Hi there!
I owned a Fanatic all wave sup 9,5 170 lt which was my only sup to ride in flat sea or waves.It was small for long rides and big for waves .Now i have a big one for flats so i sold my all wave to purchase a smaller sup only for waves.I have a medium experience in medium waves which are often in my area (Greece) , and there is allways wind and chop .
I was between Naish Hokua 32X8,3 GT (2015) or 32X8,8 GT but unfortunately there is only 8,3 left (and 9,1).I weigh 93 kilos and i think i d like to take the smaller one i can ride and make a difference from my previus 9,5.
I ve never ride a 130lt board so i m not so sure if this huge downsize step is ok for me.But i dont want to ride a 9,1 and in few months ask a smaller one.
Maybe 8,8 was the best solution but unfortunately ,there in no sup left.
I wouldn t like to search for another board my solutions are 8,3 and 9,1 but the second one i think its to big.
I ve ride a 145 liter board with no problems.
So what do you think, is 8,3 hokua too small for me?Will i sink with it and make my wave life difficult?Shall it glide or because its short and i m 2 kilos under its maximum weigh ride , i ll be slow with it?
Any suggestion will be appreciated , i m going to the shop on Saturday!

Hey mate, I surfed the Naish 8'3" 32 a few years ago and found it turned very well in beach breaks. I could land late drops effortlessly too. I found it quite slow to paddle due to the length and width and it lacked drive when the surf was on. I am around 90kg and sup regularly. The perfect board for me so far is the 8'3" smik hipster @ 121 L...seems the better the conditions, the better it performs Good luck shopping ??

The 9'1" is actually a gigantic board! I owned one for A while and was instantly wishing I'd gone for the 8'8". I ended up trading in for the 8'8". at your weight the 8'3" would do you fine

I had the 8.8x32 at 90 kgs , its very stable ! i could or should have gone smaller and go 8.3x32

Hi billfoc, with what did you finally ended up? Still the 8'3 hokua? I think that the downstep will be easy at 130 liters but that's just my idea because of the shape of the Naish. If you take another shape it would make a difference, but the surfshape hokua will work fine and will give you enough glide.

I have a Naish Hokua 7'10 x 32 at 120 liters and it's very stable at 80kg. I started with a 9'0 Allwave so probably the 8'3 or 8'5 will work just fine for you. Just my 2 cents

Tracked one down and Brought an 8.3 x32 carbon a few months back as I tried every small wave Sup on the market and none of them lit my fire - I first got one when they 1st came out in 2013 and loved it to death- Anyway got back on the 8.3 and it was just like I rembered- sick, easy to paddle and ride. It rides best as a quad with the new 2020 naish quad fins just perfect, and for fun I put a FCS nubster in the rear with a fcs adapter - amazing just tightens up the tail, faster but just as loose and carvey. IMO at 1.94m and 90kg still haven't found a better board in ankle to head high waves in beaches or reefs, hollow or mush burgers. Shame Naish stopped making this all time classic board. I'ld prefer it around 115/120 litres with lower rails and a stringer to give it better flex but you can't have everything.
also that stupid rear US fin box thing with the screw for big fins is a joke on such a surfy fun board.

Interesting that you say that it is going faster with the trailer fin in the middle. Cool print on the bottom and still the stock fins? how do you like those? If I can post picture will I share my bottom set-up. I have the us-box fcs adapter in it as well so I need to get a knubster and give it a try.

They aren't the stock for for board - but they are the stock fund for the new 2020 Naish quad surf fins. I tried quite a few other set ups once I got the fins and board and went back to the Naish quads as they work well. Try a nubster just works so well with the wide tail - also Im pretty sure makes the board paddle way better in a straight line as without it the board is a bit of a pig to paddle as a quad.

Cool, I'll give it a try. Here my set up for now, k4 Fins 13 cm front, 12 cm back:





From left to right: Quatro carve pro 8'0 X 28,5 @ 109 liters - Naish Hokua 7'10 x 32 @ 121 liters - Naish Hokua 7'6 x 29 @ 109 liters

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JohnnoKeys said..
They aren't the stock for for board - but they are the stock fund for the new 2020 Naish quad surf fins. I tried quite a few other set ups once I got the fins and board and went back to the Naish quads as they work well. Try a nubster just works so well with the wide tail - also Im pretty sure makes the board paddle way better in a straight line as without it the board is a bit of a pig to paddle as a quad.

Hi John, I tried the knubster but it's not my cup of thee, I don't really felt the things you described, so I just leave it out for the next time.
My friend shot one picture with it when I was surfing the knubster with a 13cm k4 fins in front and 11 cm k4 fins in the back.

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Zeusman said..
The 9'1" is actually a gigantic board! I owned one for A while and was instantly wishing I'd gone for the 8'8". I ended up trading in for the 8'8". at your weight the 8'3" would do you fine

I recommend a friend the Hokua 8'8 according to this thread and my experience for his first wave sup, he bought it for a fairly good price and he learned the basics on a Starboard Wide point 9'5 @153 liters. So I think it's a good board for beginners that want to improve their wave sup skills.