everyone has the freedom to chase whatever dream suits them, I like to try
all boards

The "volume/shape" discussion is interesting and helpful.
SO.... how much difference does a few liters make?
I love the math, but I really need "hands on" to put a face on the numbers.
I research and test
every board I can get my hands on.
I don my "Kook Hat Cam" and jump on.
the cam catches my unscripted comments as I test, so I can refer back to the video later. (like I did for this reply)
This day, I went to try my buddy's new 8'6 x 29.5 at 112 L to see if I could stand on it, on very flat-water.
Mr Big joined us with his 8'2 x 32" wide at 109 L.... so we had a 3 way test, before we enjoyed a nice paddle session.
Exact weight as I left the house = 109 kg (digital scale)
Age = 69 yo at the time last fall.
I always included age... because it is the "X" factor in any balance discussion.
I have to work hard, on all boards under 30" wide,
so I would have bet anything that the 32" wide board would have been noticeably easier.
Wrong.
I never stood on it..... it just sank to the bottom.
No way I was capable of paddling that wide board at my exact float volume.
We were ALL shocked at how easy I found the narrower board.... which was 5 tiny liters more plus 4" longer.
BUT... it had a pulled in nose and tail with thin rails (pro model)
Maybe the extra length allowed me to keep the nose up and get to paddle speed.
whatever it was... it surprised all of us. Listening to the comments of my friends, showed they were as shocked as me.
I never published the video but learned a lot, which helps me answer balance/volume/width questions.