Kode vs S-Type

I'm thinking of buying one of these, and looking for other people's experience with these or similar boards.

Anyone had a chance to try these on the ocean?
I tried Kode 112 on the river, and it worked well. I was also quite interested in a 115 S-Type at Reg's (which is not gone...).

...Or suggest an alternative good ocean board between 110 and 118L, with a single rear strap option?

Thanks in advance...

Obelix

I've got a 5 year old 104L S-type and love it . It's excellent in moderate and fresh winds and chop < 1 metres. It's my "bread and butter" board. I run it in the ocean straps out and back, and use a 33cm B&J fin. Although, there's a bit of a knack to get them on the plane and make them go fast and up wind.

Shear tip: Interesting observations, cheers . Just a question: Is the "104L:" rating of my board a virtual volume ?. If so, what's the real volume of my board ?

J

Check out the ISAF website for actual board volumes. The 126 S-Type is actually 123 litres. My 2005 104 S-Type is 103 litres, but the 2007 104 S-Type is 105 litres.

Can you believe the 93 is actually 99 litres? Thats the difference between waterstart only and uphaul!

source: http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/ISAFListSlalom-[8370].pdf

[edit]: copy 'n' paste the above link for it to work correctly

I'm exactly your weight...today, but have had no experience with these boards but have short listed both as my future "big guys" wave board. For some reason I'm leaning towards the Kode, maybe their vid's have done their job, they seem to be able to cover everything I'd like to get into.

And on the other hand I'm also keen on a Exocet-Kona 10.5-11.5 so go figure. (shrugs)

I did a google on the Kode and their promo came up "Starboard Kode 2010 Action Video.mp4", there's some shots of lightweights on smaller volume Kode's ripping it up in the surf but also a brief flatwater blast on what looks like one of the bigger volume boards (woody version). The 2011 promo just shows lightweights jumping and wave slashing which tells me nothing about the larger volumes.

After reading about the similar rail and rocker lines shared in the Kode family, albeit the 114+ litres ones being wider, I guessed if the little fellas can be sailed aggresively in waves the larger ones should too, hence me thinking a "big guys" wave board?

In comparison I recently acquired an '04? Fanatic X-Cross 140 (135 litres) and only just started blasting around with it with a 7.5 Ezzy Freeride on flatwater in a minimum of 15 knots solid, in gusty conditions I shlogg. I'm also guessing in bumpy outside swell, as yet untried, it'll become a handful as its got a tiny bit of V at the tail and a very featureless bottom. It''ll bounce around at speed in chop. Hence me looking around for a future board, the Kode's got more wave rails and lots more V under the straps to the tail, good stuff for chop and of course waves with not too much rocker that it takes forever to plane.

You'd no doubt have more sailing days than I would with a Kode 112/114 in WA...our winds suck in NSW for heavier guys. Hence me thinking wave longboards from Exocet.

I did a review of my use of the kode on my blog
www.redsurfbus.com/2011/01/starboard-kode-112l-review.html

Not ridden the s-type, but would recommend the kode112 as an all rounder that is pretty good in most conditions for me at 85-90kg.

I cant uphaul my 95ltre board & Im only 64kgs..although Ive havent tried a lot

Interesting looking board. Forgot to mention, I'm actually looking for a SH board.
Fin wise, I have a 33cm American Box on Bombora, 48cm Deep Tuttle on the Carve, and a previous board leftover 34 JP weed Power Box...
I like the Power box the best, but the buy often depends on the budget constraint, and the board you want is not always available SH.

I'm still breaking the boards, so a brand new board with a nose broken would be hearthbreaking .

I can uphaul 6.8m in the chop. 7.5m makes it a sinker (too much sail resistance in the water). Can uphaul both on the river.
Still, prefer to wait for a bit of wind and waterstart it.

Anyway, I would not expect to uphaul anything on 112-115L board.

Especially when your stuffed..