I've been sailing for almost 12 months. I'm at a point where I'd like to try something other than bay sailing (which I still enjoy). I'm by no means good enough to ride waves, but would like to try ocean sailing for small chop to try jumps etc.
I don't have the room to have a board for each scenario and willing to compromise by having a board that would be ok for both. Looking for something around 100lt.
What do people think? Can you recommend some boards to consider for this purpose?
I would suggest go a freestyle/wave board instead of a pure wave, which should serve both needs nicely.
I went from freeride (Starboard Carve) to a pure wave board (Starboard Acid). In the surf the wave board is awesome but really isn't that fun for straight blasting. It's slower to plane, much harder to blast upwind and will not keep planning through lulls anywhere near as well as a freeride. I also seems to fall behind people I used to pass with ease.
On the flip side it is much stronger, very loose and lively and never nose dives as you come down the face of a wave, which would occassionally happen with my Carve.
I have never used them but Freeestyle/Wave boards are meant to be a nice board to fit both needs. I am sure others sailors can offer better insights into this area.
Hope this helps, good luck.
Definitely a freestylewave
They are better for blasting than a waveboard as waveboards won't track straight (designed to turn, always hunting for a curve) and plane slowly.
However a FSW turns a helluva lot better than a freeride. Top pics RRD and JP IMHO
Try to get one size bigger than the standard 28cm ish FSW fin which is pretty much like a freeride fin with a tiny bit more rake, and get a 25 - 26cm wave fin for it and you will extend the dual use capability even more
as an alternative to a FSW you could go for a new (post 2008) freestyle board. Most of the newer ones handle bump and jump very well.
Definitely a free-style wave. A freestyle board will work, but not as well.
FSW boards are designed exactly for what you want.
The JP Single Fin Thruster will work very well too, marginally more wave oriented, but still planes very nicely and is a bit livelier on a wave. They are very nice boards. The largest size of 99L will suit you very well.
THe FSW has a powerbox fin though, with a better selection of larger more upright fins available to you to optimise upwind drive in marginal conditions.
If you get a lot of good wind where you sail, go the SFT. If you get more marginal days, consider the FSW.
What they said.
I've had 100 litre FSW boards (JP) and friends who are progressing have usually owned one / do own one. Nice and forgiving, jumpable, turnable and can generally soak up bay chop pretty well as well. Definitely my recommendation as well.
I've had some great experiences with JP recently (2008 JP FSW 84 Pro Edition), but do pay particular attention to anything from around 2005 I think (others may be able to confirm) - they had a couple of years of not brilliant construction and I know of 3 or 4 JP FSW (85 and 98 litres) from that era that went seriously soft.
If money is no object.... the latest RRD FSW would be my pick (but I've not sailed one).
[EDIT - my Profile Pic is my FSW 98 before it went soft]
I have a 105L Thommen Class X (the 2008 freewave model), the board blasts great and I've tried it on 1.5m wave (on shore wind conditions), it carves well (I haven't ridden a wave board so I can't compare)... can do an Air jibe easily on it, it pops pretty nicely and handles bumps perfectly...So for allarounder and until you figure out whether you like flatter or wave conditions, the FSW type boards are definately a way to go, or small freerides can serve you well too...
Thanks for all the opinions so far. FSW I'll look into.
How much slower is a FSW board to get planing compared to a pure free ride board? If you can hit 20knots top speed with a freeride, would you top out at say 18knots with the FSW? Do they accelerate about the same?
Acceleration should be good since the board are freewave a.k.a. freestyle wave... the freestyle part of hte name should cover early planing... top speed is a different question, I had a 2008 fanatic eagle 113L it was a very fast board, but now with thommen class X I can get planing earlier (at least it feels that way), but can't say about the top speed... probably slower due to strap setup (middle on this one, but more towards outline on eagle)... they aren't the slowest boards for sure and they handle chop perfectly...
Speaking of strap setup, that is one thing I love about the RRD FSW's.
They have an outboard strap option (incl double rear of course) but the pads are rippers. The pads have a raised section that goes under your heel when the straps are inboard - so it is a good heel bumper when jumping. But when the straps are outboard it sits under the arch of your foot, enabling you to have that sideways drive against the fin - just like when you have the arch of your foot on the upper rail of a freeride.
Very comfy and makes it feel like a waveboard in wavey trim, and feel like a freeride when freeriding.
I have an outer strap option too on thommen, but I like the straps in freestyle/wave setup...
Still, on a wave it's not nearly as turny as a dedicated full on wave board... what I'm trying to say is that a full on wave board isn't what you want. A Freestyle wave is just the ticket 
Thanks everyone for all the replies. I've been looking on the net to see what's around.
What are people's opinion on Starboard Kode 114 Tufskin? I like the idea that you can set it up for kids and beginners so friends and family can use it too (I only really have space for one board, but can squeeze two). I've had a tufskin board before and loved the durability. It has a tuttle fin box, which seems to have more options for freeride fins.
I am worried that this board could be too much of a compromise in all areas, and not much fun at all. Or could be a good thing? Any one sailed one?
Might want to check that box. A tuttle box will have fewer options for freeriding, you sure it is not a power box?
Just read you requirements of board, and a FSW would suit, but what you are saying is that you will be in the flats 75% of the time. Get a freeride/ freecarve board. Eg Fanatic shark / hawk, Tabou rocket, They will ride just as smooth, have more speed in the straights and the corners. They can be jumped with ease, and due to having more speed, you may find it easier to jump. Which IMO is a huge help as a novice.
The FSW style board is really dependant on the shape of the board, I've had some, and to date am not really impressed except for my mistral Syncro style, which i love. Its the problem of making a board try to do too many things, its ok, but not really good at either. So like you said 75% flat water with a little bump and jump, get a freeride board - youll have tonnes more fun.
I looked at that board with interest, but if I remember correctly the spec weight was a negative.
I ended up with a JP 112 FSW Pro - ideal for blasting about in 14 to 20 knots on 7.4 down to 6.2 sails (I weigh 90kgs). I chose it over the 110 RRD FSW because I read on a review somewhere that the JP was less wavey that the RRD. My thinking was that it would have a flatter rocker and hence be quicker onto the plane in the marginal winds situation.
I have been pleasantly surprised how well it turns when you stomp on the tail. Its certainly easy to pump onto the plane.
