The trend is towards wider boards, and the claims are that the boards work well in the chop...

I.E. Fanatic replaces Shark with Gecko. Tabou is still offering the standard Rocket as well as the Wide.
How long before it replaces it for good?

When I try to sail a 115L / 68cm board in strong winds and choppy conditions, I have to wrestle the wind as well, as it tries to lift the board once over the chop.
Cant' even imagine 80cm board in 25 knots chop. And yet, the claims are that these boards "float over the chop".
I.E. Rocket Wide performs better than the regular Rocket ("does not slap the water as much").

Heaps of unsorted comments piled up here...reflecting my confusion:
joewindsurfer.blogspot.com/2014/08/freemove.html

Not sure where to go with my future purchases...

Could the people who ride these boards express their views and maybe what they are thinking where the future is ?

I have the Rocket wide and like it but don't think it will ever replace the Rocket.

They are two different beasties with their own pro's and con's(very few) each having it's own niche

As an atomiq 100 owner, I'd suggest that it's something to do with the "nose down" attitude and the shorter length. Going over 25kt chop with a longer 80cm wide freeride only gets terrifying once the nose gets lifted and the wind gets under it. How the magic sauce works is beyond me.

It's good to hear that it does work.

Elmo, I presume you use the wide version in the estuary?

I'm with you Obelix, I don't get it either. in chop my Isonic 101 is better than my Isonic 111 and my i76 is better than my i101. to me a narrower board means more control in rough conditions. I haven't sailed any of the latest boards though

Grain of salt - always keep one handy.

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sav911 said..
As an atomiq 100 owner, I'd suggest that it's something to do with the "nose down" attitude and the shorter length. Going over 25kt chop with a longer 80cm wide freeride only gets terrifying once the nose gets lifted and the wind gets under it. How the magic sauce works is beyond me.

Predominately on the estuary but also out at Avalon

My estuary sailing is doing runs from Novara to Claudesville with chop from knee to shoulder high dependent on when and where.

IMO the wider boards do rock and roll over the chop easier than a narrow board but are more susceptible to stronger winds when things get hairy but realisticall I should be on a smaller board anyway.

Fin choice is always important to get that beautiful balance so you just float over thangs

I've got the 108L & 128L Rocket wide's I'd love to get the 95L Rocket which would rock on my long runs and it's a big jump down in size from the 108L to my 54 Manta (74L)

This was my review on them last year
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Tabou-Rocket-Wide-108L-128L-CED/

Thanks Elmo,

How does the size work in respect to your weight?

I would probably look to replace my Tabou Guru 135 (a heavier Rocket) with a Rocket wide. 138L maybe ?
(I'm around 100kg)

I'm back up tp 94kg after getting down to 84kg, no prob's with size have used a 9.5m RSR on the 128L all good

here is my dilemma with these "freemove" boards

1) the Rocket wides are ALL the same length - 240 cm ??
2) they can all handle 8.0 sails ??
3) they are supposed to handle chop/uneven water better
4) liters are still flotation and 108 will always be small for my 100+ kilo carcass

Elmo has addressed point #3 and mentioned Peter Volwater's opinion on the matter
a 9.5 on a 128 liter board sounds like too much (to me) , but works for Elmo

if one was sold on the wider Tabou boards - why not the Tabou Speedsters ??
feels like there are too many choices and this just confuses the consumer(s)
personally only purchase used since i cannot afford NEW
and so - will wait until the verdict is out
can the wide freemoves actually replace the freerides is my main question/concern ...

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joe windsurf said..
here is my dilemma with these "freemove" boards

1) the Rocket wides are ALL the same length - 240 cm ??
2) they can all handle 8.0 sails ??
3) they are supposed to handle chop/uneven water better
4) liters are still flotation and 108 will always be small for my 100+ kilo carcass

Elmo has addressed point #3 and mentioned Peter Volwater's opinion on the matter
a 9.5 on a 128 liter board sounds like too much (to me) , but works for Elmo

if one was sold on the wider Tabou boards - why not the Tabou Speedsters ??
feels like there are too many choices and this just confuses the consumer(s)
personally only purchase used since i cannot afford NEW
and so - will wait until the verdict is out
can the wide freemoves actually replace the freerides is my main question/concern ...

Agree Joe, will this new style of board be a long term offering and spread to other sizes ? Makes them a little award to fit in to your board quiver.

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joe windsurf said...

4) liters are still flotation and 108 will always be small for my 100+ kilo carcass

It may depend on what you're expecting from your sailing session, I would go with just enough volume to get on the plane, once you're there the volume is less important.

With 100litre atomiq, as long as there's enough wind to fill the sail and move me forward, I'm 90kg and my mate at 95kg had no problem keeping the board on the surface. At a dead stop you can sink up to your knees and it's still stable enough to uphaul a 7.3 koncept. I don't have very light rig parts, so I think that must add at least 8kgs.

I would like to try one of the bigger sizes, coz the atom 100 is still on the conservative end of the freemove width spectrum at 68.5cm.

Although not a freeride board, the Mistral 137 is my go to board (thanks Slowboat for talking me into it). Its 82 wide, so fits into the wide category. I agree with the others that once planning, it skips over the top of the chop. The width actually provides stability. In fact its more stable the faster your go. The longer length (2.5m), more gradual rocker, beveled edges and twin concaves cushion the ride and make it very comfortable. It jybes really well. I've used 8.5 to 6.4 size sails, my favourite being 7.9 and 7.0. I just reduce the fin size with sail size. The key is to select a fin size just big enough to fly the tail.

The bottom, the rocker and and the rails will make a difference I guess, but there is no escaping the surface when the wind is strong.

The floatation ... I'm not sure. The Tabou Guru 135 I use now floats me (just) but is very unstable when there is no wind. No way I can uphaul on that board.
I could uphaul on old Bombora 134L though. Bombora had a flat bottom, sharp rails.
I can imagine Rocket Wide 138 to offer better stability.

I remember watching Pointman uphauling 8+m sail on his RRD 135 wide board (I think it was) at Pinnaroo's , and he's heavier than me.

I'm 91 kg and easily up-haul the Mistral 137l (82cm wide). In fact I can also up-haul my Mistral 112l (68cm wide)

The Tabou Guru seems to have been based on the Rocket
The 135 liter version is 72 cm wide and comes with a 46 cm fin
Sweet spot should be around 7.5 m2 sail
Supposed to handle 6.0 to 8.5...
My 240 pound buddy can uphaul an 8.0 on his Fanatic Hawk 135.
It requires some technique, but it can be done ...

Sounds like Obelix has a good board that requires some technique ...
Should one be patient and work on technique or change the board ??

When I "went wide", I purchased a used BIC Techno Formula for not a lot of money ...
and kept my freeride board

The most difficult part of our sport is - one cannot always demo the equipment...
If you could at least try a different board for 30 minutes ... just to see ...

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joe windsurf said..
The Tabou Guru seems to have been based on the Rocket
The 135 liter version is 72 cm wide and comes with a 46 cm fin
Sweet spot should be around 7.5 m2 sail
Supposed to handle 6.0 to 8.5...
My 240 pound buddy can uphaul an 8.0 on his Fanatic Hawk 135.
It requires some technique, but it can be done ...

Sounds like Obelix has a good board that requires some technique ...
Should one be patient and work on technique or change the board ??

As I said , I could uphaul on the Bombora 135, which was more narrow.

Nothing wrong with the Guru. As you said , works well with 7 and 7.5. I got it to 28 knots on the original fin too.
Still, the floatation distribution is not meant for stationary.

What can I say... I'm definitely not very skilled, so it is a fair comment.
Started windsurfing too late, poor coordination and balance... so I need to compensate with a board more stable.

After running Slalom boards fr a while I decided to go freeride because after an accident last year I'd no longer be sailing in the shallow flats but banging around in the middle of the estuary doing longer runs (7-8km legs) distance sailing and it's a lot easier doing it on a freeride especially when the chop gets up in size.

The Speedster would possibly be quicker, but over a longer distance the freeride is less stress on the body and generally quicker. That said a good sailor can make a slalom board sing over distance and leave my fury red freckle in their dust.

The other thing for the choice in the wide is the Mandurah estuary wind strength which most of the time is a sub 20kn base its a rare day above 25kn and a once or twice a year above 30kn base.

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Obelix said..

joe windsurf said..
The Tabou Guru seems to have been based on the Rocket
The 135 liter version is 72 cm wide and comes with a 46 cm fin
Sweet spot should be around 7.5 m2 sail
Supposed to handle 6.0 to 8.5...
My 240 pound buddy can uphaul an 8.0 on his Fanatic Hawk 135.
It requires some technique, but it can be done ...

Sounds like Obelix has a good board that requires some technique ...
Should one be patient and work on technique or change the board ??

As I said , I could uphaul on the Bombora 135, which was more narrow.

Nothing wrong with the Guru. As you said , works well with 7 and 7.5. I got it to 28 knots on the original fin too.
Still, the floatation distribution is not meant for stationary.

What can I say... I'm definitely not very skilled, so it is a fair comment.
Started windsurfing too late, poor coordination and balance... so I need to compensate with a board more stable.

Obelix - don't be hard on yourself - your technique and style are good, you're just ....BIG

I reckon when you've got the right kit you'll kill it - some good advice here so far.

Err on the side of big kit and you'll learn to keep the power down and fly over the chop.

Better overpowered than underpowered I reckon

JJ

I'm at the opposite end of the scale 63kgs inermediate - I tested the 115 excocet Xcross (2013) - 75cms wide against my 125 rocket ( 2008) .

I wanted a board for 5-15kts wind- I live an hour from the water and if I get there and its lousy I still want to be able to go out and sail / practise gybes etc.
I found the rocket softer in the chop ( wind c15-18kts ) but the Xcross was livelier , more fun , too easy to gybe ( I've accidently edged the wrong rail half way through a gybe and it still gets through!) good to jump and although it slapped a bit more surprisingly controllable in the chop! ( Lake). It's 50+ over my weight and with a 7.5m /7m sail well powered never gave any control issues . I think the rocket would have been more of a problem.
I find it's great for winter conditions - crappy gusty 5-15kts days as it glides through the lulls , the width means you don't have to get in and out over the rail as much ( more laid back sailing in gusty conditions). Gybes like a dream - pintail so it can spinaround in no time in light conditions..
Only problem is I do GPS sailing and it certainly can't match a falcon or slalom board - more drag and slow- best speed I've got is 29.05 and don't know how I got that! I obviously use it in less wind than you guys would.( 18kts-20kts is getting tiring although no control issues).
I've been told good sailors should be able to get mid 30's..Still a fun board for iffy conditions.

Moving the mast base forward helps keep the nose down on a wide board in high wind conditions

Thanks for the encouragement JJ, and appreciate everyones experience and feedback.

I thought it would be good to have some pictures of the boards mentioned... all within 10L difference.
That Rocket Wide definitelly look chubbier. Would be even more in 138L.
Xcross and AtmoIQ close, and Mistral tail is diferent. Guru is the Rocket narrow shape.

That pin-tail seems what defines the "new wide" shape, (apart from the bottom shape and everyhting else not visible here )
I think I made up my mind... now to make up my wife's mind....

If you want to sail in lighter winds - 15 to 18 knots - I'd go bigger than 135L, if there's an option.

@azymuth: the problem is ... if you go wide, the liters need to go down
the 138 Rocket wide is already 87 cm wide
if one was to go to the 148 Speedster, it is 89 cm wide and approaching FreeFormula
where you ride with really long fins ...
the Fanatic Gecko 146 on the other hand is only 83 cm wide

@105 kilos/230 pounds i was considering a Gecko 120 which is 76 cm wide and handles 6.0 - 9.0
however, am staying with what i have
that is why i was asking Obelix if he was sure - NO criticism on his technique !!

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Obelix said..

Thanks for the encouragement JJ, and appreciate everyones experience and feedback.

I thought it would be good to have some pictures of the boards mentioned... all within 10L difference.
That Rocket Wide definitelly look chubbier. Would be even more in 138L.
Xcross and AtmoIQ close, and Mistral tail is diferent. Guru is the Rocket narrow shape.

That pin-tail seems what defines the "new wide" shape, (apart from the bottom shape and everyhting else not visible here )
I think I made up my mind... now to make up my wife's mind....

When you've found a way let me know - I need to convince my partner that I really DO need a speed board..(he's 50% sold..)
I'm surprised at the photos- I really thought the Xcross would be the chubbiest.. The first time I saw it I thought you've got to be kidding!?

>>>Sboardcrazy...I need to convince my partner that I really DO need a speed board.

My boards just appear on the pile of other boards...
Some months down the track it gets spotted "when did you buy this board?" - "... oh, that old thing, ..last year..I told you? ...remember?...

Joking aside, I took her to Windsurfing Perth to pick a rashie for her, and after "splashing" $45 on her, I spotted this Guru and left the shop with it on the roof...
She never complained.

The brakes are with me. $2500 for a brand new board is a lot of money, so it has to be the board I would use a lot.

re: chubby
I like to look of Exocet ...like looking at the mirror

So the Tabou Rocket Wide 138 ready, the Guru advertised for sale....

Now where is that @#$% wind...

Tabou Rocket Wide 138
240 cm length
87 cm width
weight ?? (LTD is quoted at 7.7 kg - one site says ONLY 7.9)
PB 48 cm fin - 8.0 ideal ??
sails 6.0 - 10.0

please give us a full report on your perspective of this board

Find a soft piece of wall there Obelix

Those new gear blues can be a bugger waiting for wind.

Joe don't antagonize the poor fellow toooo much

oh yeah - its' true - he is "waitin for wind" with a new toy
can always post pics while waiting ...

ENJOY and share the enthusiasm

Yep, I am one of these lucky fellows in Perth who still have a job so I can only sail over weekends.

I seemed to have jinxed the storm which was supposed to happen this weekend...