Getting a speed board and looking for ease of use. I know its hard to compare these due to different ltres but wanting something that handles small chop ok. Will mostly be sailing in pretty flat shalliw water but occasionally 4-10" chop and have to go out into 1ft to get longer upwind legs.
As a lightweight can't see me getting much more than 35-37kts so top end speed not really that important. control at speed is.
Also if you have used these how do they compare with your weight? The missile will be about the same as my weight while the isonic will be c -15

sue I have 3 speed boards all around 60lts and i'm happy to sail at 35knts, my best runs on gps team challenge are 37+ on a custom slalom/speed at around 70+lts and 50w
my ca44 is 44wide and 64lts , its quick but for the way I jibe it bogs down in the turns so for me it's not a user friendly board , the naishsp60 is 60lts 48wide its also fast but a bit touchy in chop,
the jp 50 is 64lt and 50wide this board is also fast but is incredible in chop and high speed jibes ,
so at the end of the day with 3 boards all at 60lts and all so different, you need to choose a board that suits your style of sailing
all speed boards are fast ,so what you need to do is find one that will jibe and handle a bit of chop
the worst thing you could do is buy a speed board because its a speed board , other wise you will end up with a board your stuck with, or it will end up in the back shed

Please, just buy one, anything!!!!

I find it annoying to see people bullying Sue with red thumbs. You are not compelled to contribute if you don't want, she has never criticized or been rude to anyone.

Here here

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powersloshin said..
I find it annoying to see people bullying Sue with red thumbs. You are not compelled to contribute if you don't want, she has never criticized or been rude to anyone.

well said!!

Thanks Keef. Thats what Im trying to find out- which of those isonic or missile is more user friendly? I loved the Jp but can't see any around.
I'm definetly going to buy but as there isnt any wind to test the missile wanted as much real life feedback as possible before deciding. I've sailed the isonic at Lg and liked it but didn't really test it a lot in the bigger chop.I'd definetly get more usage from the larger ( assuming its not uncontrollable to sail) but when it really kicks in the smaller would be less likely to get the wind under it.
So which would handle more like the Jp as I loved that!

sorry but I haven't ridden either of the boards , one thing too keep in mind is, small speed boards have a small wind range the more wind becomes more chop and eventually to much chop for a small speed board, you will need to change to a bigger speed board or a small slalom for some stability
another thing to keep in mind is , if your buying privately out side of your local area, the freight will turn a cheep board into and expensive board , so if you can try the board before you buy ,it will be cheaper and you'll have a better chance of getting what your looking for

Team riders come up with these board designs and test them before they go into production. The best thing to do is buy a board at the price you what to pay and learn how to sail it.

Sue.ive ridden both and ended up buying a Ca40 as it suited my style much better. But as Dave has stated buy one and learn to sail it.
The sonic is a newer design and the F2 liked the flat water only. I found on both boards the footstraps were too far apart and I would have to modify the board to be safe. The boards were designed for large speedsailors to go very fast and not jybing. Borrow some boards and sort out what you like or a price that you want to spend. I took the expensive option and bought what I liked not what I could afford and never regretted it

Hi Sue,

With missile 63 ltrs, do you mean the Missile XS?
I've had both the Missile XS and the isonic 50. But my weight is 90 kgs so different criteria for ease of use.

For me the isonic 50 was far, far, far to small to be of practical use on my home spot (Strand Horst NL).
Later I had the Missile XS, which is a bit larger, but still relatively small.

When you pick a small board, you must be really convinced that you either live near a spot with VERY dependent strong wind conditions. Or when your favorite spot has variable winds, then you must be extremely flexible in being able to take leave on short term when a good day is in the forecast.
Otherwise you will have the same problem I had - you don't get enough TOW to get that board dialed in. And a speed board is of little use when you don't get it dialed in.

I guess my message is - unless you either live near a very wind-sure spot, OR you are extremely flexible in taking leave on short term, then better opt for the larger speedboard, to make sure you get enough sailing hours to get the settings and your sailing stance right.

And then comparing both boards (I had the Missile XS and the isonic 50).
Regarding ease of gybing they I found them equally easy (or difficult) you just need to be able to plane through the gibe on a small slalom board then you'll be OK. When you miss then gybe you will have to waterstart which is also about the same for both boards.
Regarding control - I found the Missile XS better than the isonic 50. Missile XS has an extremely loose ride, you must get accustomed to. But you must just let board run by itself, and believe it or not, nothing bad happens.

When it is NOT the Missile XS. I have not ridden the Missile S myself, but understand from people who have ridden both boards, that the Missile S is considerably more difficult and is actually better for heavy riders. I have also had the Missile 1 and Missile 2 (the one with airpipes). Missile 1 easy to ride, more a small slalom board. Missile 2 would not recommend that board, narrow range of use and construction problems due to airpipe connection to deck.

To summarize - when you can find a good Missile XS, get it!

And then my 3rd and last comment. I currently have the Tabou Manta 49, which is - for my weight and sailing conditions - the optimum board.
Extremely easy to sail even in ridiculously difficult conditions, probably due to bottom shape. All Manta's are extremely easy to sail, compared to equally sized speed and slalom boards.
Ease of use, makes faster, especially when you don't get 100+ sailing days per year when you have a job and family (like me).

I've read the Mantas are good! Thanks Ned/ I'm lucky to be able to drop everything and go if its blows and yearly average one sail a week. It doesn't blow very hard where I sail but its shallow so if you come off the plane you can sit it out and wait for the gusts.
At the moment I find my 79 falcon too twitchy in over 25kts.I can't put the mast foot forward to settle it as the clew drags in the water. I can't raise the boom as I'm too short and it's already at the bottom of the cutout . So 25kts + I want something more controllable + fast. I have a 64ltre Starboard acid waveboard but I think I've done it's PB for me 32.56kts..
I've been trying to find board reviews on both of them ( Missile + isonic) and I've read a few that say the missile is tricky in chop..I'm not sure what type of missile is the one I am looking at so will ask. Thanks again.

Katoe - The isonic 50 I rode was Daffys and he'd already adjusted the footstrap position so I suppose I'll have to do that if I get one.

Hi Sue,

If you can pick up a Missile XS or Manta 49, don't doubt and buy it.

Both are relatively easy to sail, considerably easier than the Falcon 79. Falcon 79 is a small slalomboard you can use well for speedsurfing. But it is not exactly the easiest to sail in it's category, due to it's bottom shape. Better suited to tall / heavy sailors who can leverage their size to "push" it down.

Purpose of small slalom and speedboards is different, this results in a different shape and thus sailing behavior. Especially the tail shape differs. Slalomboards focused on across the wind performance, speedboards focused on performance downwind and control getting back upwind. For background on the difference in tail shape between small slalom and speed boards read this article boards.co.uk/features/the-great-speed-board-debate.html

For what you want to do the Isonic 50 is by far the best choice. (I have ridden both a lot)
1. You have already sailed it and know it feels good for your weight and done a PB in it.
2. It has a slightly wider tail and area under the feet which will be better at the speeds you will sail at and it is far easier to get going then the very narrow, pin-tailed F2
3. The amount of litres means virtually NOTHING in this size of board for the conditions you will sail it in. It is the shape (width, outline and rocker) that define it's characteristics. Do not even consider litres!
4. Remember that I set my best ONE HOUR speed of 28.8kts on the Isonic 50. Does that tell you something about it's ability to keep going though gybes and lulls?
5.The IS50 rides flatter in the sort of small chop you will likely encounter speed sailing, and therefore with less drama. It may be ultimately slightly slower in perfect flat water, but it will be faster for you in real world conditions because it will give you the confidence to push. (I still got 44.6kts out of mine)
6. Don't even consider getting anything bigger or wider than the IS50! (eg. Manta) I repeat: FORGET IT! It will be a waste of time and money. You buy a speed board for one purpose only. To go as fast as possible in the best conditions you get. For your size, anything bigger (and by that I mean wider - not litres) is a slower slalomy type board. You already have that.
7. Lena, who is about your size, was using an approx, 35cm wide board at Luderitz when I was using the CA40. Smaller people need smaller boards to be fast, even at 35 -38 knots. When you are ready for Luderitz and low 40's+ you will need an even smaller board, but until then, the IS50 is it!
8. I will send you my spare set of footstep setback plates to set it up for your stance.
9. Get it now and do it while you are still young!

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sailquik said..
For what you want to do the Isonic 50 is by far the best choice. (I have ridden both a lot)
1. You have already sailed it and know it feels good for your weight and done a PB in it.
2. It has a slightly wider tail and area under the feet which will be better at the speeds you will sail at and it is far easier to get going then the very narrow, pin-tailed F2
3. The amount of litres means virtually NOTHING in this size of board for the conditions you will sail it in. It is the shape (width, outline and rocker) that define it's characteristics. Do not even consider litres!
4. Remember that I set my best ONE HOUR speed of 28.8kts on the Isonic 50. Does that tell you something about it's ability to keep going though gybes and lulls?
5.The IS50 rides flatter in the sort of small chop you will likely encounter speed sailing, and therefore with less drama. It may be ultimately slightly slower in perfect flat water, but it will be faster for you in real world conditions because it will give you the confidence to push. (I still got 44.6kts out of mine)
6. Don't even consider getting anything bigger or wider than the IS50! (eg. Manta) I repeat: FORGET IT! It will be a waste of time and money. You buy a speed board for one purpose only. To go as fast as possible in the best conditions you get. For your size, anything bigger (and by that I mean wider - not litres) is a slower slalomy type board. You already have that.
7. Lena, who is about your size, was using an approx, 35cm wide board at Luderitz when I was using the CA40. Smaller people need smaller boards to be fast, even at 35 -38 knots. When you are ready for Luderitz and low 40's+ you will need an even smaller board, but until then, the IS50 is it!
8. I will send you my spare set of footstep setback plates to set it up for your stance.
9. Get it now and do it while you are still young!

We're on the same wavelength.. My partner still can't understand why I'm so driven to do all I can while I can...
One problem I'm having is all the boards seem to be in Wa so by the time you add $150 freight they end up being pretty expensive for what they are. There were a few local isonics sold recently ( I wasn't ready to buy - this is birthday $ ) and I wish I'd been looking then & grabbed them..
Come on locals- Who has an isonic 50 they never use? to go to a good home - used regularly much loved..

If it's the first F2 missile Like the one above, then it was easy to sail. I remember it felt big, planned easy and was ok in chop too. The old model had a wide tail and could take small slalom fins for choppier waters. I think later models became more difficult to use.

I also remember the SB iS50 being good in chop too and the powerful tail made it feel bigger than its 46.5cm and 50 litres would suggest. I remember AA F192 using an iS50 in the Defi winds in 40/50k winds. Thus was when he was in the SB team though.

i think Daffy's for strap plates looked like the ones in this picture.

like Daffy, I also think your best getting the isonic as its narrower for your lighter weight.

That first pic is Tom Chalko's board. Mine is identical except I didn't cover the plates with black material.

The second pic is the older larger Missile. This one was around 50cm or more wide, and for me it is like a small slalom board. I can sail it in 20 knots with a 6m sail easy. Waaaay too big for a lightweight sailors speed board!!

Thanks everyone. I think I've settled on an isonic.
Just got to find one within my budget!
I've posted on the GPS team challenge but I may miss peoples answers as I made a note of what teams I'd asked but not the day! Pity they can't notify you when someone answers like seabreeze.
This will be good info for anyone else looking at these boards as I couldn't find a lot on Google.
Sailquick the straps look assymetrical on the board pictured?

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sboardcrazy said..
Sailquick the straps look assymetrical on the board pictured?

I think it was a sandy point board, starboard tack down wind. The forward straps on port tack make going upwind easier.

you might struggle to find an is50 in Aus, weird as there are at least three for sale in the UK right now. Don't rule out the 2nd generation SB speed boards, the W44 and W49 wood versions are dally pretty cheap as most want to newer carbon versions. Personally I still like my wood versions gif there slightly softer ride.

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mark62 said..

sboardcrazy said..
Sailquick the straps look assymetrical on the board pictured?

I think it was a sandy point board, starboard tack down wind. The forward straps on port tack make going upwind easier.

you might struggle to find an is50 in Aus, weird as there are at least three for sale in the UK right now. Don't rule out the 2nd generation SB speed boards, the W44 and W49 wood versions are dally pretty cheap as most want to newer carbon versions. Personally I still like my wood versions gif there slightly softer ride.

How have they changed the designs over the years? I was wondering how the newer models compared.
I hadn't considered them as I didn't think my budget ( max $650) would be enough.

The big problem with speed boards is due to their width they do struggle to get upwind.

Racing on them is difficult unless the wind is very consistent and again the problem of getting upwind will always be there.

Compare a speed board with say a 87 Sonic and sailing upwind or a tight reach there is no comparison in performance.

For deep off the wind sailing in relatively flat water,they may be a touch faster.

I would keep your Fanatic Falcon 79 and find a much softer fin like a Techtronics Falcon 30 or Vector Ex 30.

The newer wider based Volt also has exceptional control but a little stiffer in feel compared to the other two.

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sailquik said..

4. Remember that I set my best ONE HOUR speed of 28.8kts on the Isonic 50. Does that tell you something about it's ability to keep going though gybes and lulls?

if budggiwoy is as shallow as primbee personally I would think 50lts would be to small ,buddgiwoy doesn't get the strong winds Victoria and SA gets , the sailing time on the board will be limited
sailing in shallow areas like primbee isn't a problem , getting started with your fin stuck in the bottom is a problem , getting going in shallow water and mud at LG isn't the same as budggiwoy or primbee, or jibing in a soft muddy bottom , personally if your going to spend that amount of money on a board you will want to sail it in your own back yard and not wait until you do a road trip to SP or LG
if you want some use out of a speed board on your home ground conditions go back to plan B with a 50w board around 60lts

How much below your weight do you all sail - the isonic will be - 14 for me...most of the sailors in my team seem to sail less volume for their weight than that??
Do you have trouble with it sticking to the bottom.
If it is windy can't you lie in the shallows and waterstart hooking in as you come up..keeping the weight on the boom so it won't sink the tail as you take off?
I suppose in 20cm depth that mightn't work but in knee deep it should?

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keef said..

sailquik said..

4. Remember that I set my best ONE HOUR speed of 28.8kts on the Isonic 50. Does that tell you something about it's ability to keep going though gybes and lulls?

if budggiwoy is as shallow as primbee personally I would think 50lts would be to small ,buddgiwoy doesn't get the strong winds Victoria and SA gets , the sailing time on the board will be limited
sailing in shallow areas like primbee isn't a problem , getting started with your fin stuck in the bottom is a problem , getting going in shallow water and mud at LG isn't the same as budggiwoy or primbee, or jibing in a soft muddy bottom , personally if your going to spend that amount of money on a board you will want to sail it in your own back yard and not wait until you do a road trip to SP or LG
if you want some use out of a speed board on your home ground conditions go back to plan B with a 50w board around 60lts

And I was well over 75K at the time with gear on .

As I thought I stressed earlier. Forget the quoted volume. It is virtually irrelevant for this board. It sails like over 60 litres. Plenty big enough for Sue. The winds at LG are not very strong. Most of the time we had only around 22-25 knots of wind. Starting there is also often in shallow weedy water. It just requires a slightly different technique. When there is enough wind at Primbee or Budgy to speedsail, this board it will do it easy for you.

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petermac33 said..
The big problem with speed boards is due to their width they do struggle to get upwind.

Racing on them is difficult unless the wind is very consistent and again the problem of getting upwind will always be there.

Compare a speed board with say a 87 Sonic and sailing upwind or a tight reach there is no comparison in performance.

For deep off the wind sailing in relatively flat water,they may be a touch faster.

I would keep your Fanatic Falcon 79 and find a much softer fin like a Techtronics Falcon 30 or Vector Ex 30.

The newer wider based Volt also has exceptional control but a little stiffer in feel compared to the other two.

I disagree that it is a 'big problem'. They don't go as well upwind as easy as a slalom board because they are not a slalom board, they are made for speed off the wind! (and can actually be very fast beam reaching as well on flat water). But you can still truck upwind quite well at a bit lower angle when powered up as you will be whilst speed sailing. Often, we handicap ourselves upwind even more by using a small assy fin. But the boards will still go upwind fine, again, just at a lower angle and with a bit more speed and skill.

They are not made for 'Racing' or VMG upwind. They are made for speed sailing!

For deep off the wind on typical 'flattish' speed courses, they are much faster! There is no doubt about this at all. Sue has already proven this to herself as well!

Those fins you recommend maybe excellent for slalom type sailing in weed free water, but not suited to most speed sailing, and certainly not in weedy lakes. On the other hand, the Vector Delta Speed Weed fins are excellent.

Hi Sue this has been very interesting seeing everyone's views and all the posts in the hunt for someone to sell you a speed board.

Wouldn't it be easier just to borrow one on the days there's enough wind for a speed board?

It sounds like you like your 79l falcon, and you get great speeds on it.

I reckon keep the $650 because as we all know, as soon as you buy one new piece of equipment, you then need to buy more new bits, sails, fins, booms, masts, then you'll be wondering if you should get a new light wind board for the light summer breeze days and it all starts over again.

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Dezza said...

I reckon keep the $650 because as we all know, as soon as you buy one new piece of equipment, you then need to buy more new bits, sails, fins, booms, masts, then you'll be wondering if you should get a new light wind board for the light summer breeze days and it all starts over again.

well said Dezza for a wave sailor who brought a GPS with no speed gear

but im happy now

anyone got the new go pro 4 yet?

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Dezza said..
Hi Sue this has been very interesting seeing everyone's views and all the posts in the hunt for someone to sell you a speed board.

Wouldn't it be easier just to borrow one on the days there's enough wind for a speed board?

It sounds like you like your 79l falcon, and you get great speeds on it.

I reckon keep the $650 because as we all know, as soon as you buy one new piece of equipment, you then need to buy more new bits, sails, fins, booms, masts, then you'll be wondering if you should get a new light wind board for the light summer breeze days and it all starts over again.

If I didn't have to get every new purchase past my better half I'd have even more gear.... I've done the hard work and got permission so need to get one before he changes his mind..