this).
Paddles are very personal so try and demo or borrow some. You need to consider flex/stiffness, blade size and construction which are factors that affect how a paddle will work for you. Do some research on this forum and others and get some advice from the shop.
If you are buying beers....
