With Naish and Fanatic being 2 of the brands that our local stores stock I am looking at getting one of these boards as a bit of an allrounder - something my wife can paddle on flatwater and yet will still also double up as a surf SUP for me. She is 65kg I am 100kg.

Just wondering how these 2 boards compare in

1) Flatwater paddling - which one will paddle best on flatwater (for a 65kg female)

2) Surfing - which one will be more responsive in small waves (for a 100kg male, good surfer)

I've demoed the Fanatic in the surf which I was impressed with, but it seemed to wander around a bit when paddling in a straight line. Are both these boards (due to their length) going to be average on flatwater or does one do it better than the other? Also, which board is a better surf option for someone like me?

Cheers

Hi DaveyG,

I think you'll find both boards will Yaw a fair bit. The short wide with plenty of rocker design with small surf fins, are all going to wander along like that. Correct paddle stroke can mitigate to an extent the amount of yawing, however, you won't get great flat water performance from boards made to surf small waves.

Changing to a race fin will probably help more than anything else and running the centre fin right at the back of the fin box. Surf boards and flat water boards are quite different, especially short wave boards for performance in small waves. You will have to make a compromise. In the Mana/Allwave choice, the compromise will be flat water paddling. Still be ok for the missus so long as she's not going to try keeping up with others on longer boards or trying to paddle long distances.

No one board will do it all well.

DM

I'm chasing the same thing myself but with the addition of kids to take along as well.
I've got a Naish Nalu 10'10" for flatwater and was keen to get a second board for my wife for flatwater that can be surfed by me as well.
I'm 92 kgs and wife is 55 kgs. Then we have 11 and 13 yr old girls and a 4 yr old boy.
Looking at a used Fanatic fly 10'er as the second board.
I'd like to get a 9'2" or 9'6" Allwave but can't really afford a new one and used ones are scarce.
Too bad we're not a bunch of communists because just imagine the fun we could all have if a bunch of us regularly got together and happily swapped boards.

Have to agree that both boards will wander in flat water, its the nature of that style of board, however just be careful that you are comparing the right models, the Fanatics were slightly wider than the Mana's so you should really compare either the 8'10 or 9'2 Allwave to the Mana 9'5. While the differences in width don't sound much they will make life pretty different for your 65kg wife. The thinner the better at her weight on this sized board. Given that parameter, the Mana IMHO will be the better fit for you as the slightly longer length will give you a bit more "wobble room" when you want to borrow it.

I got the 9-2 Allwave with intention of getting my 7 year old boy into sup. I thought he would be a bit intimidated by deep water and rough chop so I got the Allwave so it would be good wave board for me. it opens up all kinds of crap waves to surfing I get at my west coast of Sweden spots.
but then the boy got into it. he wants to paddle all the time and he goes way out and if I let him he will paddle away too. ( I won't let him get out of sight). he can't swim more than 15 meters so he has full lifejacket on at all times. we did a down winder in 15-18 knots and knee high chop on the board and he starting talking about doing more downwinders.. I am of course stoked.

but in the slightest wind he is struggling to keep course and I could see he's having trouble doing a good stroke due to wide board and crappy kid paddle. so local shop had end of summer sale and I bought a Naish Keiki 9-0 and Keiki 7 inch paddle. ( this is getting expensive, but still cheaper than buying a stinking motorboat)

I can tell you that the board and paddle makes a huge difference. he's significantly faster, can take a little wind holding course and can now do a proper stroke ( still too long of stroke past his feet, but he'll learn).
we did 1 hr DW on it in messy seas with waves from two directions, he gets glides from smallest wave. I took the AW and it evened things out.

so my recommendation is that if you really want your kids to get into this, invest in a narrower kid board and proper paddle.

Select to expand quote

A Bomber said...

Have to agree that both boards will wander in flat water, its the nature of that style of board, however just be careful that you are comparing the right models, the Fanatics were slightly wider than the Mana's so you should really compare either the 8'10 or 9'2 Allwave to the Mana 9'5.

The Mana 9'5" is 31 wide and 190 litres volume, Fanatic 9'6" is 32 inches wide and 174 litres. Not interested in the shorter Fanatics (9'2" is only 160 litres) as I'd assume they'd be worse to paddle on the flat. How about the 10' Mana? Will this paddle better on the flat than the 9'5" and will it still surf OK?

Davey G, yes and yes, but both with a BUT!
the 10'0 would be a better all around board for you, but your first post was about this being primarily a board for your wife?
If the focus is on her flat water paddling then the narrower you can go the better, something around 30" would be ideal, for this reason the 9'5" mana wins from the models you originally asked about. If its more about you having a good surfboard and her getting to paddle it occasionally in flat water when conditions are perfect then yes the Mana 10'0 would be a great first board for you, and she would cope on it. She will struggle if she is going to paddle it regularly and wants to paddle in whatever the conditions are, wind on that big a board under her weight will be particularly problematic. so guess it comes down to who you are really buying toys for.

Select to expand quote

DaveyG said...

With Naish and Fanatic being 2 of the brands that our local stores stock I am looking at getting one of these boards as a bit of an allrounder - something my wife can paddle on flatwater and yet will still also double up as a surf SUP for me. She is 65kg I am 100kg.

Just wondering how these 2 boards compare in

1) Flatwater paddling - which one will paddle best on flatwater (for a 65kg female)

2) Surfing - which one will be more responsive in small waves (for a 100kg male, good surfer)

I've demoed the Fanatic in the surf which I was impressed with, but it seemed to wander around a bit when paddling in a straight line. Are both these boards (due to their length) going to be average on flatwater or does one do it better than the other? Also, which board is a better surf option for someone like me?

Cheers

Never tried the fanatic myself .but can tell you the 9'5" mana is the best sup Ive ridden!For my 225lbs it's really is stable in light winds,paddles decently in flat water and rips in the waves,just love this board seems like ggod construction too as ive had it out in some close to Dbl over head surf and taken some beatings and looks like new,this will be my second season coming up here.I might note this board can be surfed in small to good size waves with rear fin placement changes for differrent conditions,heres a couple of shots of the board in action with my fat arse!

Hi have a 9/6 all wave wife paddles it in flat water no problem but I use it in surf all I can say is UNREAL AWSOME TUFF AS NAIL love it

Both boards are great. The mana was king of the pack in combining stability and and surfability. I reckon that the allwave has now taken that crown. At 100 kg,s the extra width of the allwave makes it more stable and the swallow tail and fish shape also make it looser and more fun to throw around. Both boards are fantastic, but i think the current allwave is a looser surfing board, this is a big call and i reckon ill get flack for it, but the allwave is way better built. I snapped 2 manas in shoredump beach breaks in a couple of months. Havent been able to put a dent in the allwaves yet. Either way you cant go wrong, both great boards.