I have a 2017 model. Do they still make an 80ltre?
I love mine in flat water . It has a big tail which is great for early planing and gybes etc in flatwater. For my weight ( 65kgs) I find it bounces across the top of the chop in anything more than c 10inches and I find it hard to get good speeds.
I heard later Isonics ride better in chop?? If so do they still gybe as well ..
What are later model ones like?
Just wondering if it's worth trying to find a later model iso80..?

Im sure Starboard has a website although it maybe locked down for Covid.

If it is feeling like it bounces over the chop it might just be that you might need to fly it off the fin more. Then you'll skitter over the top and speeds will improve in choppy conditions. Small fin is fast in good flatwater spots like Lilacs and Liptons, but my opinion is it's slow in any sort of chop

Oftentimes, in rougher water, a "slower designed" board can be sailed faster than a board designed to go fast.
Pilot makes huge difference, and each pilot is different.

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sboardcrazy said..
I have a 2017 model. Do they still make an 80ltre?
I love mine in flat water . It has a big tail which is great for early planing and gybes etc in flatwater. For my weight ( 65kgs) I find it bounces across the top of the chop in anything more than c 10inches and I find it hard to get good speeds.
I heard later Isonics ride better in chop?? If so do they still gybe as well ..
What are later model ones like?
Just wondering if it's worth trying to find a later model iso80..?

I don't think you'll gain any real big difference by changing to a newer model. The iS80 is high wind slalom and should be good for rougher waters.

The iS80 became the iS58 (width) in 2019 then it was dropped in 2020 with just the iS55 and iS60 on offer. I guess the iS55 might be to small as a replacement.

Not wanting to sound like I'm teaching my granny how to suck eggs, but if the board feels bouncy it sounds like a set up issue or possibly backing off. Maybe move footstraps forward, play with deck plate and boom height. With the right set up, you should be able stay sheeted in and fly full speed over chop. The faster you go over chop, the smoother it gets. If you back off, it gets bumpy.

just my 2 cents.

72 kg.
I find I go faster and with more comfort on fast freeride over my JP Slalom 84 with 55cm width.
My Naish Freeide 85 is 55 width, but with narrower tail and much thinner rails. Same 35" dead flat from the tail.
In rough water, any of my FSW's can be ridden faster, and adding overpowered to the equation, my 78 liter pure wave is faster with more comfort.

considering that every year isonics are 10% faster and get more power delivered with extra control, the '22 model should be amazing

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powersloshin said..
considering that every year isonics are 10% faster and get more power delivered with extra control, the '22 model should be amazing

That is gold!!!!

Hope all is well matey.

had to make jokes because cannot windsurf

Sue have a look at this:

I still have my 2017 80 iSonic Sue and still love it. Small fin and mast track forward I find helps the board ride in the chop better. I think any slalom board is going to bounce around in the chop a bit anyway. I find you need to ride them in the chop like snow skiing bumps, absorb the bumps with your knees instead of standing fully straight legged the whole time. My thoughts anyway.

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mark62 said..

sboardcrazy said..
I have a 2017 model. Do they still make an 80ltre?
I love mine in flat water . It has a big tail which is great for early planing and gybes etc in flatwater. For my weight ( 65kgs) I find it bounces across the top of the chop in anything more than c 10inches and I find it hard to get good speeds.
I heard later Isonics ride better in chop?? If so do they still gybe as well ..
What are later model ones like?
Just wondering if it's worth trying to find a later model iso80..?

I don't think you'll gain any real big difference by changing to a newer model. The iS80 is high wind slalom and should be good for rougher waters.

The iS80 became the iS58 (width) in 2019 then it was dropped in 2020 with just the iS55 and iS60 on offer. I guess the iS55 might be to small as a replacement.

Not wanting to sound like I'm teaching my granny how to suck eggs, but if the board feels bouncy it sounds like a set up issue or possibly backing off. Maybe move footstraps forward, play with deck plate and boom height. With the right set up, you should be able stay sheeted in and fly full speed over chop. The faster you go over chop, the smoother it gets. If you back off, it gets bumpy.

just my 2 cents.

Someone once said the footstep position was pretty far back and would make it flighty. I don't back off but I find it hard work. I don't sail it in chop much more than 30cms as I have more enjoyable boards for that although they are bigger.
I have a Patrick 70 with a narrow tail that just eats that type of chop. Probably wouldn't be as forgiving to gybe though so I wouldn't consider changing to the 80 Patrick.
I do like the Iso just fantasising about options.
Thanks for the info. I looked on their website and suspected they'd phased them out. Yep in our patchy wind the 55 wouldn't get much use.

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Kazza said..
I still have my 2017 80 iSonic Sue and still love it. Small fin and mast track forward I find helps the board ride in the chop better. I think any slalom board is going to bounce around in the chop a bit anyway. I find you need to ride them in the chop like snow skiing bumps, absorb the bumps with your knees instead of standing fully straight legged the whole time. My thoughts anyway.

Thanks Kazza. I was hoping for your feedback. Yes I hang out the side rather than stand upright. I might try putting the mastfoot further forward. I usually have it in the centre. I used to run it at the back until someone suggested the centre.
Dezza said the 55 is easier in chop so I was just wondering if later models had changed.
I think I'm getting too old to use it in bigger chop..I want ease of sailing and comfort. Still love it in the smooth.
No sailboarding here for at least another 5 weeks..if I'm lucky..

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Kazza said..
I still have my 2017 80 iSonic Sue and still love it. Small fin and mast track forward I find helps the board ride in the chop better. I think any slalom board is going to bounce around in the chop a bit anyway. I find you need to ride them in the chop like snow skiing bumps, absorb the bumps with your knees instead of standing fully straight legged the whole time. My thoughts anyway.

You're a similar size to me. Where do you have your footstraps set?

If I put the mastfoot and straps further forward will that make it slower in smooth water?

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Stretchy said..
If it is feeling like it bounces over the chop it might just be that you might need to fly it off the fin more. Then you'll skitter over the top and speeds will improve in choppy conditions. Small fin is fast in good flatwater spots like Lilacs and Liptons, but my opinion is it's slow in any sort of chop

I'm using either a 16.5 cm ( cutdown 22 FF) or an 18.5 Atomic. The Atomic was great for Lake George but is a bit small in the less dense water up here.

Tuning.
If you move mb forward, and find increased waterline drag, you raise boom to lift the nose.

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LeeD said..
Tuning.
If you move mb forward, and find increased waterline drag, you raise boom to lift the nose.

Thanks..lots to learn.

I might try putting the footstraps and mastfoot forward a bit and raising the boom.
Does any of that affect pointing ability?

Both help getting upwind at the expense of top speed off the wind.
Upwind needs comfort and control at lower speeds, which is the opposite of aiming for 40 knots off the wind.
Jibes easier with straps and mb forwards.
Upwind, you might be pinching at 20 knots.
Off the wind, you might be approaching 40.

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sboardcrazy said..

Kazza said..
I still have my 2017 80 iSonic Sue and still love it. Small fin and mast track forward I find helps the board ride in the chop better. I think any slalom board is going to bounce around in the chop a bit anyway. I find you need to ride them in the chop like snow skiing bumps, absorb the bumps with your knees instead of standing fully straight legged the whole time. My thoughts anyway.

You're a similar size to me. Where do you have your footstraps set?

If I put the mastfoot and straps further forward will that make it slower in smooth water?

I have my footstraps in the middle. I only put the mastbase forward if it's really windy, stops the nose of the board ending up in my face. You can tell if it needs moving forward, it will stop that feeling. Most of the time I have the mastbase in the centre. Really flat water & controllable wind I'll move it towards the back.
I haven't been getting out much either, not because of Covid but because I've had a stack of work on.

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Kazza said..

sboardcrazy said..

Kazza said..
I still have my 2017 80 iSonic Sue and still love it. Small fin and mast track forward I find helps the board ride in the chop better. I think any slalom board is going to bounce around in the chop a bit anyway. I find you need to ride them in the chop like snow skiing bumps, absorb the bumps with your knees instead of standing fully straight legged the whole time. My thoughts anyway.

You're a similar size to me. Where do you have your footstraps set?

If I put the mastfoot and straps further forward will that make it slower in smooth water?

I have my footstraps in the middle. I only put the mastbase forward if it's really windy, stops the nose of the board ending up in my face. You can tell if it needs moving forward, it will stop that feeling. Most of the time I have the mastbase in the centre. Really flat water & controllable wind I'll move it towards the back.
I haven't been getting out much either, not because of Covid but because I've had a stack of work on.

Thanks. Yes it's hard to get out when you're working. Sounds like the business is going well.

I have the 2017- IS80, IS87 and IS97.

The IS80 and IS87 have identical characteristics in the way the fly over the water. (Well, they both do have the same bottom and cutout shape ) The IS97 feels quite different and has different cutout shapes. I absolutely LOVE the two smaller ones but I haven't found the tuning sweet spot on the IS97 yet, probably just from much less use.

I find the IS80/87 fly on the tail incredibly well with everything set right back in flat water with raked fins (ie: LG) But they also fly over small to moderate regular/organised chop (8-12"? LG) and organised open water very well indeed, better than all my other boards have done. But when it gets to washing machine/pyramid chaos, they are just as uncomfortable and hard to ride as any other very fast slalom board.

Try mid/forward setting for back strap, but stick with rear hole on front straps. (Front is only for tall people when reaching) Moving the back foot slightly forward tends to take the shock load pressure off the fin a bit which is what often contributes to spinout in choppy water. But run it in the rear hole on flat water with raked fins.

I never have the mast base in front of the centre of the box on those boards, especially with raked fins. I have even gone to an offset base a few times to get the base even further back! Closer to the centre of the box sometimes with pointers.

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sailquik said..
I have the 2017- IS80, IS87 and IS97.

The IS80 and IS87 have identical characteristics in the way the fly over the water. (Well, they both do have the same bottom and cutout shape ) The IS97 feels quite different and has different cutout shapes. I absolutely LOVE the two smaller ones but I haven't found the tuning sweet spot on the IS97 yet, probably just from much less use.

I find the IS80/87 fly on the tail incredibly well with everything set right back in flat water with raked fins (ie: LG) But they also fly over small to moderate regular/organised chop (8-12"? LG) and organised open water very well indeed, better than all my other boards have done. But when it gets to washing machine/pyramid chaos, they are just as uncomfortable and hard to ride as any other very fast slalom board.

Try mid/forward setting for back strap, but stick with rear hole on front straps. (Front is only for tall people when reaching) Moving the back foot slightly forward tends to take the shock load pressure off the fin a bit which is what often contributes to spinout in choppy water. But run it in the rear hole on flat water with raked fins.

I never have the mast base in front of the centre of the box on those boards, especially with raked fins. I have even gone to an offset base a few times to get the base even further back! Closer to the centre of the box sometimes with pointers.

Thanks.I'll put the rear strap forward a hole.
Yes the 30cm chop can be triangular moguls..
It was mainly for Squids in highwater. I suppose next flatwater sail will be Budgy so it will be flatter and I won't have the issue. I'll keep the other tips up mt sleeve for the next 'choppy' venue.

Hi Sue I've been looking for pics of the 80l beside the new 55w isonic when it arrived, can't find them, all I have is this one of Kazza on hers and me with the 55w but not close enough to really see the differences. I did notice quite an improvement in control in choppy water when I first started using the 55w, due to the smaller dimensions and volume, a better match for my size. I used this board size for 70% of my flat water sailing over the last few years so it was a worthwhile update for me.

The 80l is a great board to ride, as others have suggested try the few adjustments. We can line them up together next time I see you so you can see the differences to the 55w close up

I had an iSonic 90L and swapped to an iSonic 80L. I called the 90l "the slapped" because it used to feel very hard riding upwind in chop. Then one day at primbee with small raked fin I had to open the rear strap and ride with my back foot deeper in the strap and toes over the centreline. When I sailed with a regular pointer fin with the same footstrap positions it was much easier to rail the board and glide over the chop.

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Dezza said..
Hi Sue I've been looking for pics of the 80l beside the new 55w isonic when it arrived, can't find them, all I have is this one of Kazza on hers and me with the 55w but not close enough to really see the differences. I did notice quite an improvement in control in choppy water when I first started using the 55w, due to the smaller dimensions and volume, a better match for my size. I used this board size for 70% of my flat water sailing over the last few years so it was a worthwhile update for me.

The 80l is a great board to ride, as others have suggested try the few adjustments. We can line them up together next time I see you so you can see the differences to the 55w close up

Thanks Dezza.
Yes the 70ltre would be a better fit for my size too but we don't get consistent strong enough wind here..
It would be interesting to see them side by side.

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berowne said..
I had an iSonic 90L and swapped to an iSonic 80L. I called the 90l "the slapped" because it used to feel very hard riding upwind in chop. Then one day at primbee with small raked fin I had to open the rear strap and ride with my back foot deeper in the strap and toes over the centreline. When I sailed with a regular pointer fin with the same footstrap positions it was much easier to rail the board and glide over the chop.

The only 2 x I used the 80 in lake chop I had too big a fin in. I had a 28 weedy not realising it was much bigger than that and got spat off big time. Remember my send it Sunday pic?
Both times I was overpowered in big chop ( read 4 - 5 ft windswells) and it was terrifying! The board was ricocheting off the bumps.
I didn't want to buy more fins as I mainly used it in flatter water with deltas. I decided to keep it for less than 1ft chop and use the more forgiving waveboard for those conditions.

Right gear is important.
FSW for windchop bigger than .3 meters, if the wind is steady, is as fast as Isonic 80 but much easier.
As conditions get rougher, will be faster than Isonic.

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LeeD said..
Right gear is important.
FSW for windchop bigger than .3 meters, if the wind is steady, is as fast as Isonic 80 but much easier.
As conditions get rougher, will be faster than Isonic.

Once it gets that big I don't want speed!