Hey SB, I'm about to purchase a used board and I'm stuck between the 2018 Rocket 135 and 2017 Rocket 135 Wide.
Im a 93kg intermediate and I intend to use the board with my 7.3 Loft Switchblade in 12-20 flat/choppy med conditions.I'm leaning towards the wide since it's a bit cheaper but what worries me is if the width (81cm) vs the regular rockets (77) will be too much for my 7.3 Thanks for any input.

Being a "bit" cheaper should not make much of deal breaker either way. At your weight neither would be too wide.
the non wide will offer better turning . I don't read so much about the wide craze anymore.
7.3 is a tag small for either with your weight.

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forceten said..
Being a "bit" cheaper should not make much of deal breaker either way. At your weight neither would be too wide.
the non wide will offer better turning . I don't read so much about the wide craze anymore.
7.3 is a tag small for either with your weight.

The "bit" cheaper part is actually incorrect, my fault, not a native English speaker. Rocket 650 euro(1020 AUD) VS Wide 400 euro (630 AUD).
My main concern is - will they both perform (or under perform) equally with my one trick pony 7.3 rig ?

Wide is easier for lesser skilled, planes earlier, jibes easier.
Regular rewards more skill in higher winds and rides smoother over rough chop.

What board are you riding at the moment

clas myself as intermediate/beginner at similar weight.

Trying to understand you doing 12-20knts on a 7.3 (sail type?)

in the wind range you nominate I'm on 80+ wide boards and 8.5+ sails at the 12 knot end + water tends to be flatter.

At the 20knt end 7.5m and less sail I can make the 80cm board work but a narrower board handles the expected chop better

so probably need more info on your sailing location and predominate winds

me I would go wide as I enjoy stability in lower wind conditions and tolerate the less frequent 20+ knot days

cheers Jeff

Well said jirvin .

i have both sizes ..the 80 planes faster and is better in light wind ,,my narrower board is nicer in the chop .

and is the one I prefer to ride .

if you want easy go wide ,if you want a board that needs slightly more wind but is nicer in chop go the 77,it's still
a fairly wide board at 77 ,I don't think it will be a problem for you .i think it will have a better range .

77 would be my pick ,I never ride my 80 in 20 knots ..the wind gets under it .

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jirvin4505 said..
What board are you riding at the moment

clas myself as intermediate/beginner at similar weight.

Trying to understand you doing 12-20knts on a 7.3 (sail type?)

in the wind range you nominate I'm on 80+ wide boards and 8.5+ sails at the 12 knot end + water tends to be flatter.

At the 20knt end 7.5m and less sail I can make the 80cm board work but a narrower board handles the expected chop better

so probably need more info on your sailing location and predominate winds

me I would go wide as I enjoy stability in lower wind conditions and tolerate the less frequent 20+ knot days

cheers Jeff

Hey Jeff, I'm currently riding a 2006 Fanatic Eagle 127 at 69cm width and I'm finding it a bit too wobbly, wish it had more room to move around.
I'm not saying I'm able to plane at 12 knots, just that those are the conditions I go out on hoping I'll hit the 16 knot gust and plane. I can ride just fine with the cambered 7.3 and my Eagle @ about 16 knots. Conditions are mainly small chop in the Med.

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Dishpet said..

jirvin4505 said..
What board are you riding at the moment

clas myself as intermediate/beginner at similar weight.

Trying to understand you doing 12-20knts on a 7.3 (sail type?)

in the wind range you nominate I'm on 80+ wide boards and 8.5+ sails at the 12 knot end + water tends to be flatter.

At the 20knt end 7.5m and less sail I can make the 80cm board work but a narrower board handles the expected chop better

so probably need more info on your sailing location and predominate winds

me I would go wide as I enjoy stability in lower wind conditions and tolerate the less frequent 20+ knot days

cheers Jeff

Hey Jeff, I'm currently riding a 2006 Fanatic Eagle 127 at 69cm width and I'm finding it a bit too wobbly, wish it had more room to move around.
I'm not saying I'm able to plane at 12 knots, just that those are the conditions I go out on hoping I'll hit the 16 knot gust and plane. I can ride just fine with the cambered 7.3 and my Eagle @ about 16 knots. Conditions are mainly small chop in the Med.

Are you going to keep the fanatic eagle 127?

seems to me you have the 16+ knots covered and would benefit from more lightwind options

the rocket wide and a bigger sail will give you a lot more planing time

12knts small chop I'm usually on a 92cm wide jpslw with 8.5 - 9.5 sail. I can get going with slightly smaller 80-85cm boards if gusts are reliable however still need at least a 8.5 sail

^^^ If he is talking about wobbly I reckon its not planing time that is the aim.

The wide egg shaped boards were ever that popular, it was marketers telling us what we wanted...
The wind range on them is far less and they are suited for nice flat conditions.

Most of the time I'd say "normal" Rocket, but if the OP wants less wobbly I'm saying go for the wide.

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Mark _australia said..


The wide egg shaped boards were ever that popular, it was marketers telling us what we wanted...
The wind range on them is far less and they are suited for nice flat conditions.

I dunno Mark, personal preferences might vary. I've got an old rocket 105 (63cm) and a much newer wide 108 (73 cm) . The 105 mainly lives under the house. I took it out 2 weeks ago, It's back under the house . Had a 118 wide (77cm) for a while, it was great with 80kg in the ocean down to 6.5.

I think the wides are more comfortable, being thinner they might flex more when you mis-navigate a piece of chop.

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jirvin4505 said..

Dishpet said..

jirvin4505 said..
What board are you riding at the moment

clas myself as intermediate/beginner at similar weight.

Trying to understand you doing 12-20knts on a 7.3 (sail type?)

in the wind range you nominate I'm on 80+ wide boards and 8.5+ sails at the 12 knot end + water tends to be flatter.

At the 20knt end 7.5m and less sail I can make the 80cm board work but a narrower board handles the expected chop better

so probably need more info on your sailing location and predominate winds

me I would go wide as I enjoy stability in lower wind conditions and tolerate the less frequent 20+ knot days

cheers Jeff

Hey Jeff, I'm currently riding a 2006 Fanatic Eagle 127 at 69cm width and I'm finding it a bit too wobbly, wish it had more room to move around.
I'm not saying I'm able to plane at 12 knots, just that those are the conditions I go out on hoping I'll hit the 16 knot gust and plane. I can ride just fine with the cambered 7.3 and my Eagle @ about 16 knots. Conditions are mainly small chop in the Med.

Are you going to keep the fanatic eagle 127?

seems to me you have the 16+ knots covered and would benefit from more lightwind options

the rocket wide and a bigger sail will give you a lot more planing time

12knts small chop I'm usually on a 92cm wide jpslw with 8.5 - 9.5 sail. I can get going with slightly smaller 80-85cm boards if gusts are reliable however still need at least a 8.5 sail

Yes I intend to keep the 127 since at 69 wide it will perhaps be better suited for the 20+ range, but the rocket/wide I intend to use in those borderline days. I have no intention of getting a new rig since I've stupidly over-invested into the existing one (100% mast etc.) and I'm sticking to the 7.3 . How does a ~80ish board like the wide handle 17-24 knots of wind ? I might not want to use it at 24 knots but once you're out there you've really got no choice.

your eagle sounds fine for 20 knots with the 7.3

for lighter winds - get a board and use the "small" sail or get a larger sail ??
i assume the eagle 127 could handle an 8.x (8.0-8.5) sail ??

the "wobble" will disappear over time

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joe windsurf said..
your eagle sounds fine for 20 knots with the 7.3

for lighter winds - get a board and use the "small" sail or get a larger sail ??
i assume the eagle 127 could handle an 8.x (8.0-8.5) sail ??

the "wobble" will disappear over time

The 127 with its 69 width is reeeeally uncomfortable when sub-plane and trying to tack upwind on one of those borderline windy days, its a lot of work at my skill level more so with a bigger rig in my hands. It feels nice once it gets going though.

As Ian says, it could be a personal preference, could , maybe is for sure.
i have ridden several and owned 2 , I dont have any now. The best wide for me was a Exocet something, it planned really early, jibed nice, but to me had no personality, so a plain vanilla , compared to a Rocket , non wide. Tabou says, ease of use, go along with that, I want something that's more intense.
Mark remarked as me, I dont feel the popularity really too off.
Tabou , this year has no quad, really odd to me it seems. But continue with the wide Rocket.

go figure.
to be clear I'm not negative on the wide lot, they just aren't my preference. Yet I have a totally cool, Starboard Hypersonic 105, its not a all rounder, but in its niche its bitchin

Having had both of these, I suggest to go for the standard version.
I will be perfect for your weight in those winds.