I am looking to get a smaller board, something that is a bit snappier and something a bit easy to travel with. I am riding a 10'5 Starboard Drive which is great as a longboard style sup in the waves, is fine for coastal cruising etc but have been looking to add something around 8'5 to the quiver.

So, I have been looking at the Jimmy Lewis World Wide 8'5 x 30.25" (127litres) and the Naish Mana 8'5 x 30.5" (132litres) I am around 92-94kgs and looking to use the board in chest high+ waves as I will keep the Drive as well.

I have been surfing for 30 odd years both longboard and shortboards and paddling for about 6 months.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Cheers

There's a few guys on the forum with the WW 8'5 and loving them. I have the 8'1WW and have heaps of fun with it.
They are light and very reasonably priced for a carbon board. They get onto waves really easy. Ive tried a few different fin combos now and between me and others have realised quad fins with large fronts make it drive better getting me thru sections. She is loose if you get ur foot right back and dig into ur bottom turn! but yeh also finding now she pumps real well to generate speed and then trhow her around. Best part i find with these boards is there is no swing weight or feel. All my other boards ive found the big long nose feels heavy and you got to time urself to get her round. With the world wides it feels like a short board, no swing. had to get my timing together but yeh GOOD TRAIT!
I use mine in local beachey or reefs from knee to head and have had it up to double head in long reef breaks. I dont think they are the board for big days if you can afford 2 but they cover most range. if you are looking at chest plus all the time and waves are succy or powerful perhaps look at a stun gun as they have more of a pulled in tail.

Maybe check out the Quatro 8'4 Carve - 29.5" and 120 l as well

I'm a bit lighter than you (87-90Kg) depending on the time of year.
Nice stable, great wave catching a really nice tail rocker / kick that can turn as hard as you want too.

Not sure if SurfSail have still got any

At your weight, coming from a 10'5" board, I wonder if you'll find an 8'5" x 30" board a bit small - but I have not ridden the boards you quoted. In a very similar situation I went to the Hokua 8'8" X32 and it was a bit challenging at first. I am glad I did and have now gone to shorter and/or narrower boards. But the X32 was the right board at the time for me.

Go with the naish mana 8'5, I went from a 10ft cheapie to the mana 8'5 within months and now ride a JP 8'2 and looking to go shorter again 8.0, I also have surfed for 40 years plus, you already have the surf skills by the sounds of it, the only thing you'll have to learn is how to paddle it into the waves and what to do with that stick in your hand once you catch a wave. By the way I weigh 85kg as well, hope this helps with your choice good luck and have fun.

Hey Scozz
I think you're on the right track coming down in size from the 10'5 drive. I'm not familiar w the Jimi Lewis but the Naish 8'5 would be a great option for you in waves up to head and half. It is a bit of a jump in size but the width is the same and the wide til on the mana gives great stability for its size. I would def go the GT or GTW model in the mana as they're a bit lighter and stronger providing a good option for travel. They surf a hell of a lot better than your drive but it will take a bit of getting used too. if you've already got the skills and get anything bigger you'll be downsizing agin in a few months. The mana is a great choice and I have got lots of my friends on them and they love it.