Hey all

Looking to purchase a 2nd hand or new Starboard wide point 9'5 or Starboard Drive 10'5 just sending a call out to see if anyone has any they are looking to sell?

Also if anyone has any comments on whether the starboard or Naish is a better board I would love to hear your thoughts?

Cheers

Both the starbys you mention are very different. If you are a big dude and want a good surfing sup that is ok as an allrounder then the 9.5 is awesome - if you are, say, up to about 85 kg and want a very very good allrounder the 10.5 is a gem. The 10.5 in my opinion is a fantastic cruiser for lighter paddlers and a lovely board to surf up to maybe headhigh.
I am mid 70kgs and I personally didnt like the 9.5 at all and just found it waaay too much board for me - I have also paddled and surfed the 10.5 and even though I didnt love it I had to admit it was a very capabable and comfortable board. Depending on your weight I believe the 9.8 element is far superior to both boards as the ultimate allrounder.
As far as comparing to Naish, Ive heard good reports about the 10'6.5 but but other than that IMO the starbys are better. If you are leaning more towards a 10 1/2 ft board then you should demo and compare the 10.5 drive and 10.6.5 nalu.

Not surfed either but understand the WP needs a bit of push to get it going eg better surf. So, I reckon the Drive is the better allrounder. However, lots of folk on here rate the Fantatic Allwave as the best surfing SUP around at the moment for beginner/intermediates.....if surfing is your thing.

My WP is up for sale I'm going shorter to 8'10. The 9'5 is a gem. I weigh in anything between 90 and 115 depending on the number of cakes I have eaten.

Hi SUPPER01,
Just after Xmas I picked up a 2013 9'5" x 32" Starboard Widepoint in red/wood, having ridden a 10' x 34" Starboard Whopper for the last two years. Before I got the Whopper I was very close to picking a Drive, the only thing that put me onto the Whopper was that I was going to be 100% at the beach and mainly in the surf, not on flat, and I was quite happy to get additional width. So at the time it was the right choice for me. And in saying that, I still love the Whopper and its a keeper for sure.

As for the WP its a great board... for me at 80kg and 180cm it just feels right. I waited about 3 months to try and find either a 2nd-hand or ex-demo, just couldnt find one here in Perth - at least couldnt find anyone who was willing to sell. But the 2013 models have come down in price, so it was my reward to myself having waited that long. And now I just need more time in the waves.

As for your choice, go and demo Everything!!! We are spoilt for choice now.

Hi,
I have a 2010 Starboard Drive and love it. It's a great board for surfing as well as a bit of cruising. Surfs anything from ankle slappers to overhead. I have also tried the carbon fibre model and like it even better due to the lighter weight, also the later model has a more pulled in nose, which is an improvement. My next board will be the carbon fibre drive. Someone else mentioned the element as a better board, I have used an element for 3 days and found it way too slow, although other than that it's great. Keep getting caught inside due to no acceleration from too much rocker. I bought the drive over the element. I am 90kg, and have been surfing for 40 years. Hope that helps you.
BTW. I am willing to sell my drive if it interests you, then I will be able to upgrade to carbon fibre. Just PM me if serious.
Cheers,
Ken.

Select to expand quote

KennyK said...
Hi,
I have a 2010 Starboard Drive and love it. It's a great board for surfing as well as a bit of cruising. Surfs anything from ankle slappers to overhead. I have also tried the carbon fibre model and like it even better due to the lighter weight, also the later model has a more pulled in nose, which is an improvement. My next board will be the carbon fibre drive. Someone else mentioned the element as a better board, I have used an element for 3 days and found it way too slow, although other than that it's great. Keep getting caught inside due to no acceleration from too much rocker. I bought the drive over the element. I am 90kg, and have been surfing for 40 years. Hope that helps you.
BTW. I am willing to sell my drive if it interests you, then I will be able to upgrade to carbon fibre. Just PM me if serious.
Cheers,
Ken.

Think there is a good point in there in that a lot of surfing shapes have a lot of rocker and need better waves to get them going. That's fine if you are a good surfer and used to waves with some push behind them but to the majority of SUPers I bet that isn't the case.