Would be interested to hear in peoples experiences/thoughts on the Kode86 and/or 94. Is it a good "Bay" board for stronger wind days?

Does it live up to all the hype in the various reviews around at the moment?

I have Kode 94 (Wood). The first day I had it out was with a 6.1m Firefly (Freestyle Wave) at Bono on a SW for about 7-8hrs. The board is great; it kept planning through gybes even when I made a mistake in the rig change. It handles chop well and can be spun easily if need be. I also noticed the Kode 94 can recover for rig mishaps or freestyle rig moves easier as the board feels floaty enough under your feet. The supplied fin works well with this board. The reviews are spot on from my experience.

Which board you go for will be based on the sailing you want to do and what sails you plan to use. I wanted Freestyle Wave board for trying out some old school freestyle tricks and for a light wind bumping and jumping board for the bay. The sail sizes I looking at was about 6.2m down to about 5.3m and I'm ~80kgs.

I have tried and had a number of different Kombats in the past in tis size and the Kode is so much better.

RPS has Kode 86 (wood) on demo I think. It would be worth taking it out. I hear the 86 is great. Also check the Starboard web site forums too for reviews.

Cheers WindRider....

I'm also 80kg. Am looking at a board to handle rigs from around 4.5m to 6/6.5m (more so 4.5m to 5.5m). Bump and Jump with the outlook of a little Freestyle/Wave (dream'in again) further down the track. A high wind board for when my 110 litre gets too big. I'll mostly be using it in the Bay. I guessing the 94 might be a tad too large then based on your sail sizes. Will look into demo'ing the 86 RPS has in store.

When you say lightwind - what exactly do you class as lightwind? 15-20kts? What conditions would you consider the 94 is suitable for and what's the maximum you would consider it can comfortably be used in? Up to 25kts?

Appreciate the reply. Exactly the type of info I was after.

I've ridden the RPS demo board, which is indeed the Kode 86.

Simply put, I liked it as an all-round blasting board... I didn't get to sail it in the surf, so I cant comment there. I'm 72kg and I've sailed it using 5.8m and 5.0m KA Koncept's.

Sailing upwind, was a breeze with it tracking upwind quite well - a few times I remember commenting to myself that it felt like it was on rails. Across the wind, it was quite fast too. Deep off the wind, it didn't feel so good -> it felt a little too skatey, but that could simply be me...

It has a light but strong feel, so it has a good 'pop' when hitting chop, making floaters quite easy to achieve. However, for the same reason, on short-sharp chop, the ride was quite rough.

Gybes were interesting -> you cant engage the full length of the rail, as it simply bogs down causing you to drop of the place. Rather, if you keep you weight back a little and only engage the last half of the rail, it will turn easily. I guess, if you are a strong back-foot sailor, this board would really suit your style...

Hope this helps a little....

Sounds like the best thing to do would be to try the demo (which I would have eventually done). Last few days would have been perfect though.

Worries me a little that you didn't like it as much off the wind. As you say though I'll have to try it for myself. I find my Futura111 (wood) also quite rough in short sharp chop - is it possible this is due to the wood construction? I don't know.... a more direct feeling maybe?

Not too sure what to think of the gybe/rail comments. Again, my Futura seems to gybe much better with the majority of the rail in the water. But I'm no expert, far from it, and it's a much larger board. I'm not too sure what to expect from a sub 100 litre board.

Appreciate your comments Mathew! Good to hear some of the not so positive comments. I guess everyone will have a different experience due to different riding styles, conditions, equipment (rig setup etc), etc. A demo sounds like the go. Cheers.

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ejmack said...

Worries me a little that you didn't like it as much off the wind. As you say though I'll have to try it for myself. I find my Futura111 (wood) also quite rough in short sharp chop - is it possible this is due to the wood construction? I don't know.... a more direct feeling maybe?

The wood construction should make the ride smoother, as wood is a good absorber of the harsh bumps. Having sailed a Futura 111 (which is a bloody excellent lightwind-planing board), I think the rough ride will be due to the lack of vee, but I haven't sailed it in stronger winds.

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Not too sure what to think of the gybe/rail comments. Again, my Futura seems to gybe much better with the majority of the rail in the water. But I'm no expert, far from it, and it's a much larger board. I'm not too sure what to expect from a sub 100 litre board.

Everyone gybes slightly differently, so its really a matter of personal preference. I'm not saying full-length is better than half-length; I was expecting it to have a 'wave-board feel' thus requiring me to give it a full rail -> which confused me a little until I adjusted my style.

Relatedly, the Starboard website shows the results from a board test, which includes the Kode 86. It specifically mentions that the sailors felt they needed more time on it, to dial in their gybes.

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Appreciate your comments Mathew! Good to hear some of the not so positive comments. I guess everyone will have a different experience due to different riding styles, conditions, equipment (rig setup etc), etc. A demo sounds like the go. Cheers.

I just try to be objective... If you are down St Kilda way again, hit me up for a run on my board.

Matt's JP FSW has got the smoothest ride of any board I've ever ridden...

...the deck is so soft it's like it's got full suspension.... Pure luxury...

(Sorry, I've got nothing intelligent to add to this thread at all).

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FlickySpinny said...

Matt's JP FSW has got the smoothest ride of any board I've ever ridden...

...the deck is so soft it's like it's got full suspension.... Pure luxury...

(Sorry, I've got nothing intelligent to add to this thread at all).

I actually prefer the JP FSW (based on reviews only) though have not demo'd either board as yet. Just have to try and explain to the better half why I need another board after only just recently buying the last. But lately there's been quite a few days I've missed due to the F111 being just too big for the conditions.

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FlickySpinny said...

Matt's JP FSW has got the smoothest ride of any board I've ever ridden...

...the deck is so soft it's like it's got full suspension.... Pure luxury...

Its got active suspension, now that the I've soften'd her up, by jumping her hard!

I too have a F111 and F93 both 09 wood models. The F111 does not like the bay chop at about 20knots. The f93 on the other hand loves the chop. I have nicked named it Moses, as it makes the bay flat.

Please note the most important part of a board is the fin you use. The fin that came with the K94 works well for me when I am using the 6.1m FireFly. I also use a select 25cm Freestyle Wave fin for my 5.6m Combat and 5.3 FireFly, when its crosshore and a 25cm X1 Wave fin for onshore with the 5.6m Combat.

For the sail sizes you are looking at the K86 would be more suited than the K94. Take the demo one out and sail it with the rigs you most likely use with it and at your normal sailing spot. I find the K94 feels a tad big when I on the 5.3m, but I have that sail for mucking around with old school freestyle. I jump down to a E80 when the 5.6m gets powered up in onshore conditions.

Lately I have been using my K94 at Mentone with the 5.6m. This has been the best combo for the conditions last week. This week looks to be the same. I you want to find out more you might be able to find me at Parky or Mentone after work this week. You could get eh demo and board and we can do a side by side comparison.

Cheers again Windrider!

The F93 sounds pretty good. In hindsight I probably should have gone with the F101 but was concerned with the drop in size and volume for my first "short board". As it was the F111 has been easy to progress down too (minus the short catapult stage which seems to be over now). But as you say, when the bay gets about 20kts and above I find it doesn't handle the chop/swell all that well.

Last weekend would have been the perfect chance to take the K86 out, as it turned out again, the F111 being slightly too big. Of course, my technique/skill level probably playing a large part in that. I'm not going to get the chance to sail this week by the looks of work but appreciate your offer of comparing the boards side by side. Maybe in a few weeks time. Will PM you when I have time.

Thanks again for your thoughts on the Kode, etc.