Wanted to ask because most of my fin experience is on a Fanatic Blast 145 with a 44cm weed fin. I do have significant time on smaller wave boards (115 dyno, kode 135, older jp 102 fsw).

Anyway, I recently was on vacation and rented a JP Magic Ride 129, which has the same width as my Blast (77cm), but the volume and I think the tail shape were significantly different. It was also nice to have a regular fin performing well instead of a weed fin, as there were no weeds (only jellies, and I got stung!).

It felt like the JP was a lot better in chop (used both a 6.7 and 7.7 Neil Pryde rig from the shop, for an estimate on conditions) than the Blast. Also, it felt like a LOT less effort to jibe than the Blast. I thought it the conditions would've been flat it's possible I would've come out still planing because of how much easier it seemed...

Others have commented that maybe it's time to step to a different (better) freeride board than the Blast for when I am not in waves, and it reminded me of that. I didn't understand what was meant by that. I think the JP had a little wider tail but also more volume towards the mast track than the Blast, but that could be my mistake in perception so please correct me if you know the difference. I was going off of memory and feel only.

I'm not really looking for yet another board right now, but I'm wondering then what I should be looking for in board shape if something used pops up. I do like the Blast up to 9.5 and down to about 6.3, for when the tide is too low to foil. But I'm wondering if I had a little bit smaller moderate wind (6-8.0 range) board that jibes better and deals with chop better that I would be coming out of jibes a bit easier and spend more time planing. I found that struggling in messy chop and tuning the Blast made the chop/swell at the rental spot almost zero drama with that board and I just charged.

I've only had the flying sensation coming out of a jibe fast on a foil so far, but it seems to be getting much closer on a fin now that my feel and sail handling have improved.

These are large boards - you don't give us your sailor weight. If youre a big sailor ok, but if you're average sized these boards could be seen as big and cumbersome (specially the Fanatic). But, I have sailed the Blast 100 and it is a super gybing board, though a bit short for my taste.

Blast 145 77x235
MR 129 77x244

You have a lot of differences going on here board volumes, shape, length and fin type. Of these two the MR is longer and thinner (even though) they are the same width. I'm not surprised it would perform better, especially as you were on a regular fin. Weed fins are an acquired taste and if there wasn't weed no-one would use them. Upright fins are more efficient and work better (someone will object to that!).

I think you have just experienced a more efficient board and fin combination that flowed around the gybe better than the Blast you are used to. Straigher, longer, faster boards always carry their way around a gybe better than more curvy designs (even though they need more skill to control).

Select to expand quote

Shifu said..
These are large boards - you don't give us your sailor weight. If youre a big sailor ok, but if you're average sized these boards could be seen as big and cumbersome (specially the Fanatic). But, I have sailed the Blast 100 and it is a super gybing board, though a bit short for my taste.

Blast 145 77x235
MR 129 77x244

You have a lot of differences going on here board volumes, shape, length and fin type. Of these two the MR is longer and thinner (even though) they are the same width. I'm not surprised it would perform better, especially as you were on a regular fin. Weed fins are an acquired taste and if there wasn't weed no-one would use them. Upright fins are more efficient and work better (someone will object to that!).

I think you have just experienced a more efficient board and fin combination that flowed around the gybe better than the Blast you are used to. Straigher, longer, faster boards always carry their way around a gybe better than more curvy designs (even though they need more skill to control).

Thank you, yes I supposed I'm bigger at 90kg.

I rarely try sailing at home with a regular straight fin at home. The stock Blast fin is ok and doesn't grab weeds excessively, but I have a select 43cm that grabs every weed it touches so it rarely gets used. Hard to say how much of what I felt was fin vs. board but I did feel the volume difference when off-plane as far as where the float was.

145 litres is a bit big for your weight and is going to turn like an ocean liner. It's not a surprise that the smaller board ran rings around it. Also length does have an effect on stability. Roughly speaking the longer of two boards of the same width will be more stable.

Could also be just from the fin as well