Literally haven't stood on a Sup for 2 years . Couldn't believe the stability of this board @ 8-0 x 21 x 120 litres didn't fall off once and pumped it flat water onto the foil on my 2nd lap . Great job by Dale Chapman on his version of the long skinny V design "The Harpoon " and huge props to Dave Kalama for pioneering this revolutionary design concept .

Riding the Axis 1300 PNG & 475 P rear , this is the epic foil set up , well done Adrian . 75cm x 19mm mast & short fuse . 16" Chinook boxes , mast is 700mm (27.5") from tail , which is mid box so heaps of fore & aft adjustment as I progress to try different foils .

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Looks sick! You know the thickness? Looks like its thickest at the tale and then tapers from there?

also if im not wrong Daves Baracuda is more round/displacement bottom? Seen many of the new long/narrow shapes with sharp edges and flat bottom. Any one had the chance to compare the two concepts?

It's 6 inches thick at the thickest point . We actually haven't seen a Barracuda in the flesh , there is only one in Australia which Dylan from GO Foil has so there are no comparison test .

Wow ! what a weapon , 8.0 that's a missile , is that going to be too long out in short period choppy swell do you recon? or will it be a great easy cruiser for learning to DW.

This is where it's going in Hawaii right now longer and skinnier some are over 8ft but only as wide as 17" to 19" , the design allows the nose and tail to touch without coming off the foil , so much so they are now riding shorter mast to reduce drag and make it easier to start. The back of the mast is set at 700mm from the tail so that's only 5'4" of board in front of the mast so it rides like a shorter board.

Hey PIROS,
Fabulous looking board, I just checked the Surf FX website couldn't see your board on there, where can I get one?
Gary

By November there will be two Barracudas in Au. I was lucky enough to compare the KT version in flat water with the same foil. Piros, wouldn't mind having a paddle on yours too? I'll be up in a few weeks.

Gary you'll need to contact Dale Chapman direct , each board is a custom there is no stock , he's currently in Bali ATM so just send an email www.dcpaddleboards.com.au/

Dylan for sure have a crack on it and I'd love to have ago on the Barracuda as well .

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Piros said..
Gary you'll need to contact Dale Chapman direct , each board is a custom there is no stock , he's currently in Bali ATM so just send an email www.dcpaddleboards.com.au/

Dylan for sure have a crack on it and I'd love to have ago on the Barracuda as well .

Sweet, my board is way less volume and a lot narrower than yours but yeah sure.

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pohaku said..
By November there will be two Barracudas in Au. I was lucky enough to compare the KT version in flat water with the same foil. Piros, wouldn't mind having a paddle on yours too? I'll be up in a few weeks.

Can you elaborate on KT board vs barracuda? Cheers Dylan.

Good news on the Harpoon is you won't have to wait a very long time to have one. Dale pumps the boards out pretty quick - although he's just gone to Bali so a little extra delay over normal.

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Piros said..
Gary you'll need to contact Dale Chapman direct , each board is a custom there is no stock , he's currently in Bali ATM so just send an email www.dcpaddleboards.com.au/

Dylan for sure have a crack on it and I'd love to have ago on the Barracuda as well .

Thanks PIROS for the info.

How neutral is the swing weight fore-aft? Is mast 70cm from tail far enough forward to neutralise swing weight? Un-balanced swing weight is a pump killer

Hi Piros

What about weight?

I guess another key ingredient to minimize the swing weight effect of the longer board is to make them stupid light for their size.

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Cygnify said..

pohaku said..
By November there will be two Barracudas in Au. I was lucky enough to compare the KT version in flat water with the same foil. Piros, wouldn't mind having a paddle on yours too? I'll be up in a few weeks.

Can you elaborate on KT board vs barracuda? Cheers Dylan.

Good news on the Harpoon is you won't have to wait a very long time to have one. Dale pumps the boards out pretty quick - although he's just gone to Bali so a little extra delay over normal.

For sure, they are of similar dimensions but can't say exactly what mine is. The KT paddled through the water nice, I just found when going for the pop up was significantly harder to release from the water. I was still able to paddle it up each time but compared to my board was hard. The guy who owns the KT was able to get mine off the water but not his that day..

I'll be back over there in 4 weeks to ride the latest versions of boards etc so would probably be able to elaborate more.
without a doubt. The barracuda style/ inspired design get off the water easier than any other. But also too what I believe a lot of people are missing is, we're not in flat water when downwinding. We're in the ****test of **** conditions and bottom line is you need to be able to stand on it out there not in the flat. Flat is a great place to start for sure but keep it in mind when getting into downwind. Big board, big foil, lake or bay runs and bobs your uncle. When you get better go one of these for the ocean as they allow you to ride a much smaller wing and get up in the bumps. If you can stand on it. But if your not going to SUP downwind this is the answer for prone or kneeling.

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PeterP said..
How neutral is the swing weight fore-aft? Is mast 70cm from tail far enough forward to neutralise swing weight? Un-balanced swing weight is a pump killer

I've only ridden it once will know more by end of week but the mast can go heaps more further forward . I've got 16" Chinook boxes which are super heavy duty but pretty heavy and that with the extra HD foam brings the board up to 7.3kg apx 800g more than the std 11" boxes Dale uses .
As Dylan said you need to be able to stand these boards in the ocean that's why I went 21" , I put it into some cross chop in the Broadwater and I was fine and never tea bagged once . Yes I know it's not the Ocean but I can feel the stability will be fine .

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AnyBoard said..
Hi Piros

What about weight?

I guess another key ingredient to minimize the swing weight effect of the longer board is to make them stupid light for their size.

I have a DC Harpoon. 7'10 19.5 110 L. Weight is 6.4KG with full deck grip.

That seems heavy for custom? Mine 5kg on the dot with my screws in the box.

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pohaku said..
That seems heavy for custom? Mine 5kg on the dot with my screws in the box.

Yeah, my scales might be a bit sus... I do like my boards solid though.

But it feels very light to me pick up for a 7'10 board and very balanced on foil.

I could be wrong, but think I remember listening to a DK podcast where he was saying he didn't like his DW boards too light and preferred them a bit heavier. Cant remember the reason why though.

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bjhjames said..

pohaku said..
That seems heavy for custom? Mine 5kg on the dot with my screws in the box.

Yeah, my scales might be a bit sus... I do like my boards solid though.

But it feels very light to me pick up for a 7'10 board and very balanced on foil.

I could be wrong, but think I remember listening to a DK podcast where he was saying he didn't like his DW boards too light and preferred them a bit heavier. Cant remember the reason why though.

Yeah production for sure. If your paying $2500-3k you'll want a solid board. The E3 boards are bullet proof. Mines one of his hand made gems

Thanks for the feedback on the weight guys. Very interesting.

Sorry to Hijack that thread and bring windsurfing in it. But all that Barracuda trend and feedback on how easy it is to stand, paddle and glide like a missile make me wonder.... based on a windsurfing friend experienced who bought older narrower boards if is right, are those board easier to lean on? We let him tested shorter more compact boards...he coudn't make them plane and go as fast as his older f2. He doesn't jibe yet, but can go i straps, and cruise. I wonder if learning on skinnier windsurfing board could improve the learning curve on planning and going in the straps...probably penalizing the jibing...but def not the tacking.

Had a proper crack at flat water paddling up today
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Nicely done!!! And with the 1300?

Yep Axis 1300 PNG

Quick video of my first crack at downwind, inshore not ocean , plus I left a couple of starts into see how I balance on the board .
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Would a narrow long sup board like this work well in locations that don't have long period swell but are more wind swell driven short period waves?

For folks sup foiling in non-maui or Aussie/NZ conditions, feedback appreciated.

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Piros said..
Quick video of my first crack at downwind, inshore not ocean , plus I left a couple of starts into see how I balance on the board .

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Hey Rob,
which foil for downwind when inshore maybe versus what you would choose for offshore downwind?

Need to remember the mast is 700mm forward so only 5'-4" of board is in front of the mast , that's why I could ride one chop in the Broadwater , so yes these boards work in short period swells . Foil wise for now I'll stick to the 1300 front for in and offshore , I'll reduce rear size from 475 down to the 400 or even 350 as I get better . Then start to reduce front wing size BUT everything stays as is for now and as easy as possible to shorten the learning curve .

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Piros said..
Need to remember the mast is 700mm forward so only 5'-4" of board is in front of the mast , that's why I could ride one chop in the Broadwater , so yes these boards work in short period swells . Foil wise for now I'll stick to the 1300 front for in and offshore , I'll reduce rear size from 475 down to the 400 or even 350 as I get better . Then start to reduce front wing size BUT everything stays as is for now and as easy as possible to shorten the learning curve .

Thanks

Just waiting for some wind to test mine.

Look good ! How much do you weigh ? And are you going to use 1125/60/KD 13 tail. Keep us posted on what you find.