Looking for some opinions on these three boards. Has anyone sailed all 3? Starbaord iSonic, Exocet RS and Tabou Manta.
Looking for a fast bay board, so it will be in choppy bay conditions more often than nice flat water blasting.
I want something that's a bit forgiving, but goes quick and gybes well.
Be interested in people's opinions on this one.
I tried the isonic once, very stiff and technical (but smoking fast), the rs is comfy but not so fast and the straps are sh.., the tabou has a double concave that absorbs the chop really well and is still very fast, sweet ride.
So if you're going to spend time blasting in chop I would go for the tabou (as long as it's a 2012/2103 edition, the previous had delam issues between the pads)
My point is the little top speed you loose coming off a stiff board you gain back by better handling and confort on a smoother ride.
You could consider the patrik, very comfy and fast.
Rrd is fast but not very forgiving and a bit hard on the knees.
The Jp, well..... well.... fast but so hard on the back leg
Thanks Sean - so on the balance, you like the Tabou. One other thing I was wondering, I am doing most of my sailing on a JP Allride, what differences should I look for getting onto the Tabou (or any of the others). Am hoping for some more speed, but what other handling differences? Cheers.
I have a Tabou manta that I now very rarely use (98 l for 93 kg..
) but my son blasts around the choppy bay on it like if it was a lake...
Compared to an allride it'll be night and day, at first you probably won't handle the chop as you're used too..especially downwind !!
But speed wise it will be a huge improvement, I would recommend you try a slalom board first, whatever the make, cause they only have "outside" positions for the straps, can be disturbing if you're not easy with that type of sailing.
Those boards you mention are quite technical to ride and need good fins to get them going (sold without fins).
Depending on your level you could also settle for the freerace editions of those boards,more "accessible" : an inside strap position, no carbon (so not as stiff) and delivered with a fin ! for example : the speedster instead of the manta (it's a beauty !!) the futura instead of the isonic.
Best to have ago on each if ya can before you spend the $.
All good boards its come down to your style and what you like.
If you want a bit softer feel through the chop go wood.
Select to expand quotevando said..
Best to have ago on each if ya can before you spend the $.
All good boards its come down to your style and what you like.
If you want a bit softer feel through the chop go wood.
Good advice.
As further context, I windsurfed from about the age of 12 to about 32 and then took about 7 years off and got back into it a few years ago. I had a season on a 93ltr wave board, then went to the Allride 106ltr. I feel ready to get onto something a bit "edgier" around the 100ltr mark. The outside straps are fine. I have a larger Futura for lighter conditions and really enjoy it, but looking for something to spent 70% of my time on when the wind is 15 to 25 kts. I am 75 kgs, but happy with 100 ltrs. Maybe I should look for something a little smaller? I do really enjoy the 106 ltrs so thinks 100 ltrs is about right.
Select to expand quoteSputnik11 said..vando said..
Best to have ago on each if ya can before you spend the $.
All good boards its come down to your style and what you like.
If you want a bit softer feel through the chop go wood.
Good advice.
As further context, I windsurfed from about the age of 12 to about 32 and then took about 7 years off and got back into it a few years ago. I had a season on a 93ltr wave board, then went to the Allride 106ltr. I feel ready to get onto something a bit "edgier" around the 100ltr mark. The outside straps are fine. I have a larger Futura for lighter conditions and really enjoy it, but looking for something to spent 70% of my time on when the wind is 15 to 25 kts. I am 75 kgs, but happy with 100 ltrs. Maybe I should look for something a little smaller? I do really enjoy the 106 ltrs so thinks 100 ltrs is about right.
For a slalom board 100l will be on the big side for your weight and choppy conditions. The ideal sail for a 100l would be around 7m. I use a 90L board for that wind range and my 92 kg. volume is not the best guide for slalom boards, look at the width and tail width. As an example my Isonic 111 had a bigger tail than a Futura 133, so carried more sail.
Try them all if you can
My 2c worth:
I find board comfort gives confidence in your board in combination with a well matched fin make for high speeds in rough water.
High speed in chop is about knowing your boards strong points and exploiting those to your advantage. The RS is a very fast board but also very quick to get up and go and dial into. I find it sits into choppy water very well, not trying to lift out of it's line when reaching at speed but allowing focus on the gusts so that when the pressure in the sail builds, the RS can then slingshot deep off the wind and chop with very high speeds and control.
I actually love the footstrap on the RS for my big feet they hold a nice open shape. I have found they do not twist or hold heaps of water as some of the other board brands softer straps do. It's all personal.
Cheers Russ
Select to expand quotevando said...
Best to have ago on each if ya can before you spend the $.
All good boards its come down to your style and what you like.
If you want a bit softer feel through the chop go wood.
+1
100lt about what you want for that wind range.
I have a Futura 93 and IS97 both very different boards.
Love the FU in rough nasty conditions and a heap of fun and easy.
If you want something abit more edgier IS97 or similar slalom board are the go.
what sails do you plan on using on the board.
That wind range is a fairly large range when talking rough water sailing. In the ideal world that's probably a two board range at least.
But if you only want one board to cover that range at your weight(75kg) i reckon something around 90 liters is the way to go. I weight about 85kg and i can use my 93 liter board in 15(steady)-25knots if i need to, depending on what size sail i use on it. You don't really want to use anything more than a 7m and less than probably a 5.5ish sail on a 90 liter board in my opinion.
But as vando asked it also comes down to the sail sizes that you have and also the type of sails you have. Probably not much point going for a full on slalom board if your running raf(non cam) freeride sails and you would probably be better with a freerace board like the Futura, which i've heard are still really fast boards that may even be better in the chop 
I had a Futura 111 and loved that board, wish i still had it for around that 15-18 knot range
If you're running cam sails then you have the choice between either a freerace board or a full on slalom board, as these sails will work really well on either
Only my opinion..
I have a 90L 2011 isonic wood (I have not sailed the other 2).
I am 75kg and use Loft Blade (4cam race sails) 6.3 and 7.8m.
It is awesome! It is a floater for winter 0-20knt conditions and is uphaulable.
It has done a 40knt peak display and regularly hit 36knts (on a 32cm Goldwing and 27cm Choco weedy).
It handles chop amazingly for a 41cm wide tail board and I have used it on the river and ocean.
Other people I have talked to who have sailed the carbon version don't seem to be so comfy.
I run the mast track about 12-15mm back from the standard Starboard circle.
I've Got the iSo 86 (86 Litres and 56.5cm wide), and Tabou Manta 54 (74 litres and 54cm wide) Both great boards cant let go of either. I'm 90kg plus. The iSo takes a 6.7, wheras dont like anything bigger than a 6.3m on the Manta 54. When its super gnarly the manta 54 is the easier and more fun board to sail. When its windy but flat the iso is faster on all points of sail. Gybing, I thought the iSo 86 was the best gybing slalom board ever, until I gybed the Manta 54, its by far the best gybing board ever (for me). The iSo 86 planes earlier and can be sailed with bigger fin and sail, and therefore gets going in lighter winds. The Manta 54 is better in higher winds.
You cant go wrong with either board.
I used to sail the bay. ex-vic the iSo 86 would probably get more sailing in the average sailing conditions, the Manta would be superb for when the bay gets gnarly, pick your poison
Hope this helps.
Saw pics of Dunkerbeck in the PWA use mostly wood over carbon in the i-sonics.Perhaps he's on a tight budget.
The 90 litre 2011 carbon sonic is amazingly fast board till the wind hits 22 knots plus,then so unforgiving.
The 87 litre sonic wood with a much narrower tail is the opposite. Takes much longer to get going than the 90 litre carbon but comfort in the strong gusts is chalk and cheese in comparison.This i87 is the fastest,most forgiving board ever made!
The 2013 RRD race 90 Litre that Claude let me try is awesome too if you want a really soft,forgiving ride.Perhaps even more forgiving than the i87 sonic wood version if that's possible.
Or you could buy Aussie ( well Aussie with a funny accent)and get Stuart at Cheeky Monkey to build you a custom. I'll design it specifically for Port Phillip Bay for ya. You'll just have to wait until he builds my next one
Seriously see if you can try. Port Phillip Bay throws up unique challenges with it's steep waves and some slalom boards don't suit, too flat bottomed and way too difficult to sail fast in such rough water. I sailed Spottis Mistral a few weeks ago and it was smooth as silk, don't dismiss that for the Bay IMO better than some of the choices you list above.
Select to expand quotemr love said..
Or you could buy Aussie ( well Aussie with a funny accent)and get Stuart at Cheeky Monkey to build you a custom. I'll design it specifically for Port Phillip Bay for ya. You'll just have to wait until he builds my next one
Seriously see if you can try. Port Phillip Bay throws up unique challenges with it's steep waves and some slalom boards don't suit, too flat bottomed and way too difficult to sail fast in such rough water. I sailed Spottis Mistral a few weeks ago and it was smooth as silk, don't dismiss that for the Bay IMO better than some of the choices you list above.
What will a custom set me back?
Also, what Mistral are you talking about. I didn't think they were still making equipment! Been a while since I've seen their name on anything.
As far as a custom from Stuart goes you need to talk to him. http://www.cheekymonkeyboards.com.au/
Mistral have a new line of Slalom and Speed boards designed by Chris Lockwood. They differ from most modern Slalom boards by being longer with a stretched rocker and quite alot of V in the hull. This gives them an extremely composed ride, the nose sits low and they are not upset by chop. A really nice ride for Port Phillip Bay making it easy to drive the board hard in our nasty conditions..
