Currently considering a board upgrade (i'm 70kg, 6'1", have been riding inconsistent river conditions in lightish winds, but wish to get into bump/jump coastal small waves/flatish ocean for now)
Still new (happy with harness/footstraps etc), but just getting confident with gybes and waterstarts will be fine when I get some more wind to refine
Currently riding a ~120L epoxy old custom 9'6" (293-odd cm) by about 63cm width
Have also got a 89L F2 Axxis 268 (55cm wide) - see avatar
Mainly riding the epoxy till have everything nailed and can then feel comfortable in the waves on the F2
So the question is:
What will be a good new version of my epoxy board?
I can probably drop some litres on it (it floats like a cork in 0knots with me on it) and considering that new boards are ~250cm and ~60ish cm wide, what will the difference in litres be?
Basically whats the difference between a 293cm and a 250cm ~120L board of ~60cm width?
What literage will be the equal to my board?
Thanks
Hey dude, if we get any wind when I get down there at end of november you can give my 105 kombat a go. It will at least give you a feel of a short board and what needs to float you,
Maybe one of the JP FUNSTERS!
Super easy to ride, quick planeing, but also quite quick once you change the footstraps!
He's only 70kgs, 100-110 litres is heaps, with his height and good techniche(which he will pick up soon) he'd be planing in no time.
Thanks Wormy, that'd be appreciated
sflack - would you wanna ride a funster? I didn't think so. hehe. Bertie's on the money
Yeah I can plane no worries (in decent wind/gusts in the river and flat ocean) but need some float as the corners are still sketchy
I just trying to work out the conversion between what i'm riding, to something last 5 years free-ride/wave board
I've heard the new boards float better then their given litres indicates, this true?
I'm okay at the relatively thin width for the volume/length, so trying to work out to go off litres or width from the old board, as the old and new are so different.
This will probably get solved as soon as i step onto Wormy's board, but would be good to understand the theory and other peoples idea
What would float we for what wind strength?
Cheers all
Don't think 'float' has anything much to do with windspeed..
It's more about displacement, water density and the weight of the stuff that's trying to float..
70kg of you, <10kg of board, ~15kg of rig and harness/wetsuit etc.. is about 95ish kgs, so in fresh water, 95 litres would do it easily, and you'd keep your feet dry(ish).
Salt water will float you higher, so you can go smaller again. It's really a question of how deep are you prepared to sink before you float!
I'm around 80kgs, 6'2 and my light wind/floaty wave board is 94 litres, but when the wind is consistent enough for me to be planing more than slogging, I trade down to a 78 litre.
The 94 litre is uphaulable, and happily slogs around off the plane without having much water washing over the deck. My small board will 'float' with me on it (in no wind) once it sinks to about knee deep. It's wobbly as anything, and it's VERY difficult to uphaul on.
Go for the smallest board you can get away with - it's just more fun.
The F2 would probably do fine even on the river..
An Excite would be fast, comfortable and quite satisfying on the river, but will probably be a handful if you try to take on the bump and jump stuff with it.
yeah i agree with bertie, i got off a really old long board after only maybe 20 - 25 outings, and bought a jp xciteride 120 and found it supa easy to sail from the word go.
would recommend them to any beginner who has at least some experience
only regret is i should have gone the 100 or probably the 110 litre..... im also 70 kgs and reckon i could have got used to 100 or 110 litre in not much more time than the 120.
Thats right 555
, I think the decision would be between a x-cite style board and a FSW, all brands do them it just comes down to personal choice what brand you go with. If DISM plans to sail it in b&j conditions and river conditions 50/50 a FSW may be more suited. I agree he also should go less litres as possible to get more out of the board but as the winds can be a bit flukey around there still enough volume to plane.
Some of the FSW boards can really hoot on flat water, I just got a exocet cross 94 and can hit 30knts on flat, but the board still has the capabilities to rip it up in slop.
Lots of good advice.
Be careful about going too small or wishing you could have a slightly smaller board.
The bigger board will plane earlier and in the sketchy winds having a board that only just floats is a real pain.
Hi Dism,
I posted some stuff earlier but the work connection was flakey. I used to own a Bombora 270 which was a great board. I've now got a Tabou Rocket 105. I guessimate they both have similar volumes. The Tabou feels floatier than the Bombora. The Bombora 270 had a mid to late 90s shape with a thin nose and mid point about 3/4 of the way back. The Tabou has the modern short and wide shape.
I would recommend not going too small on a board. I also have a Tabou Rocket 140. Its a big fat Cadillac. It can handle big sails and still feel balanced. If you go too small, when the wind drops or get get in a wind shadow it won't be fun.
My folks live in the Nambucca valley and I really miss it. So hopefully my wife and I can escape the rat race for a while and get up there for a few weeks.
Moby - was thinking along those lines that new boards will have more usable volume then the old ones, and your old board with 3/4 midpoint sounds about what I have.
Should come back to Coffs Coast late November for a sail, Wormy, Mabbott and I will be very keen for a sail I reckon.
Wormy - yeah definately making the decision between JP Xcite and FSW, and agree that FSW would be best, as the river is always lighter winds and flukey compared to the ocean (obviously) but sometimes the swell is too much for me atm, Coffs doesn't have any real open water thats swell protected but not wind protected
Xsportguy - good to hear from another of same weight about the 120L boards, yeah might go a bit smaller then that from what you've experienced (can always keep the oldie for light/gusty I spose)
Bayblaster - yeah I don't wanna get something based on the litres or width of the old board and find it is totally different in the new styles. Hoping to find a one board solution to 80odd% of my water time. The 89L Axxis can fill the high wind role. And sub-10knots can be for the old boards atm
555- cheers for the weight to litres break down, makes good sense. I just need more wind to get more confident on the 98L for high wind, its a ankle deep sinker for me to uphaul. Good to get an idea of peoples weights vs. board quiver/litres, the only thing that is confusing is the different judgements of light wind, i.e: I try to get on the water before planning conditions, but many call like 15knots light wind (I assume)
Cheers for all the help everyone, any more tips? Keep 'em coming
