Forums > Windsurfing Wave sailing

Starboard Nuevo 86 2015 vs modern quads

Reply
Created by Frankism Two weeks ago, 22 Mar 2026
Frankism
WA, 6 posts
22 Mar 2026 4:37PM
Thumbs Up

Hi,

The last 10 years I have been sailing quads. I had a Flikka Quad, A Goya Custom Quad and Fanatic Quad.

Unfortunately the sun got the best of my Flikka, it is completely delaminated.

In search for a new board I ran into a brandnew Starboard Nuevo 86 from 2015. Budget wise very attractive but a bit hesitating if this would be good for me...

Dimensions wise it is the same as newer boards of same size (224x58).

How would this board stack up against the boards that are 10 years newer?

I never sailed a twinzer, and have no idea how big the difference is.

Because the board is brandnew, the shop wont let me take for a test drive.

I am a waveriding first guy, not much of a jumper, and always sail pretty small. Like the float and ride.

Would this board suit my needs?

I read that a twinzer might have more problems going upwind, is that a big issue? And does a twinzer start planing as easy as a quad?


Curious about the experiences people had with the Nuevo 86.

Mark _australia
WA, 23587 posts
22 Mar 2026 6:10PM
Thumbs Up

It is lot more loose. Like you need commitment in a bottom turn. It will be just as early planing for most folks - maybe a litttttle bit less but that waveriding will be worth it. A lot more fun on crappy waves too.
Good strong board though

I'll have your Flikka

Frankism
WA, 6 posts
22 Mar 2026 6:20PM
Thumbs Up

Ha thanks for the reply.

The flikka is gone, beyond repair.
So the nuevo is more wave riding biased? That would be up my sleeve then.

Rango
WA, 846 posts
22 Mar 2026 8:12PM
Thumbs Up

Nuevo good on a wave ,fluid surf style.Not such a great early planer but not bad the evo Iq and kode twin much better in that respect.
10 year old board shapes still rip when compared to new just check footage from that time.

Frankism
WA, 6 posts
23 Mar 2026 1:48AM
Thumbs Up

Agreed, on old footage the Nuevo rips indeed.

I saw this footage of the shaper (James Hooper RIP) and Ben Severne how they liked the surfiness of the board. That all sounds really good, but do you loose out on something else to get this surfiness?

Is a twinzer harder to surf than a quad? Harder to go upwind or to get planing?

AI.Dave
TAS, 145 posts
23 Mar 2026 6:52AM
Thumbs Up

i recently started sailing an IQ Evo twin. Feels very free and planes easily, No issues upwind and it is a very quick board.
Drawbacks if i am being fussy is the sunken rear footpad, its slightly recessed into the board. Makes it harder to slide foot out.
Riding is a treat, it is very planted and smooth and turns as quick as you want. Fun factor is as high as any of my newer boards!

Rango
WA, 846 posts
23 Mar 2026 7:24AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Frankism said..
Agreed, on old footage the Nuevo rips indeed.

I saw this footage of the shaper (James Hooper RIP) and Ben Severne how they liked the surfiness of the board. That all sounds really good, but do you loose out on something else to get this surfiness?

Is a twinzer harder to surf than a quad? Harder to go upwind or to get planing?


Quad is more secure in big surf and probably a little more precise through turns and more fashionable.
Twins have had a big resurgence in surfing disregarding what the cookie cutter pro,s are riding so perhaps windsurfing will follow.

ptsf1111
WA, 554 posts
23 Mar 2026 8:28AM
Thumbs Up

No brand sells twins anymore as far as I'm aware, so that says a lot. Sure they can be fun, I still see a few around but not many. Sounds like a bit of a gamble. For a board that age, they better sell it at a bargain in which case it might be worth a try. You can always pass it on if you don't like it.

Otherwise, not sure if it's a good idea.

philn
1106 posts
23 Mar 2026 9:08AM
Thumbs Up

I have yet to ride a modern quad that doesn't also work as a twin. Quad for fast waves, twin for mushy waves seems to work for me.

ptsf1111
WA, 554 posts
23 Mar 2026 3:45PM
Thumbs Up

Interesting! Wonder if more people sail their quads as twins, I don't see it often but will probably depend on the local conditions.

Doggerland
228 posts
23 Mar 2026 5:20PM
Thumbs Up

Dedicated twin (as the Nuevo) ideally has a wider, dedicated rear fin spacing (about 17cm vs 12-14cm) & more toe & cant.

Mark _australia
WA, 23587 posts
23 Mar 2026 5:35PM
Thumbs Up

All quads go great as a twin for onshore stuff. Its really common

Doggerland
228 posts
23 Mar 2026 6:47PM
Thumbs Up

quads "twin" "reasonably well" & common..okay...
pure twins should optimize to broad fin spacing imo...as nuevo did
If twins are slated for comeback, they should return from the netherworld as decent twin setups

Frankism
WA, 6 posts
23 Mar 2026 8:35PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
ptsf1111 said..
No brand sells twins anymore as far as I'm aware, so that says a lot. Sure they can be fun, I still see a few around but not many. Sounds like a bit of a gamble. For a board that age, they better sell it at a bargain in which case it might be worth a try. You can always pass it on if you don't like it.

Otherwise, not sure if it's a good idea.


It is indeed a bargain. 330 au dollar for a new board. Thats why I am tempted.

I also agree on the thing you said. Everybody goes three of four fins, so must be something to that too.

Rango
WA, 846 posts
24 Mar 2026 5:31PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
philn said..
I have yet to ride a modern quad that doesn't also work as a twin. Quad for fast waves, twin for mushy waves seems to work for me.


Twins great in fast clean bowley waves with cross off,you can often get more turns .The only conditions they feel sketchy is big or lumpy days with a heap of current.

sprayblaze
174 posts
24 Mar 2026 6:58PM
Thumbs Up

Philip Koster was twins only when he shocked the world.

Mark _australia
WA, 23587 posts
25 Mar 2026 3:04PM
Thumbs Up

Re last two posts - and thats what created quads. They're a slightly detuned twin so make them just a little more secure for normal folks.
that's why many folks use their quad as a twin for onshore stuff, albeit that the fin spacing is not quite optimal

better yet is a trailer setup to fine tune the twin looseness, dunno why only Patrik did it - they work sooo well. I'd buy the starboard twin in a heartbeat even if it was twice that price.

Frankism
WA, 6 posts
25 Mar 2026 11:18PM
Thumbs Up

I do most of my windsurfing in Capetown. Most spots are quite side of, wind is sketchy on the inside going out, but then again can sometime be really severe when on the face of the wave.

Key ingredients for me is floating ability to get out, and control/grip on the face of the wave

Grantmac
2371 posts
26 Mar 2026 2:31AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Mark _australia said..
Re last two posts - and thats what created quads. They're a slightly detuned twin so make them just a little more secure for normal folks.
that's why many folks use their quad as a twin for onshore stuff, albeit that the fin spacing is not quite optimal

better yet is a trailer setup to fine tune the twin looseness, dunno why only Patrik did it - they work sooo well. I'd buy the starboard twin in a heartbeat even if it was twice that price.


I have a 5 box board I use in onshore, what sort of outline and size would you use for a trailing setup would you experiment with?

Gestalt
QLD, 14888 posts
26 Mar 2026 5:32AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Grantmac said..

Mark _australia said..
Re last two posts - and thats what created quads. They're a slightly detuned twin so make them just a little more secure for normal folks.
that's why many folks use their quad as a twin for onshore stuff, albeit that the fin spacing is not quite optimal

better yet is a trailer setup to fine tune the twin looseness, dunno why only Patrik did it - they work sooo well. I'd buy the starboard twin in a heartbeat even if it was twice that price.



I have a 5 box board I use in onshore, what sort of outline and size would you use for a trailing setup would you experiment with?


Traditional size is fairly small like 2-3 inches
Al Merrick am2 fins have the trailing fin slightly smaller than the fronts so it's considered a thruster

Start with a slightly smaller and go down depending on how loose you want.

Rango
WA, 846 posts
26 Mar 2026 1:22PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Frankism said..
I do most of my windsurfing in Capetown. Most spots are quite side of, wind is sketchy on the inside going out, but then again can sometime be really severe when on the face of the wave.

Key ingredients for me is floating ability to get out, and control/grip on the face of the wave


Its a win at $330 ,there will be no problems with grip bottom turns are smooth as butter on rail.

Mark _australia
WA, 23587 posts
26 Mar 2026 3:39PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Grantmac said..

Mark _australia said..
Re last two posts - and thats what created quads. They're a slightly detuned twin so make them just a little more secure for normal folks.
that's why many folks use their quad as a twin for onshore stuff, albeit that the fin spacing is not quite optimal

better yet is a trailer setup to fine tune the twin looseness, dunno why only Patrik did it - they work sooo well. I'd buy the starboard twin in a heartbeat even if it was twice that price.



I have a 5 box board I use in onshore, what sort of outline and size would you use for a trailing setup would you experiment with?


Not to say it won't work, but it should have the mains wider apart than a 5 box will allow. Still worth a go -
use your normal quad mains in the hope it is a tiny bit too loose, then stick an 8cm ish in the centre box about 3-5 fingers behind them
I can measure properly if u want

Gestalt
QLD, 14888 posts
26 Mar 2026 10:37PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Mark _australia said..

Grantmac said..


Mark _australia said..
Re last two posts - and thats what created quads. They're a slightly detuned twin so make them just a little more secure for normal folks.
that's why many folks use their quad as a twin for onshore stuff, albeit that the fin spacing is not quite optimal

better yet is a trailer setup to fine tune the twin looseness, dunno why only Patrik did it - they work sooo well. I'd buy the starboard twin in a heartbeat even if it was twice that price.




I have a 5 box board I use in onshore, what sort of outline and size would you use for a trailing setup would you experiment with?



Not to say it won't work, but it should have the mains wider apart than a 5 box will allow. Still worth a go -
use your normal quad mains in the hope it is a tiny bit too loose, then stick an 8cm ish in the centre box about 3-5 fingers behind them
I can measure properly if u want


Not to be contrarian but this is why I suggested an am2 type setup. Ie a thruster with slightly smaller rear centre fin. The board is setup for that if it's 5 boxes.

also try what mark is suggesting.

Doggerland
228 posts
27 Mar 2026 2:02AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Frankism said..
I do most of my windsurfing in Capetown.


Hehe, vivid memories of finding/feeling the limits of my mistral twinzer 2 board combo there...
In sizeable high period swell, twinzers can become quite hair-rising vehicles in drawn-out, super fast bottomturns.

Never rode an evo, but still have some similar custom (trailer setup) twins nowadays. Twinnies are so much fun imo.

Grantmac
2371 posts
27 Mar 2026 3:09AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Mark _australia said..

Grantmac said..


Mark _australia said..
Re last two posts - and thats what created quads. They're a slightly detuned twin so make them just a little more secure for normal folks.
that's why many folks use their quad as a twin for onshore stuff, albeit that the fin spacing is not quite optimal

better yet is a trailer setup to fine tune the twin looseness, dunno why only Patrik did it - they work sooo well. I'd buy the starboard twin in a heartbeat even if it was twice that price.




I have a 5 box board I use in onshore, what sort of outline and size would you use for a trailing setup would you experiment with?



Not to say it won't work, but it should have the mains wider apart than a 5 box will allow. Still worth a go -
use your normal quad mains in the hope it is a tiny bit too loose, then stick an 8cm ish in the centre box about 3-5 fingers behind them
I can measure properly if u want


Pretty sure I have a short base 8cm that'll work for a trial with the mains as far forward as possible.
Of course it'll be a while before I can try it out.

Mark _australia
WA, 23587 posts
27 Mar 2026 12:05PM
Thumbs Up

Def interested to know results. try gestalts one too
pics and full review please

Rango
WA, 846 posts
27 Mar 2026 7:39PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Mark _australia said..
Re last two posts - and thats what created quads. They're a slightly detuned twin so make them just a little more secure for normal folks.
that's why many folks use their quad as a twin for onshore stuff, albeit that the fin spacing is not quite optimal

better yet is a trailer setup to fine tune the twin looseness, dunno why only Patrik did it - they work sooo well. I'd buy the starboard twin in a heartbeat even if it was twice that price.


New patrik TS looks fun as with multiple thruster and twinzer fin options .

Grantmac
2371 posts
28 Mar 2026 9:42AM
Thumbs Up

I assume a more upright fin in the front?

Rango
WA, 846 posts
28 Mar 2026 10:23AM
Thumbs Up


Doggerland
228 posts
1 Apr 2026 1:08AM
Thumbs Up

Capped at 92liters
Who is that Diethelm fellow calling fat, exactly?

Brent in Qld
WA, 1445 posts
1 Apr 2026 7:13AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Doggerland said..
Capped at 92liters
Who is that Diethelm fellow calling fat, exactly?


Every fat bastard with a BMI greater than 25.



Subscribe
Reply

Forums > Windsurfing Wave sailing


"Starboard Nuevo 86 2015 vs modern quads" started by Frankism