Fanatic 12'6 Race Carbon

Hi DirectX,

I may be able to help you out here, although my experience will be a bit different for me that you will likely get as I'm a tad over 90 kilos.

First time I tried the 12'6" x 27 3/4 carbon race was in choppyish water and I was barely able to stand on the thing. I swore at it and vowed to seek a rematch at the time. Well, that time came recently when I re-aquainted myself with my nemesis, the narrow red rocket. This time, it was going to be different, as the water was calm and I'd had a lot more paddling time since our last meeting.

I carefully stepped aboard and felt comfortable almost straight away. I had been riding 14'ers for the last few weeks so had gotten used to longer more slender boards and their speed and feel. Indeed the 12'6" narrow is slightly tippier than it's big brother, but I didn't find it that much more challenging, so we eased away from the beach and set a steady medium pace. The bow is much more piercing than the bigger 14'er and the smaller board seemed to acellerate quicker than the big one when I put a little effort into it.

Without accurate GPS, it's hard to tell if it really is quicker, but it sure felt slightly quicker or less effort to maintain a higher speed. handling was fairly easy especially kick turning as there isn't so far you have to step back to swing the nose. I really enjoyed it and will ride it again with more vigour tomorrow morning.

The 12'6" x 30 is definitely much more stable with the 30 in width and it certainly aint no slouch in the speed department, but the narrow just feels like it has less resistance (which it does). I think I'd rather surf the 30" over the 27 3/4" and I'd rather ride the 12'6" x 30 in the open ocean with my weight on it, but for you, the narrow red rocket might be perfect.

Against the 14'er? I think the 14'er (ocean) has more rocker and is better suited to the downwinders. The extra width length and rocker makes it more stable. Both boards track so beautifully and paddle easily.

I think you need to ask yourself what it is you want the board to do, that will help more in determining the right board. We have all three boards available for demo if you wish to try them as well as others in the same category.

DM

We're hoping to do some thorough GPS speed tests on a range of current 12'6" boards very shortly. The plan is to take out the 2 Fanatics, 2 Starboards, 2 Naish, a Coreban and maybe a Jamie Mitchell. We'll post the results here.

But if you are choosing between the Fanatics, go the red rocket, carbon version. I'm about your weight, and while I prefer Starboards, the Fanatic is also very quick, stable enough and sure to please. I haven't tried the new Naish 12'6" boards yet but looking forward to seeing how they compare.

The Flat water 14ft is a new model, is this the one your thinking of???

Jacko's spot on! I checked on this today and there is no new replacement carbon race boards scheduled until next year apart from the new 14' x 27.5" flat water board which is a stretched version of the 12'6" red rocket and not new news.

DM

I have paddled the 12'6 x 27 a few times over the last week or son and love it. I have jumped on the 12'6 x 30 straight after and it just feels like so much more board (which it is) and also feels very square through the middle. I think the 27 is defnitley quicker in flat water but am yet to try either in dw conditions. Ultimately the quickest board is the one that you stay on the most, not so quick when you are swimming.

12'6 v 14.

I have a 14 at the moment but after dropping a few kgs through a lot of paddling am selling it and looking to get a 12'6. Being lighter (around 70kgs) my thought process is that it won't be as much board to have to control in the ocean when there is cross wind/swell/chop. Also that it may sit in our short period swells a bit better than a 14'. Having said all this I am leaning towards the 27 3/4 wide but am yet to test it in a dw.