Jimmy Lewis 9'3" x 31.5" Destroyer MP (160 litres)

How does Jimmy Lewis do it? Another super light board that compares favourably to my more expensive carbon boards... and for nearly $1k cheaper!

At 110kg this board floated me very well. My feet were out of the water. If you're not a big lump like me this board will feel like an aircraft carrier. In fact, I'd probably elect to step down to the 8'10" model to avoid the 'floating like a cork' effect. However, if you are a big lump and not very experienced then this is your new go to board.

First, the pros. I love a rounded pintail, especially when you have the option to switch between a thruster and quad setup. The Destroyer turned on a 5c piece and glided across the wave beautifully. I tried it in 2' high tide beach break glass, 3' crumbly reef break and 3' clean sucky conditions. The Destroyer performed well in everything. The slight turn-up in the nose helped with steep take-offs and the rail outline and bottom contour made it glide over flat sections like a skateboard.

As I mentioned above, the board is super light and easy to manoeuvre. You can lift it overhead with one hand using the excellent Y-shaped grip. The deck grip goes 2/3 up the board and is comfortable and functional.

If you wanted a one board 'quiver'...this is it!

Second, the cons. No nose riding this one. Look at my previous review on the Jimmy Lewis Striker if you want a nose riding experience. Meh, a minor point as far as I'm concerned. The only other thing you need to know, if this kind of thing worries you at all, is the slightly rounded deck design. It wasn't really an issue for me as I got used to it quickly but there was an initial tippy feeling that lasted only five minutes or so. Easy to get used to and it certainly didn't detract from the boards many advantages and excellent performance.

Final thoughts. In my last review I stated that I'm a dedicated Starboard fan-boi. I kind of still am but I'm wondering why I have four different Starboards when I could happily settle for this one board to replace them. I do like the occasional nose ride but not enough to have a dedicated board for the experience. If you can live without that you can't do much better than owning this piece of equipment.

Well done, Jimmy Lewis. You nearly have me.

Good review.

JL Destroyer is a truly amazing board. I am also 110kg and I am on 8'5 x 130l. Super stable and works well in anything from waist high to well overhead. It let me reduce my quiver to two boards - I also have a high performance 10' longboard.

Sweet review! Great that you found the board that works for you and are stoked with it. I was looking at a Destroyer as well, for the reasons you've described here - quality, all roundness, manoeuvrability. Jimmy Lewis construction is brilliant!

Great job!

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stubear said..
Sweet review! Great that you found the board that works for you and are stoked with it. I was looking at a Destroyer as well, for the reasons you've described here - quality, all roundness, manoeuvrability. Jimmy Lewis construction is brilliant!

Great job!

Keep saying it! Wish Jimmy would do some leans in the destroyer range. Love my 10 ft but would love a smaller version.to compliment it.

Hi Justaddwater, I ride the 10' Destroyer & have the 7'7" Destroyer to compliment it for the performance days....According to Jimmy he won't be doing narrow versions when there's stable smaller sizes to go to...

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robg1703 said..
Hi Justaddwater, I ride the 10' Destroyer & have the 7'7" Destroyer to compliment it for the performance days....According to Jimmy he won't be doing narrow versions when there's stable smaller sizes to go to...

Thanks Rob,that makes sense, probably time for a custom.

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BigZ said..
Good review.

JL Destroyer is a truly amazing board. I am also 110kg and I am on 8'5 x 130l. Super stable and works well in anything from waist high to well overhead. It let me reduce my quiver to two boards - I also have a high performance 10' longboard.

BigZ, what is your height?
I'm 92Kg and 181cm. I believe height plays a big factor in stability as well. ( not to mention skill, talent and natural ability)

I can't decide between the 8'5 and the 8,8.

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bobajob said..

BigZ said..
Good review.

JL Destroyer is a truly amazing board. I am also 110kg and I am on 8'5 x 130l. Super stable and works well in anything from waist high to well overhead. It let me reduce my quiver to two boards - I also have a high performance 10' longboard.

BigZ, what is your height?
I'm 92Kg and 181cm. I believe height plays a big factor in stability as well. ( not to mention skill, talent and natural ability)

I can't decide between the 8'5 and the 8,8.

I am 191cm. I use Destroyer when waves have a little bit of power. Because the deck is slightly under water you need to paddle a little bit harder at takeoff. For smaller conditions (or when I feel like long boarding) I will use my 10X29 by 139L Infinity New Deal.

Thanks, remind me not to drop in on you then!
So the 8'5" should be relatively spot on for some one my height and weight taking into account age and ability.

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bobajob said..
Thanks, remind me not to drop in on you then!
So the 8'5" should be relatively spot on for some one my height and weight taking into account age and ability.

I would think so. At 92kg, you would be at 1.4 "guilt factor". And Destroyer is stable for its volume due to its shape. I don't have major issues with roll stability. The main thing I have to watch for is pitch stability. It may have to do with my height.

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bobajob said..
Thanks, remind me not to drop in on you then!
So the 8'5" should be relatively spot on for some one my height and weight taking into account age and ability.

Yes, go for the 8'5" bobajob.

Thanks railbanger, I recently seized a turbo in the Transporter and that set me back over 3 grand . However, plan B is to sell a bike I don't ride too much anymore and use the proceeds from that.
Should be a nice step from the Titanic, er, Allwave.

BigZ - What is the "guilt factor" you speak of? I understand the volume to weight ratio, but the guilt bit is unfamiliar....

Guild factor (maybe Guilt? tongue in cheek) after Whitney Guild who has offered some paddling expertise in the past and is a masters longboard contest winner in San Diego area. Quite impressive to watch him paddle.

The factor, board volume in liters divided by your body and wetsuit weight in kilograms.

130 liter board, 80 kg bodyweight, 130/80 =~ 1.6.

Why this factor?

1 kg of water ~ 1 liter
130 liter board displaces ~ 130 kgs, or, will be neutrally buoyant with a load of 130 kgs

80 kg paddler neutrally buoyant on 80 liter board, Guild Factor of 1.

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billekrub said..
The factor, board volume in liters divided by your body and wetsuit weight in kilograms.
130 liter board, 80 kg bodyweight, 130/80 =~ 1.6.
80 kg paddler neutrally buoyant on 80 liter board, Guild Factor of 1.

You must also add the board and paddle weight.

And for Guild factors close to 1, the extra buoyancy of salt water and the fact that most boards have actually more volume than the published one, as most just give the volume of the blank without the glass job, that can amount to some liters with a sandwich construction. And you may even add the pad volume :-)

This is why it is hard to have a truly "Archimedes accurate" Guild factor anyways that could predict if the board will be neutrally buoyant, so most people just use the simple "volume / rider weight" which is still quite handy in the 1.2+ range.

I still have a few left in the new Blue/White in some sizes.
This board looks sick in the flesh..

Say again how the Destroyer differs from the Striker, aside from the nose riding?

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Jimmy Lewis Boards said..
I still have a few left in the new Blue/White in some sizes.
This board looks sick in the flesh..

Hey Rob

Love that colour
Do you have any Detroyers to demo in 8', 8.5' or 10'?
I'm on the Central Coast.

Hi Whatsup, message Rod Hindson on 0414443940 or email at jimmylewisboards@gmail.com as I know he's got them to demo....

Hi Billiekrub, the Destroyer is nothing like the Striker, from rocker, tail shape, nose shape & rails...

Yes I have a Demo Destroyer 10'. 9'3 and 8"5 . Give me a call lets go surfing.

It's supposed to be a cross between the Destroyer surf board and the Striker?

Destroyer surf board description:

DESTROYER
The short longboard. This mini tanker is a great fun shape for beginners and advanced riders. Catches waves like a longboard but performs like a shortboard. Maui's favorite board! The Flat bottom through the front and center of the board going to a V near the fins makes this board very fast and responsive under your feet.
Comes with 4.5" thruster setSIZES6'0"x21.25"x2.75"6'6"x21.25"x2.757'0"x21.25"x2.75"7'6"x21.25"x2.75"8'0"x21.5"x2.75"COLORSYellowMaroon

Can you explain how the rocker varies, the tail shape varies, and the rails? Striker nose is for nose riding.

I guess the Destroyer sup would be better in slower, mushier waves? More paddling and planing speed? Not so much a nose rider? V near the fins helps it go rail to rail more easily?

Then, it would do some of the tasks of the Super Frank but less specialized?

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billekrub said..

It's supposed to be a cross between the Destroyer surf board and the Striker?

Destroyer surf board description:

DESTROYER
The short longboard. This mini tanker is a great fun shape for beginners and advanced riders. Catches waves like a longboard but performs like a shortboard. Maui's favorite board! The Flat bottom through the front and center of the board going to a V near the fins makes this board very fast and responsive under your feet.
Comes with 4.5" thruster setSIZES6'0"x21.25"x2.75"6'6"x21.25"x2.757'0"x21.25"x2.75"7'6"x21.25"x2.75"8'0"x21.5"x2.75"COLORSYellowMaroon

Can you explain how the rocker varies, the tail shape varies, and the rails? Striker nose is for nose riding.

I guess the Destroyer sup would be better in slower, mushier waves? More paddling and planing speed? Not so much a nose rider? V near the fins helps it go rail to rail more easily?

Then, it would do some of the tasks of the Super Frank but less specialized?

Billekrub,I did not respond to your question because I have been waiting for others to .IMO! Ihave had 4 strikers and as a lot of people report they are an amazing 1 board quiver,very stable ,fast paddling due to flat rocker,fast on a wave and very manoeuvreable due to flat front to moderate vee in tail,they also noseride very well due to wide nose with flat under it.the rails at the nose also are interesting,they could be described as a down rail if you know your longboards they are similar to an in the pink Takayama,so the rails combined with flat create good lift. Total grip nose to tail is a bonus as well.Jimmys construction is legendary as is the weight. The only downside to this design again IMO Is the lack of LATE FLIP in the nose rocker,because the board is so fast and manoeuvreable you can get in a bit of trouble with big moves,but if you can factor that in to your surfing its a great board.ENTER the Destroyer I have only ridden the10 ft and at the moment it's all I am riding in tiny waves and over head,this design has a lot of rocker,constant rocker but lots of it! ,and still paddles well!!! Which really surprised me, from memory Nose widthis 1 inch less than striker and has a small amount of concave under it and it does not go very far back,about 2 ft,then into flat back to moderate vee in tail similar to the striker.For me being an older surfer this K.I.S.S principal really works,combined with a very honest old fashion down rail with edge in the tail,very smooth narrow pintail completes the package.This is the new bench mark for me,it has amazing drive,is so stable and it nose rides the closest to a log longboard that I have experienced ,you can actually feel the nose lift when it locks in,cross step back and you on a performance long board.Hope this rant helps in some way .Finally I have had many longboard sups some good but have been letdown by crap construction,this is the other bonus with the JimmyLewis prouduct ,ledgendary construction and weight. Disclosure I am a fan of JL, and rate them highly as exceptional value for money ,as I pay full price!

Thanks for an amazing analysis!!!!

Before the cross-off wind appears, the Striker catches anything. Later, as the wind comes up, it gets much more difficult. On soft, small waves it seems slow for some reason, likely because the mush has little push. Surprisingly, it does turn sharply off the tail.

The Destroyer has a much rounder outline than the Striker and more rocker the the front, mid and rear section on the board.
It will yaul more with each paddle stroke than the Striker.
The Striker has a much more parallel out line with a more moderate rocker line will paddle straight because of this.
The Striker is more of a longboard/mal style board where as the Destroyer will proberly be a bit more suited to a short board background.
This is for the 7'7 8' 8'5 8'10 9'3 Destroyers the 10' is a different shape in the Destroyer range being a high performance Long board !! At 29' wide and 125ltr ..
I have Demos available on the NSW Central coast
And will have them at the Scotts Head Paddle Games in June.
Thanks Rod

I am looking at getting a destroyer. I'm 90kg and 6 feet tall. I only get a chance to surf once a week. Should I go with an 8'0 or 8'5? I want something that is stable in all conditions.

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jvriesinga said..
I am looking at getting a destroyer. I'm 90kg and 6 feet tall. I only get a chance to surf once a week. Should I go with an 8'0 or 8'5? I want something that is stable in all conditions.

Surfing once a week,IMO,8.5 comfort/confidence =

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justaddwater said..

jvriesinga said..
I am looking at getting a destroyer. I'm 90kg and 6 feet tall. I only get a chance to surf once a week. Should I go with an 8'0 or 8'5? I want something that is stable in all conditions.

Surfing once a week,IMO,8.5 comfort/confidence =

Thanks for the response. Do you think there would be much difference between the two in terms of the performance?

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jvriesinga said..

justaddwater said..

jvriesinga said..
I am looking at getting a destroyer. I'm 90kg and 6 feet tall. I only get a chance to surf once a week. Should I go with an 8'0 or 8'5? I want something that is stable in all conditions.

Surfing once a week,IMO,8.5 comfort/confidence =

Thanks for the response. Do you think there would be much difference between the two in terms of the performance?

Yes! 1/2 inch in width,15 liters in volume,I know a guy approximately your weight and height,a competent supper stuck with the 8-0 for some time finally moved up to The 8-5 and never regretted it.,that's why my comment of comfort / confidence,maybe it should read comfort= confidence! the design principles will be the same ,but the surfing dynamics will differ.BTW great choice my 10 ft is a keeper! you know the rest,ability,age,time in the water blah,blah blah my own experience has been in the past to go to small always costing money,demo demo if you can,good luck with your decision .

I can concur with all that is being said about the Destroyer. Great board. I have the 7'7" and it is light, strong, versatile, responsive and has great performance. Have been riding my board for 9 months and could not be happier.

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jvriesinga said..
I am looking at getting a destroyer. I'm 90kg and 6 feet tall. I only get a chance to surf once a week. Should I go with an 8'0 or 8'5? I want something that is stable in all conditions.

I'm smaller than you and just got the 8'5. Happy I didn't go with the 8'0

Thinking of this to counter my Fanatic Stylemaster [longboard style]. But want my second SUP to be more stable so family can use. Would the Destroyer be good for my kids/grandkids to use on the flat too?