I have been looking through the buy and sell and happened to notice not 1 or 2, but 7 2016 Starboard Reactors - 6 of which are at ridiculously cheap prices.... I mean, crazy crazy cheap for a current 2016 board. I am not selling any of them or know anyone selling them - so I have no conflict of interest here. I just can't believe that they havn't been snapped up.

I personally have an 82lt and 92lt and when it comes to how they turn and ride a wave they are simply amazing. Are they the fastest boards on the water, probably not, but they are definitely not slow boards. Combining the short length and width with a wide nose has created an epic wave destroying machine, great for gouging turns, sliding tails and boosting airs. Probably the only area they are weak in is massive winds over 35knts and huge swell. But for your everyday conditions right down to light wind they absolutely rip.

Would I like the new 2017 editions, sure who doesn't like the latest and greatest as they tweak and improve on previous releases. It sounds like they have made an already great board even better, but as far as bargains go - this has to be some of the best on Seabreeze right now.

So there you go, rant over, go and buy one while they are cheap as chips. I would if I didn't already have 2, I'm almost tempted to get a backup board they are so cheap - but can't really justify having three boards.

Daz

I did wonder why too
I assumed they were crap.

Do they take some getting used to? Do they need fins right back or track right forward or something that the average person may not have tried..?
It makes me wonder is all...

You have sparked my curiousity

Buy one Mark and we can all try it this season.... Just for curiosity sake yanno

Good call, I think it just shows how much 'starboard sponsored' riders buy their kit for as RRP seems to be totally irrelevant for windsurf gear.

Makes for a great secondhand market

I had thought the same thing while looking for a new board a while back and did quick search on reviews at the time:

www.windsurf.co.uk/test/starboard-reactor-87l-carbon-2016-test-review/
www.boardseekermag.com/features/stubby-waveboard-showdown/#bGewBeKqkzKwCBsM.97

The first review is OK, albeit with caveats about get-up-and-go. Interesting comments about the fins in that review (like Mark pointed out).
Second test is not great.

The reviews were enough to put me off, so it's good to hear positive feedback which might help those boards get new owners.

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Mark _australia said..
I did wonder why too
I assumed they were crap.

Do they take some getting used to? Do they need fins right back or track right forward or something that the average person may not have tried..?
It makes me wonder is all...

I found them quite easy to get use to, put mast track in recommended centre position and fins slightly further back than recommended. I ran foot straps as wide as possible - front ones all the way forward and rear ones all the way back. This worked for me right off the bat.

I saw the reviews that came out after I got my first board and was really surprised at that they didn't get raving reviews. Maybe it's the typical UK onshore conditions they get, I have to admit I don't sail that often in on shore. One of the reviews didn't even have the correct size fins in it, so that one was a write off in my opinion. I don't find the early planning was much different to any of my other previous DTL wave boards. I thought the short length might be an issue, but the width through the middle and on the nose really gives it a stable platform and even tacks were not that hard to get use to. And the benefits on the wave far outweigh any shortcomings I have encountered.

Definitely worth a try in my opinion.

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Rob11 said..
Good call, I think it just shows how much 'starboard sponsored' riders buy their kit for as RRP seems to be totally irrelevant for windsurf gear.

Makes for a great secondhand market

Yeah, my guess is all the sponsored guys are upgrading to the latest iteration.

I wish I was buying mine now and not a year ago.

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Simonzee said...
The reviews were enough to put me off, so it's good to hear positive feedback which might help those boards get new owners.

There is a poster on the UK Boards forum who really likes his Reactor.

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Do they need fins right back or track right forward or something that the average person may not have tried..?
It makes me wonder is all...

After Marks comment I played around with mast track position a bit yesterday and found that 1 to 2 cm back of centre was even better. Board released into the plane quicker and also felt slightly faster at reach. Had an epic session cross off on 4.7 and 4.2 - got both boards out as conditions changed, 4ft waves. U couldn't wipe the smile off my face. So much fun

Tried the 82 was a bit slow to plane, less so than my 74 quad when sailed back to back. It seemed to rip off the top ok but i thought whats the point when a smaller board goes better. Also tried a severne nano 83 planes in a sparrows fart and turns great ,overall more fun.
So i guess try before you buy to see if it suits your sailing.

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Foghorn said..
Also tried a severne nano 83 planes in a sparrows fart and turns great ,overall more fun.

The Nano sounds like a nice board. Any more info on it? Specs? Bit more detailed review? Seen some pics floating around but not much info about yet.
Cheers.

Couple of reviews already up in review section on 83 and 99 personally am irching to try a 76 could be my do everything board.