Seeking advice on buying a second SUP. Have been riding my Fanatic Allwave 9'5 for a few years and while still a super fun board I would like to upgrade to a board more suited to surfing beach break conditions (often choppy with the freo doctor!)
Something under 9 foot with less volume. The Naish Hokua X32 looks and sounds great for often sloppy beach break surf.
Every time I research something new pops up though! JP wide, Starboard wide, Fanatic stubby and then there are SMIK and NSP boards which look the goods too!

Can anyone talk me out of the Naish Hokua X32?!

I can - ha, I went from the 9'2" Allwave to the 8'8" Hokua X32, and while it was a really good board to learn on and progress, it lasted roughly a year before I wanted something with less width and volume. Obviously, the best bet is to try a lot of different boards. So, it depends if you want to go into it knowing that it will make for an easy transition but you will probably progress past it fairly quickly.

What's your weight by chance? That plays into it quite a bit, as the X32 is suited for heavier riders.

Also, I will say almost more so than the board, dropping paddle length was a huge step in progression.

I usually sit between 85 and 95 kg depending on time of the year and exercise levels. I am 6'2, not sure if height has much to do with it though?
The Hokua 32 from what I have read seemed to have a good balance between width and an extra level of performance. Probabaly also suited to imperfect beach break/punchy waves.
I am definitely up for a challenge though and don't want to grow out of my next board too quickly! Any suggestions on length/width/volume or outline shape of boards that might be up to the job?
Also, paddle length was an interesting point. I currently have an adjustable paddle and usually have it at about eye level. I really have no idea where it should be, that just feels comfortable?

Thanks for the advice!

Demo, demo, demo. You're same height and weight as me. I'd suggest trying a Sunova Flow 8'10. They are super stable but also surf really well.

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mbuzz said..
Demo, demo, demo. You're same height and weight as me. I'd suggest trying a Sunova Flow 8'10. They are super stable but also surf really well.

+ 1

Really like the look of the flow and dimensions seem to be in the range I am looking at. Thanks for the tip!

TWO very different boards ..the 8.8 x32 is loose with lots of rocker .
8.10 flow 130 litres is faster ..feels a lot gunner and needs to be ridden on the tail for sharp turns .
both quad or thruster ..the Hokua has thicker rails ..so has less bit on a wave ..but easy to move in mess.

i know my sheds in a mess...

Thanks for the comparison pic. Exactly what I needed to see.....
Both boards look so good but I can start to see where they are different. Something about the Hokua shape keeps drawing me too it!
Would I be correct in saying the Hokua handles beach break mush better, whereas the Flow is the go for better waves?

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Kela said..
Thanks for the comparison pic. Exactly what I needed to see.....
Both boards look so good but I can start to see where they are different. Something about the Hokua shape keeps drawing me too it!
Would I be correct in saying the Hokua handles beach break mush better, whereas the Flow is the go for better waves?

I've had both. As a larger bloke (6'2" 100kg), the X32 was a great learning tool for going from larger longboard style SUPs, to a smaller shortboard shape. After a while I got a bit bored with it. The yaw type surfing action around the centre of the board, and the fact that I was rapidly sinking in to the deck, saw me trade it in pretty quickly. The nose rocker caught me by surprise a few times as well.
I've had a few traditional shaped boards in between, but IMHO my 8'10" flow surfs better, even though it is only 1" narrower, and is much tougher construction wise. Mine is a lower volume construction, specifically for choppier conditions, to keep the water right at the top of the rails and help with stability. This is great for burying the rails in to the face of a bigger wave as well. A standard volume version would be easier to paddle on to the smaller stuff.
If you're set on an X32 go for second hand, and save your dough for a flow, which will last you a life time.

I can echo most of the comments above. I am 95kg and 6'3. I went from a 9'5 Widepoint (153L) to the 8'8 X32 (140L). At that point, after 8 months of sup experience, I found it tippy. I also felt that the rocker tended to push a lot of water ahead of it - it didn't have much gluide - it was hard to transition thru a fat section to get into a better section of wave. Having said that I did have a lot of fun on the X32. I went to an 8'7 Flow and loved it. (Now I am on an Acid and love it more.)

However, I mostly surf reef breaks. Over the summer I surf beach breaks a lot (at the prom) but I still enjoyed my Flow (and Acid).

Stability is an interesting thing. TheX32 is both wide and thick, with big round rails. As you transition to the flow and then the acid the boards get thinner and narrower and the rails get sharper (the acid keeps some length to compensate). But I think my acid is more stable for its low volume because the rails are under water (way under water on my 8'10 115L) so you don't have that corky feeling.

One thing, you will notice a HUGE difference as your weight varies by 10 kg. At 85kg the board will feel quite big, at 95kg the board will get tippy but more manoeuvrable.

More food for thought. Thanks guys, really detailed feedback which is super helpful!
I love the sound of what the Flow can do for me and definitely don't want to be forking out cash for a new board within a year or two!
I reckon keeping the allwave as a flat water fun with the kids and Mrs type board and going with the Flow sounds like a plan. Cheers!

I found for me the 8'10 flow had a little too much volume for me, but I'd been riding and 8'10 deep for a while so was used to the smaller boards. I had a ride on the 8'7 flow and loved it. I found it really lose my only drawback was I found it lacked some down the line speed. In the end I went for the 8'9 Flash which is an awesome board and a great mix of stability and performance.

The 8'7 flow probably has more stability so I'd try that as well if you can. Compared to my deep that had parallel rails in the mid section and needed to be turned from the tail, the flow turns very nicely from the middle which means you can trim on the face.