I've been gaining a lot of information from reading this forum and am looking to actively participate in SUP with my family.
Question: I can't decide between an 11'6" Nalu (231L) or a 10' Manu (210L)?
Background: I come from a windsurfing and surfing background of over 20 years and now live in flatwater within the Great Barrier Reef, where we might be lucky to get little sloppy waves of 1 to 1.5 feet for three weeks of the year. Looking for a board that can be fun for both myself (85kg) and my much smaller wife (55kg) who both hope to drop 5kg once getting into SUP. Mates reckon go for the longer board 'cause it's quicker on the flat for downwinders, but the main reason to buy the board is to go for a paddle and play in the little swells while our kids are at the beach or maybe even sitting on the nose.
Any advice?
Ok - comparing the two boards you have listed.
IMO - the 11.6 Nalu is a fantastic board that paddles nice, surfs very well and is one of the funnest boards you will ever own.
IMO - the 10 Mana is a slow and frustrating paddler, surfs slow and doughy and is one of the least funnest boards you will ever own.
I will bet that people are going to tell you that both boards are way too big for you, and to some degree, yes they are, but don't be swayed too much by that because I owned and loved an 11.6 nalu and I was about 75kg - so stick to your guns and buy the 11.6 - its a big sic board.
Hi Mooty
I have both boards and use both about the same amount.
The 11'6" Nalu is a far better flat water cruiser but also sensational for surfing 6" waves upward. When the waves are clean its a blast.
The 10' Mana is no fun to flat water paddle (compared) but is super stable. I gravitate to this board for surfing because its much more manouvreable. It is far more stable and user friendly in choppy/windy conditions and easier to manage in the line-up. I don't agree with Billboard about this board.
IMO if you come from a surfing background the Nalu may not fill the void but sounds like the more suitable board for your situation.
Have you considered getting both cause the wife will get hooked also
so why wait
Mooty,
Go the 11'6 Nalu. I also live up here in NQ and have used both boards. The Mana is no fun on the mushy stuff we get up here. I found it frustrating to paddle as I could only take 2-3 strokes each side before the board would start to turn. The Nalu will be super fun and you will be able to surf it. I found it easier to paddle which will help in catching the small waves up our way. It will also be better for balancing the kids on the front. Definitely not too big for NQ conditions.
Thanks guys for your replies. I'm also leaning towards the longer Nalu 11'6" and like the idea of a more challenging learning curve. Is it too much of a board for my smaller wife to handle, though?
I think the 10' Mana.. unless you want to paddle with kids on the board with you and then the 11'6" is the better board for doing that.. I think the 10' Mana surfs great and much better than the Nalu and I love paddling mine on flat water.. I don't have any problem with tracking or yawing.. I have a few friends with the 10' Mana's as their only board and mostly paddle flat water.. and love it.. The Big Nalu is a big heavy board for your wife to carry and Mana is much easier.. The Mana is very stable and a great first board IMO.. If you want to paddle distance or do down-winders the 11'6" is a much better board for that.. You might also want to concider the 12' Glide.. It's a much better board for flat water and down-winders but not as good as the others in the waves.
Demo first if you can.
DJ
To confuse you more 
The 11'6 is a 5 year old design. Way too thick by modern standards. So thick in fact, it's more unstable than it should be, simply because you are standing so high in the air. High CG = wobbles.
The 11'4 is the replacement for the 11'6. A way better shape. Thinner! Try both and you'll see what I mean.
12 glide
I will do all the stuff you are wanting to do better than the other two. then the 11'6 then go the 10 mana. My wife who is about the same size(55kg) loves our 12 gide but gets frustrated with the mana because she is to light. If she stands forward the fins only half stick in the water and if she stands back the nose rises and catches wind. Too much rocker.
the mana is a great board for a bloke 90kg + who will surf 1 to 2 foot waves
IMHO
Mooty i have the 11-4 naish,it was my first sup and i will probably never sell it,although i have a number of other sups for surfing,i still take her out when the neck and shoulder need a break.Great allround sup. Try and demo if you can .
I ended up buying a 10'6 Nalu for the 58kg wife and a 12'0 starboard for myself (big size disparity between her and me, not easily bridged by one board)
Thanks again all you friendly folk for providing feedback.
Two days ago I was sold on the Mana 10', yesterday on the Nalu 11'6", and now a third board comes into play with the Nalu 11'4".
I think I'll just walk into the shop tomorrow, surround myself with all the boards you mentioned, close my eyes, spin around on one foot and point once I stop. This way we'll find ourselves on (and in) the water to start enjoying the sport of SUP.
Subsequent upgrades seem inevitable, anyway.
Wound up going with the 11'6" Nalu. We had a good fun session on the water this afternoon and see that this sport can be very addictive and also family-friendly with kids sitting on the front of the board.
.. Did you get the wood or the AST?
Thanks, DJ. We just went with the AST board. The wood looks fantastic but couldn't justify the extra $300 for a board that will inevitably get banged up with kids climbing on and off the stick and us falling and slapping our paddle against the deck. Once I get a hang of the SUP, though, I would love a wooden deck and maybe that alternative will become reality when I look at my second stick.
We enjoyed a nice flat-water paddle this morning from our beach to the point, which I'm guessing is about 0.5km. My 8-year old was on his little foam paddle-board from the SLSC and my 6-year old was sitting on the nose of my board. This sport/activity is the way to go. SUP is going to take off big-time!
You're right, though, in saying it is a big board to handle for my wife. She can't load it onto our Hilux by herself. It is also taking up a lot of space in the garage that we'll need to sort out storage. I saw your shed. Unfortunately, we're not blessed with that but we do have a 2-car garage so will be looking at some sort of set up to hang the board(s) off the ceiling.
