I find 27 works for me and have had a 29.5 which is super stable but secondary stability not so much, the 27 wide JL has great secondary balance which is great if the wind picks up during your paddle and things get messy. Depends on your overall balance too, some people have great balance straight off the bat, I am not one of them unfortunately. Personally the Sidewinder shape is great and looks like the SIC has a similar look and from the same factory, also noticed ONE also comes from the same factory and they do produce great boards from all reports. That gives you 3 possibles?

Nozza said..
If you're just cruising, does it matter?
Get something that is comfortable.
SIC Bullet still does it for me

I guess that was also my question, will width matter? I am just looking to cover some ground and exercise.

I think around the 28 should be fine.

Nugdam said..
I'm looking to buy a 14 footer for cruising the canals or River when the surf is horrible and a little shoreline paddling when the surf is non existent in winter. I'm riding anywhere from 108- 120L in the surf I'm sitting at about 90kg.

What width would you go for in the 14foot and any particular shapes to keep any eye out for?

If you are wanting mostly flatwater as you say the i would say 25-28 wide for your 90kg would be a good start, off course wider is more stable and the narrower might be a little faster. I would say boards like this would be perfect in the 14 x 25.5 or 14 x 27.5 as they are super fast so if you did want to get more into training then these will do it no worries pluse they are still really fun to catch waves on when the surf is small. www.oneoceansportsaustralia.com/shop/plpb19xhozmp05t812q7jwiiwrbt3z

Disclaimer: I own ONE so just using that board as an example of what I would be recommending if you had come to see me but should give a good idea of the board style.

Cheers Jacko

As a 90kg guy riding 130 litres in the surf (I'm trying to cut down ok...), I reckon 28" is going to be too much for you.

I currently have 2 x 14' boards:
- A 27.25" SIC Bullet v2 that is great for downwinding but not very fast anywhere else
- A Deep Dryft 26" that I haven't quite got dialed for downwinding yet. This board is significantly faster but also more technical although I think I'd prefer it in proper surf...

I also have a Deep Riot 12'6" that's 26" wide. I have previously used a 28" wide Riot but found it too wide (It was like standing on pavement...). And I've had it out in the surf when it was well overhead...


If your goal is the flat days and small surf then I'd go a 26" wide board. It will be a lot of fun.

Found a 12'6 x 26 naish javelin at decent price. Obviously can't test paddle. What are these like for stability and speed? I think its around a 2015 model.

Zeusman said..
Where abouts are you in QLD Nugdam?

Sunny coast mate

I ended up getting the naish good little board and was a great price.

Mahanumah said..

A Deep Dryft 26" that I haven't quite got dialed for downwinding yet. This board is significantly faster but also more technical although I think I'd prefer it in proper surf...

I also have a Deep Riot 12'6" that's 26" wide. I have previously used a 28" wide Riot but found it too wide (It was like standing on pavement...). And I've had it out in the surf when it was well overhead...

Hi Mahanumah. Ive got the same Riot as you and love it for flat and downwind as well as some surf. I have never ridden anything 14' but am interested in trying one some day. How do you find the Dryft compared to the Riot.

I never understood why there is so little written about the Riot as I think it is a great all purpose board.

RustySS said..

Mahanumah said..

A Deep Dryft 26" that I haven't quite got dialed for downwinding yet. This board is significantly faster but also more technical although I think I'd prefer it in proper surf...

I also have a Deep Riot 12'6" that's 26" wide. I have previously used a 28" wide Riot but found it too wide (It was like standing on pavement...). And I've had it out in the surf when it was well overhead...

Hi Mahanumah. Ive got the same Riot as you and love it for flat and downwind as well as some surf. I have never ridden anything 14' but am interested in trying one some day. How do you find the Dryft compared to the Riot.

I never understood why there is so little written about the Riot as I think it is a great all purpose board.

Hi Rusty

The Riot is awesome. We use it in strong Onshores in Port Phillip Bay. Paddle out and surf the runners back in. Punched out in 30km/h headwinds yesterday and got some awesome sliders coming back in (Roughly waist high).

Also use it when the surf is not "shortboard worthy" (i.e. too small or sloppy). Our last session on it in the surf it jacked up about halfway through to some nice overhead waves that were a lot of fun. It's a nice challenge to get a 12'6" to bottom turn on a steep face.

The Dryft is also an awesome board but I tend to use it more for training. It's way faster than the SIC Bullet V2 on flat water but I find it difficult on a downwinder. The big nose is a very different shape to the SIC and the rails are much more boxy so I'm struggling to stop burying the nose. My competency level on downwinders is not great so I tend to stick with the SIC because it's more forgiving.

I have had the Dryft out in the surf as well and it goes well but the swing weight is huge compared to the Riot. I usually chase waist to shoulder high waves on the big boards but sometimes get lucky with bigger ones...