Looking to trade my JP Excite Ride for something FAST. Have sailed isonic & JP slalom before and loved both so am heading that way. Hoping for something round the 110 mark for 6.2 to 8.5 ish. I'm (usually!) around 65kg. I have 93 freestyle wave that I love for smaller gear.
Bit worried by JP slalom's small recommended sail range. 108 JP is 6.2 to 7.8. 107 isonic is 5.8 to 9.0. Is anyone able to please shed some light on this?
Also bit mystified by range of 3 for light weights and range of 3 for heavy weights. At 65kg, does that mean I should avoid the boards in the heavy weight range, even if the volume is what I'm after? Does anyone have any comments or experience on the light v heavy ranges?
Any advice greatly appreciated! ![]()
Well if I was 65Kg, I would have I97/7.0/6.2, wouldn't bother with 7.8/8m size. Otherwise if you must have a larger sail, then I107, or Jp108, would work better with 7m up, and ok with 6.2. As far as the recommended sail range goes, the size in the middle works best, so make your choice around that one. For example which size will you use the most, then choose the right board.
Recommended sail range is not always what will feel good to you!
I had a mistral SLRD 95l (more like 85-90l) 59cm wide, quite thin at the back footstraps. Max sail was quoted as 7m, my 7.6 tushingham x15 was perfect on it, almost made for it.
I now have a quiver of Exocet RS boards, the RS2 (90l/59cm) max sail size is 7m, my 7.3 hot sails GPS is amazing on it and that sail has a lot more power than a 7.3 other brand as the sail has more cloth down low with a smaller top...i would say its closer to a 7.6/7.8 equivalent.
The Exocet RS4 max is quoted as 8.4, works well with the 8.8, although its not fun on a smallish board with that size sail.
A 69cm wide board will take over 8m, and 59cm board will take up to 8m generally. Your weight perhaps look halfway between - 65cm, 105ish litres.
Thanks so much. Have never properly understood the significance of width. This is a huge help. Thank you. ![]()
So not easy! Maybe you're right and demo is the only way to go...
Since I first posted I've had a bunch of people tell me I shouldn't be sailing anything bigger than 95L for my weight. But 110 has never felt big to me. My local area is often very light and gusty. When on something smaller, I really miss the early planing and comfort of getting back in without a fight in next to no wind.
Am I a lunatic for contemplating something around 110 for bigger gear at my weight?
Sorry to post again! More questions! What is the effect of having a board that is too wide for your weight? If I was to go 112L and 68cm, at 65 kg what would I feel compared to a narrower board? Or does it depend on tail width too? Thank you!
you start to become very uncomfortable with a wide board in overpowered conditions, and wide boards are made for lighter winds, so you will use a large fin, it will get you going easy though, but downwind runs in chop and slop might be uncomfortable, and the wider boards generally speaking arent as quick as a narrower board
Last year in a strong morning easterly averaging 20 knots plus, i sailed my 69cm Fanatic 111 litres and my F2 x-speed also 110 litres but narrower at 64cm.
Used both boards with a 5.6m. The wider Fanatic was a complete nightmare, especially in the rough stuff,also slower for topend. The narrower F2 was nearly perfect,could put the foot down in the rough stuff instead of backing off. The wider tail of the Fanatic made it necessary to use a bigger fin which resulted in my back leg being overworked.
The 107 litre sonic might be a good compromise for 6.2 and 8.5
Thanks so much for all this advice. Back to the slalom drawing board with more consideration of width I think ![]()
i found the RRD fantastic across the wind, really fast, but i got a 121 and have tried the 134 falcon and they are really good when more powered up, however we can only use then with weed fins here and could be a complete different story with REAL fins....
dam weed ![]()
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If you are 65 kilos then you should consider much smaller board, i am about 70 kilos and i could use my 90L 59cm slalom board from 14-15 with a 7.0 up to 25 kts with a 6.0 and a 2cm smaller fin. you will find you have a lot more fun on a board that size as well. i also have a 112L/70cm slalom board and even with a 8.0 it only really extends the wind range down to the 12/13 kt mark but the top end loss is substantial, probably anything over 20kts even with a smaller fin isn't comfatable at all. If i had to choose one board it would be the 90L no questions asked. However a good size for you considering the lighter winds over east would be the 100L/65cm size as this would be a good compromise, between early planing and good top end. also one thing about your other board your 93, i would also consider getting a smaller board as that is a big board for you, that style of board as well will be a real handfull compared to a 70 ish/ 53-5cm board.
just some thoughts, i'm sure others will dissagree