Just curious as to some of your views on a good light wind wave board. I usually use my JP FWS 101 and it's fine for my ability in winds from 10 knots up. But today I used (not mine) a 115 litre NSX Wave Fish that Mr Carantoc generously gave away last week (If you read this Adam, it's on it's way) and loved certain aspect of it. To paint a pic, cross off 5-12 knots chest to head high spillers- used a 6.2 Loft Lip. Sub-planning pump to get on waves then go!

Sweet stuff was the crazy boyancy and it's smooth lines and, my fav, the long drawn out cut backs with no loss of speed back onto and over the foam- yeeha!. But really a little too much volume for my minimal weight to throw around easily. I know today I would have struggle big time on the FSW- decent bouyancy but too twitchy for that super slow (sometimes stopped) chugging out stuff, so what's a good blend of the two? The NSX is 240X62. I was thinking perhaps a wider freestyle board like a 100 litre Skate (235X63) might be a good, stable, more sporty mix of the two and fun in waves? I only weigh 74 kegs dripping wet. Any view or recommendations? Thinking late model second hand.

Cheers guys.

Here's a pic of the NSX, affectionately called Fugly

I don't think you will get the same feeling with a freestyle board. I'm same weight as you, and I use mine when the waves are small, it carves OK for me, but I'm used to sailing it, I think most people would consider the rocker to be way too flat. Maybe a bit more mast foot pressure on your FSW would help? If you look at the dimensions a 100L freestyle board isn't all that much different to the current FSWs in the same size. I also used to have a FSW board, which I considered to be bad at everything, rather than OK at most things which is how they are sold.

If you want a light wind wave board, than buy a light wind wave board. There are a lot more dedicated large volume wave boards out now that are probably worth consideration? And the likes of SSD can also build you a custom and aren't that expensive.

That said, freestyle board is my preferred light wind weapon. And at your weight, I probably wouldn't bother with anything over 5.7m for a wave sail (basically just get the biggest thing you can rig on a 400 mast).

There is a long thread elsewhere but in summary this is what peoples census is:

Fanatic 102 Quad (slightly bias as I have one of those) - pure down the line wave board

JP 99 Thruster - onshore wave board, planes early and is fast

OES Australia Quad 99 to 115 - there are a number of people that have various sizes, they all love them, I have seen a 100l OES Quad with white paint job that was super light, apparently the boards are more bias to pure wave riding

Quatro Quad LS 110 - This a fairly new board but people that have used it say it's a pure wave board.

Other options are Tabou Thruster, Fanatic Tri Wave or go full custom.

To be honest most of these modern boards are pretty good. The only thing you will find that in that size they are either leaning towards being a pure wave board or more towards onshore dribble (read early planing).

All of the above (except for the Quad LS 110) should start appearing as used boards. Also, Windsurf and Snow have a few "older" demos and brand new last season boards in stock that you can usually get a good price on.

If you can try the board first.

If you want a light wind wave board just get a light wind wave board. All else is a compromise, Trust me I've been through it all(freeride/FSW/SUP). Nothing works on a wave like a wave board, The new big quads from any brand seem to work very well. I've tried a few and they all seem to be user friendly, Plug and play really. If your at Gerroa and see my 115 on they beach just hit me up for a ride and I think you'll like it. That goes for anyone that wants to try a fat quad....Mine is there and I'm not shy about lending it out.

Cheers Jase.

Some good recommendations above.
I'd Get a dedicated multi fin wave board which is super light weight.

I have stuffed around for so many years trying to find a perfect board for the place i sail. Sounds similar conditions to what you describe - normally 5-15knots sideshore (often with big holes of no wind on the inside) and waist to head high waves.
I finally feel I have made major progress with a custom Quad similar in dimensions to the skate you mentioned.
It is 225x63cm and weighs around 6kg.
I weigh 78kg.

For example, I recon the braz custom 105 liter quad here would be a sic board for slog and ride.

http://goyawindsurfing.com/team-gear/page/2/

Thanks guys for indepth info and board recommendations. Plenty to look up and read about!

It seems the general concensus is get a big wave board- makes sence Anything around 100 litres is fine for me, and ideally a bit wider than my 60 cm FSW.

Swoosh- As for mast foot pressure, I think the biggest problem I face in conditions I described is simply crawling out on the FSW. Once on the waves it's not too bad- though certainly not as smooth gliding or bouyant as the big NSX. The FSW, for me anyway, certainly performs better the faster you go.

I'm very keen to ride a multi fin board, always hear good things about them. As I tend to sail like I'm surfing (driving off my back leg) I assume this would be rewarded with drive off the fins? I'm still talking slog and ride conditions where the sail is doing very little when on the wave.

Now to keep checking the for sale section.

Cheers Jase for the test ride offer. Mate, if you weren't 700 kays south I'd be on it in a flash.

Thanks again everyone.

If you like freestyle...you can use a 100 Freestyle in Wave, must be a recent model because they carve way better than older model.(Since they pro are taking production model)

The key is to have a really small fin to let the edge dig and be able to carve more...however it will not be a waveboard. I have a JP's freestyle since 2009 and rolling them each year to new model and it works good in wave, better than some freestyle wave board for sure, some freestyle Wave just have the name Wave on them..they are boring board to have in wave.

But for pure joy in waves, large wave board for sure!! If you are looking for best tool for your buck, older RRD Wave Twin 99L, that shape was amazing!! Unless you have a lot of current, side-on condition often..than get a recent Quad(go upwind quick) and pick a model that suit your area...thruster model got usually faster rocker and less dedicated down the line wave shape..get a board that suit your most common sailing type.

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NordRoi said...
But for pure joy in waves, large wave board for sure!! If you are looking for best tool for your buck, older RRD Wave Twin 99L, that shape was amazing!! Unless you have a lot of current, side-on condition often..than get a recent Quad(go upwind quick) and pick a model that suit your area...thruster model got usually faster rocker and less dedicated down the line wave shape..get a board that suit your most common sailing type.

I second the 99 L RRD wave twin. Early planing for a wave board but just as capable on the wave as my old 90 L Evo (different but as good).

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stehsegler said...

Quatro Quad LS 110 - This a fairly new board but people that have used it say it's a pure wave board.

For your 74 kg look at the Quatro quad 98 L. I'm 88 kg and I replaced my 99 L twin with the 110 L Quatro. As good as the RRD twin was to me, the Quatro is better. I compared it against the JP 99 L thruster and the Quatro 102 L thruster and I just prefer the feel of a quad on the wave. Maybe because of the extra volume, but for me the quad was as early planing as either of the other two, but the volume distribution seems to be placed better for slogging.

The tail on the 102 L thruster is pretty narrow so in onshore waves I found I was bogging down too quickly, whereas the quad kept up speed nicely. I didn't get to sail the Quatro thruster in cross / cross off with a large swell, but I think that is what it was built for. The JP Thruster seemed to work better powered up than slog and ride.

I agree:

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jh2703 said...
If you want a light wind wave board just get a light wind wave board. All else is a compromise.

I disagree:

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NordRoi said...
If you like freestyle...you can use a 100 Freestyle in Wave..... The key is to have a really small fin to let the edge dig and be able to carve more....

So I could take a formula board into the waves with a 5cm wave fin and carve like a demon? Fins are important but the rail shape and rocker are more so (IMO).

The best decision I made in board selection was to move from my 99ltr RRD FSW (which is a great bump and jump board) to a 105 Exocet Wave. The FSW was great until really trying to put in a big bottom turn - it had a tendency to straighten up...

After a fairly extensive online search, I've noticed these "big" wave boards are a little hard to find second hand. I guess there's not a huge market for wave boards over 100 litres to start with. All good, will keep an eye out.

Ps- Ben, that was the first time I used your 6.2 Loft. Nice sail, felt great, and pretty well perfect for that totally borderline wave session.

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PhilSWR said...
Ps- Ben, that was the first time I used your 6.2 Loft. Nice sail, felt great, and pretty well perfect for that totally borderline wave session.

Glad you like it!

As for big second hand wave boards I can't see why I'd really ever sell mine and it doesn't get too smashed up as I don't really jump with it. So i guess you're right about not many second hands one around.

Bought a 104 Goya quad a couple of months ago. Love it. Covers all sailing conditions. Went from single fin boards and the multi fin does take a bit of getting used to... I bought it here on seabreeze the day after it went on sale, so you have to move quick on the bigger boards as they are light n ground as mentioned.

Cheers.

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NT said...
Bought a 104 Goya quad a couple of months ago. Love it. Covers all sailing conditions. Went from single fin boards and the multi fin does take a bit of getting used to... I bought it here on seabreeze the day after it went on sale, so you have to move quick on the bigger boards as they are light n ground as mentioned.

Cheers.

+1 for the goya 104. Just got mine and best board I've ever ridden. Love the quads.

It's only really the first year of the main company's doing larger pure wave boards. It won't be long till people start upgrading and there is some more 2nd hand large wave boards turning up.

i've got one of the very first versions of that shape. different graphics tho. and a bit slower than your shape and it's 95lt.

i'd say talk to pete about getting the current shape. he has been tweaking his fish for about the last 12 years and the current version is a quad. he has refined the tail and rocker quite a bit.

i had a look at the 90lt quad version at burrum. has an aboriginal graphic which i wasn't a massive fan of. but you can get whatever graphic you like which i've done with all of my boards. you can also get whatever volume you are chasing.

he is really liking his quad fish in the waves. waves are primarily what he sails. plus he is about your weight.

he used to do a board called the nuwave. it had an x graphic on it. i liked the look of that graphic.