Hi guys. Just wondering what size & volume SUP you were or still are riding compared to the SUP Foilboard size & volume you are riding now. And are they similar in stability?
For example. I currently ride a Sunova Soul which is a basic board shape at 8ft 3" x 29wide 110 volume. It's the board I use the most in average conditions.
Looking at getting the JP foilboard 6ft 8" x 26wide 96L volume.
Understanding it will be less stable but hoping not too much of a battle standing in average conditions.

Right now i am riding a 5'5 x 26 x 92L and this is for waves and DW am is still super easy. We just made a guy here a 6'5 x 28 x 120L and he is killing it on it after coming of a much larger board and the new board is way more stable.

Heaps of things come in to play such as board weight and out lines but smaller is better and makes DW.

IMO you could maybe go a bit shorter and just up the volume. This is with the understanding you must weigh under 90kg? other wise 95L would be to small for you anyway. Shorter board bit more volume and you will have a new world!!

My regular SUP is 7'8 x 29.5

My foil SUP is 5'11 x 28.5

Same volume for both, foil SUP is more stable.

My wife's foil SUP is 27.5 wide. On her board, my stability matches my regular SUP.

So my experience says dropping 2" in width from your regular SUP would put stability in the similar range,

Just realize this advice is worthless because foil board designs vary so much. As do foils, in affecting your stability. Then factor in most people want more stability to be able to foil crap conditions.

Demo

I currently ride a 5'10 x 26 @103L. I use this for surfing and downwinding, most of my surf sups have been around the 7'10 x 27 @ 100L.

It is hard to compare foil sup shapes to surf shapes. The foil also makes a massive difference is stability.

Hi Seajuice,
I ride the new JL 7'7" Destroyer Sup at 100L but am using the 5'11 Flying V Foil Sup at 104L for surfing but then use the 6'5" Flying V for downwinding....
Because you've ridden my Super tech I think you could go the 6'5" Flying V without a problem... the thickness & stability make it really easy to paddle back out especially after the long rides you get foiling & the nose rocker makes it really stable in bumpy conditions...I'm 82kg & 6'1 & have no problems...If you're going to upgrade go as short as possible without sacrificing stability & paddle power...
below I'm riding the 5'11 Flying V in Hawaii with over 1km paddle outs (if you didn't pump back out)

Here's Derek ripping on his Flying V & pushing the limits :)

5"11....thats amazing. And 1km paddle back out? These super short sup foils don't have a crazy row effect being so short? To my inexperienced assumption, wouldnt it be more like 1.5km after all the subtle zig zagging? I know this isn't the case. But how does such a short unit paddle straight?Look forwards to being educated.....so thanks in advance....

Thanks heaps guys for your replies.
The unfortunate circumstances down my way just south of Wollongong NSW Australia is not many, maybe only one or two brands of foil sups to demo if I am lucky.
Very frustrating as I have to rely on feedback & my guess work by you for me to make a decision.
If I had my way & won the lotto, I would open up a surf shop right where I mainly surf as there is very short distance, excellent parking & very short walk to flat water & surf for demoing boards . But I can't!.
I this stage I have made the decision to go with the JP Wood Edition 6ft 8". If I didn't already have a stable board then I would have gone with the 7ft or something similar at a volume of around 105L x 28 wide.
I am hoping the JP won't be too much of a struggle standing waiting for a wave in average conditions.
I have found that all is well & good on flatwater. Just like my JL 95L x 27 wide SUP at 7ft 10 long. But when I hit a bit of chop in open waters I am off it more than on. Haa! But it is great balance practise & good surfing in perfect conditions which isn't often.
So anyway I will give a review when I surf the JP at my local conditions.Thanks again for your input. Cheers,

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Jimmy Lewis Boards said..
I ride the new JL 7'7" Destroyer Sup at 100L but am using the 5'11 Flying V Foil Sup at 104L for surfing but then use the 6'5" Flying V for downwinding....
I'm 82kg & 6'1 & have no problems...If you're going to upgrade go as short as possible without sacrificing stability & paddle power...

I am also considering the JL 5'11 or 6'5
I have a JP 7'0x28@115 liter and would like to get something shorter
I am 84 kg , and would prefer the 5'11 but don't know if I should take the risk....
Do you use the 6'5" Flying V for downwinding because it is easier to get flying?
I am looking for a board with the bottom parallel with the deck because I don't like using a wedge or washers between the plate and the board like I have to with my JP 7'0x28@115 liter

Hi Camarillo, go the 6'5" if you want the all-rounder & yes I use it downwinding because it's easier to get the initial momentum to get up & flying & no I don't have to use anything to wedge anything into the mast to make it work..Jimmy has worked with GoFoil from the start to get things right for foiling.... I only use my Tuttle box fitting...
Hey Stevet73, no yawing whatsoever....I've seen past discussions & videos about counter-acting yawing but with Jimmy's boards i haven't had to adjust my paddle technique at all.... Maybe my GoFoil keeps me going in a straight line or years of paddling does...Not sure...

If there is one thing I can take out of all my foiling time is go short on your board and just up the volume.

lenght really does nothing to help to pump the foil up besides maybe give you a tiny bit of board speed but IMO what you get with a shorter board more than makes up for this. On my 5'5 x 26 x 92L I can pump it up in the flat with 4 to 6 strong paddle strokes which is easier than I could ever pump up my 7'3 or even my 6'1. Having a pulled in nose might make the board look nice but keeping the rails more parrel is far more benift in what we want to achieve and any board really these days that is made for foiling only should be flat where the box goes and if it not there is no way I would buy it. If it's a crossover board then having tail rocker is something that you will just have to deal with.

Here are some pics of some of our latest boards, the blue one is 5'10 x 26 x 92L full carbon and weighs just 5.2kg
The small white one with recessed deck is 5'5 x 26 x 92L in just Glass and weighs 5.5kg

The big one is 6,5 x 28 x 120L in Glass, weight is unknown but it's still bloody light for a epoxy glass board. This one has a pretty big arse on it but it's crazy stable and is super easy to get DW on!!

One thing We find is getting the nose rocker right and once you fly a board with the right rocker everything else will feel a bit weird!!

Paddling straight is zero issue on the small boards and to be honest it's something that never even crosses my mind when out paddling!.

Hi Sea juiced,

Just dropped down from Sunova 7" 8' x 30 x 126ltrs to Blue Planet 6" 6' x 30 x 116Ltrs & loving the difference.
Definately needed the 7" 8' for learning & having a ball. But foiling on a shorter board is a whole new level, so much easier to pump & catch fuller swell. yes the paddle back out is slower - I find myself prone paddling out seems quicker.
Very happy with the Blue planet easy foiler.
I'm usualy off the enterence to the lake so sing out next time you are out there too & have a go on the shorter board.

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Jimmy Lewis Boards said..
Go the 6'5" if you want the all-rounder & yes I use it downwinding because it's easier to get the initial momentum to get up & flying & no I don't have to use anything to wedge anything into the mast to make it work..Jimmy has worked with GoFoil from the start to get things right for foiling.... I only use my Tuttle box fitting...

Tuttle makes it possible to have the mast perpendicular to the deck and have tail rocker , not so with a plate connection....

How much lighter are the Flying V's in Carbon?
Doesn't really matter, no stock in carbon...

84 kg + 7 kg board + 5kg foil + 4 kg wetsuit = 100 kg

The save choice will be a 6'5 I suppose...

Hi Spartacus. I've seen & heard about a guy on a Sunova foil board out off the lake entrance who was great at foiling so I would say that's you.
If you see someone out there after next week On a JP foilboard , (got to get some skin cancers cut out this week), flopping about trying to balance it will probably be me. Haaa! Hopefully not.
Had a good session today over at the southern beach. Not sure if I am allowed to name our local beaches.
Waist to shoulder high waves, flew all the way to shore along along a few nice walls.
I was a bit apprehensive at first. But after the first few I was into it. Loved it.
Shame I couldn't get a video of the rides.
My Just repaired Corban board performed well. And no damage. Yet. Ha!

That's pretty impressive to hear these short boards are still cool to paddle the long distances! Look forwards to upgrading soon...