Hey . If you can help please. Very hard to demo any DW boards where I live and therefore any input is appreciated. I'm 62 years young with dodgy knees ( need wing to help pull me up) winging mainly in flattish water, I am circa 95kg and after a DW board for light wind days.Initially decided on a 71/2 ft board 22.5 in wide and 120 litres. However been recently drawn to starboard ace 7ft 10, 23 in wide and 140 litres or AK nomad 7 ft 6, 24 in wide and 135litres. The extra size gives me confidence I can make these work but am I defeating my objectives by going safer and bigger . Cheers in advance

AK nomad would be my preferred choice over an SB Ace. Cleaner and simpler shape and just looks better.

I have bad knees. I learned how to put my hands on the deck and just stand up, then lift wing off the water. There are two of us who can do this at my spot. Our other friends have tried it, but all say it's too hard. You do what you have to. I will never sail on my knees. Only when it's good wind, will I ever count on the wind to help me to my feet.

Now having said that, it does become easier to stand from the kneeling position on longer boards. It eliminates the nose or tail sinking, allowing you to stand while you apply pressure to your good leg, if you have one weak leg.

The DW board advantage (instant speed when you get the wing in your hands) is reduced with more width. I have ridden 23.75, 22.5, 21.5, 20.5 width. The performance increase is a lot as you go narrower. 7'6 x 22.5 is full beginner easy. Going bigger just means heavy board.

Here is a real life picture from a mate who has one.

Select to expand quote

repleb said..
Hey . If you can help please. Very hard to demo any DW boards where I live and therefore any input is appreciated. I'm 62 years young with dodgy knees ( need wing to help pull me up) winging mainly in flattish water, I am circa 95kg and after a DW board for light wind days.Initially decided on a 71/2 ft board 22.5 in wide and 120 litres. However been recently drawn to starboard ace 7ft 10, 23 in wide and 140 litres or AK nomad 7 ft 6, 24 in wide and 135litres. The extra size gives me confidence I can make these work but am I defeating my objectives by going safer and bigger . Cheers in advance

I've recently gone through this (sans demo), and super I'm happy with the Appleskipper DW that is +25L over my weight in kg and 19.5" wide...way easier to get up in crappy wind I usually have, and I feel way less tired and beat up after a session (and get more time on foil).

But...I could use a bit more volume and width, as I can get bounced around knocked off my board in bigger chop, and still plow a bit of water and sink those nose sometimes getting going. I took a lesson and was on a +50L KT Dragonfly that was 21" wide and that made things easier with the more stable platform for getting on and standing, and getting up to speed for takeoff...just less work.

All that said, I don't think there is a way to escape the compromise of more drag with a wider board, but it may still be worth it, and likely way better than an old style board of the same volume. Lots of good options out there now...

I'm about your weight and have the same issues standing up. I often use a wing size bigger than I need just to get the wind to help me getting up, but that has it's drawbacks, too. I have had a chance to try a downwind board recently. Getting up on flat water was easier than I thought (but I always do stinkbug starts, anyway, even on large boards). Taxiing in small chop was no issue, either. Once foiling, I liked the feel of the board better than that of wider boards with similar volume, and getting onto the foil was easier. The one thing I noticed is that the volume felt smaller than on traditional shapes, so I think going with one of the larger boards is a good idea. I don't think you'd see a big difference between the two boards you're looking at. In first approximation, drag and stability are both directly proportional to width, and the difference between 23 and 24 inches is less than 5 percent.

This article will help you calculate what you are getting and giving up vs your old board:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Wing-Foiling/Wind-Wings/Calculating-your-BARG-Factor-?page=-2

Run your math and this will give you some tangible numbers to consider and discuss.

I have a starboard ace 7'4" and use it for winging, sup foiling and learning to DW. Its a great board, very easy to get going when winging. Seems pretty durable so far. I'm 75kg

+1 on AK Nomad. I have the 7'x 23" x 115L for my 82kg and 70 years. Would consider myself an intermediate, jibes OK but still missing a lot of foot switches. I really like this board, my second after spending 1.5 seasons on a 5-8 125L to get started. The Nomad is a good compromise for me for stability and early takeoff. I'm not known for my keen sense of balance. The board is much more maneuverable than my short 125L...not sure why. Seems to carve just by shifting my hips. As stated above, Nomad has a very straightforward shape--no gimmicks like steps or cutouts, etc. I like this approach.

I had a chance recently to try my friend's Dragonfly 7' x 19". It certainly takes off earlier than my Nomad but schlogging the thing was very difficult for me. I'm very happy with my Nomad. Really fun. I don't see myself returning to my short wide board.

I have Naish Downwind Hover 125 liters. It's 7'4" x 25". Works great for light wind and much more stable than 19"- 21" boards. Yes, it may be has lower performance compare to narrower boards, but performance is not working if you can't stand on the board.

Select to expand quote

motogon said..
I have Naish Downwind Hover 125 liters. It's 7'4" x 25". Works great for light wind and much more stable than 19"- 21" boards. Yes, it may be has lower performance compare to narrower boards, but performance is not working if you can't stand on the board.

From a thread I commented on similar to this one:
I tried a 7' x 18" wide downwind board and found it unusable for my 88kg as the small sweet spot, balance wise, made everything too difficult, so don't go too narrow and too short for a design not made for winging.

The narrower and longer boards with v and rolled bottoms that make downwinding a pleasure, make winging a bit@$ when trying to get on the board, even in flat water as the board wants to track downwind. Narrower boards have less swing weight and are less effected by large chop while on foil, so feel like smallish boards but with the addition of "training wheels" pump wise and get on plane with a smaller wing so you don't get fatigued holding onto a powered wing or when broad reaching and riding a swell, are easy to manage. Both of the boards you are looking at should work great for light wind conditions and I don't think you'll be trading off much performance for a much easier ride than a narrow one.

Thanks alot guys, your replies are very much appreciated!! Decided to go with one of the slightly bigger options as don't believe I will lose too much performance. Will review my purchase and let you know how I fare . Cheers

Thanks alot guys, your replies are very much appreciated!! Decided to go with one of the slightly bigger options as don't believe I will lose too much performance. Will review my purchase and let you know how I fare . Cheers

Thanks alot guys, your replies are very much appreciated!! Decided to go with one of the slightly bigger options as don't believe I will lose too much performance. Will review my purchase and let you know how I fare . Cheers

Thanks alot guys, your replies are very much appreciated!! Decided to go with one of the slightly bigger options as don't believe I will lose too much performance. Will review my purchase and let you know how I fare . Cheers

Repleb, a downwind board was the best decision I ever made with regards to this sport. You are going to get so much more time on the water with it if you live somewhere with lousy/unreliable/light wind. Enjoy!