Just wondering what crew think about the max size on their wave boards.
Tried a 6.1 Firefly on the 92 JP twinnie on the weekend for the first time. Sail rigged nicely plenty of looseness and out haul, was fairly o/powered and felt OK on a wave but it just seemed like really hard work and seemed to press the board down into the water and just felt uncomfortable - resulting in a less than satisfying sail. With my 5.6 S1 it feels fantastic. (knocked fin bolt out on the reef so called it quits after an hour)
So what do you reckon despite being in the recommended range is it just too big?
I think the size isn't the problem it's the actual sails: Firefly 6.1 (heavy - I have one) vs S-1 5.6 (light - I want one!)
If someone would only buy my Prydes I'd get three s-1's. Tried a few sizes and they're amazing.
I don't like using anything bigger than my 5.3m Blade, i have used a 5.9m S-1, it felt pretty good, but i was on a 95 freestyle wave in small clean surf.. i have a 5.7m Blade but i only use it on my Freestyle board..
I have used my 6.2 Pryde Search successfully as a wave board sail in conditions over 15 knots (I am 94 kgs and I use sails a size or three bigger than everyone else).
It worked very well on my 91 litre 2001 JP Wave, but is a feels a bit big for my current waveboard - a 92 litre 2006 JP RWW. The 5.7 Search is more 'comfortable'. That said, I just have to work a bit harder with the 6.2 to keep it pointing.
But now I have a 112 litre FSW, I am using that for the 6.2. And I find the 7.4 Loft O2 works a treat on it too. Bring on 10 knots + and a swell.
Russh did you use bigger fins? A 6.1 on the standard fins would be pushing it - and that goes for most waveboards as they put too small a fin in most of them for looseness - and what the pro's use is not good for all of us.
Thus when they talk about sail range in the brochures, realistically it is a bit smaller. Lets say they reckon it is 4.7 - 6.2.
4.7 will be OK on standard fins unless you are a featherweight, but 6.2 would be silly and I'd change to a bigger fin(s) at about 5.5 kinda level.
I find 6.2 is a max on any large waveboard I've used (regardless of fin size) but it still never feels quite as nice as a 5.7.
Also, the boom length is a pain in the rectum when on proper DTL waves of any size as it gets in the way of a schweet bottom turn and in perfect riding conditions I'd rather schlog on the 5.7 than plane easy ona 6.2
i use a 5.5 maui legend on my 75lgoya . board fells just as lively and manouverable as when i use my 4.2 . only difrence i fell is to do with the actualy sail
Kode 80 goes just fine with a Gator / renegade 6.0 - it helps that the rig is super light.
Light aeron ally boom , Redline mast, wave grenade carbon extension all adds up to a really nice rig.
In fact the 6.0 is probably my favourite sail to use in my whole quiver. I know its weird...
The sweet spot for a 6.0 would prob be 90 litre board - but with a fast rockerline- the smaller kode deals with it rather well. Hammers upwind too.
Ka Kult 5.8 on my 94L Acid, 5.8 or 6.4 on 120L MT or
12'6"SUP,......www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=66477
Intresteng but are you wanting to plane or plod or wave ride.
Guessing ...... achieving both is the goal ,but hey in the early days on the west coast of SA the old school masters Paul Grevelle and Sunny in the 80s and 90s only ever used a 4.0m in 5 to 10 knots but had floaty chuncky 8 foot thrusters boards called wave pigs ........they shreaded it up in 2 to 10 foot.
Over size sails on a small sinkyboard defeats the purpose !
Never be shy of volume ........... u just gotta get the rocker line and rails right and the dragon will be slayed.
I GOT 2 wave boards a total floater carries my biggest sail 5.6 for 5 knot up and a semi but floater generally 4 my 5.0m............. but it will carry my 5.6 not the sweets combination ie big sail on smaller board
Any way / many occasions ill take the floater out in 6, 8,10 foot plus and get the same performance on it as my slightly refined semi but floating smaller board .
The only factor effecting its overall performence is its ability to handle chop. The boards are shaped pritty simmilar ,but its the volume that allows gusty light conditions to be handled with easy.
In fact i shaped the floater, with one thing in mind....... i wanted to be the last one on the water and watch da kites fall out of the sky around me .
