Hi everyone, the lack of many decent sand banks around my part of the woods has seen many days go by without a paddle surf or any paddle taken lately. The few waves that are happening are mainly in town with the crowds to match. I scored a few great days and unfortunately, also ran into a few self styled lineup policemen with a blinkered view of SUPers. And with the flat spells of summer around the corner I needed another option.

I recently sold my flat water board in the shape of a Starboard Waterline, because it was a true flat water board. If the water is not moving around I don't believe us normal paddlers will find a better board. Its shape cuts the water and the glide is effortless, it just does not like too many bumps on the water that's all.

So what to replace it with, the new Starboard GENR 14x27 looked like the one for me, two downsides though, the price (worth it to me, not an easy sell to my good wife) and that they wont be around until the end of December.

My local dealer had a 2022 Naish Maliko 14x26 for a wife friendly price and was kind enough to let me have a demo paddle first to see if I could manage such a narrow board. After the first paddle on the lake on a calm morning I was sold, it's quick and I never felt the board was to narrow. The second day I had I paddle in the ocean, and had few swims in the confused sea state of bumps moving the other way to the swell. Even these only happened when I tried to push the pace, normal paddling was easy to keep my balance.









The nose shape does not cut the water like my previous WaterLine but it ride bumps much better.





So far the board has handled anything thrown its way, and If I miss out on waves in the morning, a quick board change to the Maliko and I will still enjoy my paddle time.

Cheers.

Steve.

Good one Steve I have a similar board and need to use it more often but there have been to many waves around but one day there will be no waves for weeks and it will come out. I must do a Down Winder again and maybe get into 5km time trials which can be a good motivator and get much fitter. you have a good board there and it's good to get different muscles working.

Thanks Dave, yes even after a half hour paddle I can feel the muscles right through my core and surprisingly my legs too. The board just encourages you on, Hope summer brings you a few waves.

Cheers.

Steve.

Nice board! 14fters still have there place imo as they are perfect exercise toys :)Paddle length differs from person to person but most people need a longer race paddle as wave. Keep that in mind if you gonna feel your back after a couple of kilometers. My wave paddle are nose high while my racers are slightly overhead (and a smaller blade).

Great board! Had to feed it with lots of bumps to keep it happy

Really nice board. My favorite after teh SUnova Torpedo. You can't go woring with it.

Nice I need to up grade my 2015 Javelin ,but it's still a great board in flat water,

great vid burchas ,a 14 is a board everyone should have in the Quiver .

nice one DTB! Enjoy it mate

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Jeroensurf said..
Nice board! 14fters still have there place imo as they are perfect exercise toys :)Paddle length differs from person to person but most people need a longer race paddle as wave. Keep that in mind if you gonna feel your back after a couple of kilometers. My wave paddle are nose high while my racers are slightly overhead (and a smaller blade).

Thanks mate, I have a very nice Starboard Lima paddle cut to flat water length. It's so light and a smaller size than my surf paddle, a joy to paddle with.

Cheers.

Steve.

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burchas said..
Great board! Had to feed it with lots of bumps to keep it happy

Thanks mate, that's one of the videos I watched when I was considering which board to buy. Only had some tiny bumps to play on so far and I was surprised the board ran on them.

Cheers.

Steve.

Thanks Luc, looking forward to spending more time on it.

Yes Tardy I realised that after I sold my Waterline, I rather be in the surf but the Maliko is a fun paddle when that does not work out.

Thanks Hoppo, been fun already and a different workout to paddling around in the surf.

Cheers.

Steve.