Sultan Wing Board Review 6'2 x 19' - 95L
Rider weight - 83 kgStrapless - no inserts
Reason for Board - light wind to moderate

First impression of this board was the very long lead time of 4 months in production, this is a heck of a long time to wait for a new board. Previously was using a cabrinah 5'2 . 118 L which was very slow and has a high swing weight.

Day 1 on the board could not even balance when kneeling to taxi, was impossible to even find the trim point to kneel without tipping over, after many failed attempts finally managed a few runs but every time that I fell off the foil was a PIA to get balanced to taxi, end the day was left with buyer remorse and planning to buy a new board the next day. Lol

Day 2: moved the foil position in mast 1 cm
forward ( position previously was established
using balance test ) , this made all of the difference the sweet spot of the balance when
first kneeling, these boards have a very small sweet spot. The new position made takeoffs a lot quicker and less effort. The main takeaway is the narrow boards (19 Inch) and smaller have a very small sweet spot for balancing, millimeters make a big difference.
After 3months:This is now my only board that I use , have ridden the same board with MA1225 to MA1750 in conditions from 7 to 20knots . Mostly have been using the board in 7 to 10 knot range with XPS 6.1 or Ventis 8m, in tropical conditions , this is where the board excels with quick takeoffs . The initial problems with balance are no longer there however you still need some wind to get into a full standing positions for pumping the foil & wing, ie its impossible to stand on the board in zero wind and not moving , however with a slight breeze, (enough to lift a wing aloft over your head) you can stand and taxi. Most noticeable is how easy the board is to pump through the water and speed of takeoff. There is no need for a foil drive if you want to wing in low winds. ie in 7 knots you can pump to foil with a larger wing MA1750, and 8m Ventis. Overall assessment: Will take a few sessions to dial in but once you have the sweet spot nailed would not go back to the older gen wider boards.

I have the 5'5x19x65L.
I find it much easier to get on than my old Amos nitro 5' 60l board. What you lose in balance due to the width you gain with the length. Picks up onto foil quickly and the responsiveness is fantastic in the roll.

I waited over 4 months for mine, but feel this will be my one board quiver, I have an 80l as a light wind board but think this new one covers me.

Mike

Select to expand quote

Mikedubs said..
I have the 5'5x19x65L.
I find it much easier to get on than my old Amos nitro 5' 60l board. What you lose in balance due to the width you gain with the length. Picks up onto foil quickly and the responsiveness is fantastic in the roll.

I waited over 4 months for mine, but feel this will be my one board quiver, I have an 80l as a light wind board but think this new one covers me.

Mike

Do you ride it with or without straps

I'm 95kg currently on a 5-0 x 24 x 90L which works but is rather a tweener in every way. Looking for a change- debating a 2 board quiver or maybe a 5-10 x 21 x 70-85L as an all arounder.

I'm in Maui, so only occasionally in flatware conditions, almost always lots of water moving. I mostly like to play in surf, do out and back in bumps, downwind in big bumps.

Anyone have experience- feedback with this type of board in surf as well as getting going on long narrow boards in large bumps etc?

How about perform in the surf?

I suspect attempting a unicorn single Swiss army do all board risks being a tweener thats ok at everything, but never perfectly dialed. Budget is a factor, but, probably something like a 5-8 x 21 x 65L for surf and 6-2 x 21 x 95L for light days/downwind is mo bettah.

I've been on the little brother of your Sultan Wing for all of the Australian spring and summer seasons (5'10"x18" at 85L) and agree with your assessment of the board. I weigh 85 kg and am a competent winger. My previous board was an Amos Nitro 60 L (5'x24")-I never touched that board again after starting to use the Sultan Wing.

I use the stinkbug start-like I did on the Nitro. The 18" is narrow and was a handful initially, especially when the wing exceeded 25 knots, and the bumps made it challenging to balance. But one gets used to it, and it doesn't bother me anymore.

It excels as a high-performance mid-length. I often use it in wind as light as 10-12 knots (paired with an HA680 foil and a 5.3m2 XPS wing as my light wind combo). It is astonishing that I would have struggled in those conditions only a season or two ago with a 6m2 CWC Strike and an HS1550. And we often get wind over 20-25 knots at my local. My 3m2 XPS was my most used wing this spring and summer, and the board was never an issue. It is a one-board quiver for my local conditions (flat water, waves, DW wing, etc).

But I would not call my model of Sultan a true light wind board. Like you, I need some wind in the wing to balance (when others around here can stand on their DW boards of > 110 L of volume). I would suggest at least 10-15 L over body weight for a true light wind wing board that can compare with the DW boards in very light wind. But as soon as there is enough wind, the mid-length excels.

It goes well in waves. I like to surf it like a longboard, with nice drawn-out lines. With the HA680, there are no issues with the shape; it allows for the snappiest of turns.

I have ordered a smaller mid-length (5'x19.5"x48L) from a local builder for next season to add a sinker to my quiver. The shape is based on the Omen Flux, with a flat tail and a displacement hull, so it is not unlike the smaller Sultan Wing/Prone boards. I will keep the 85L Sultan.

You can't go wrong with these mid-length boards. I see no downside and only upside.

Select to expand quote

Venomguy said..
The main takeaway is the narrow boards (19 Inch) and smaller have a very small sweet spot for balancing, millimeters make a big difference.

The main reason is the board has much less volume than your previous board. Not the narrowness. When the board is just about to float you, you have to be in the right place to balance. For the same volume, long and narrow is a lot easier to balance in the fore-aft direction compared to shorter boards. The narrowness only affects the roll axis, which is easier to get used to compared to fore-aft instability.

Select to expand quote

ArthurAlston said..
I would suggest at least 10-15 L over body weight for a true light wind wing board that can compare with the DW boards in very light wind.

I agree with you on this I think 15L is a good starting point. I have Sunova Carver about 11L above my dry weight. It's about to float me on the surface but I can't stand on it if it is not moving. I find it takes off with a little bit more effort compared to my DW board which is about 30L above my dry weight. The difference is not much in flat water but in chop, it is quite significant as the DW board is a lot better at keeping board speed through the chops.

Select to expand quote

Taeyeony said..
I agree with you on this I think 15L is a good starting point. I have Sunova Carver about 11L above my dry weight. It's about to float me on the surface but I can't stand on it if it is not moving. I find it takes off with a little bit more effort compared to my DW board which is about 30L above my dry weight. The difference is not much in flat water but in chop, it is quite significant as the DW board is a lot better at keeping board speed through the chops.

Very interesting, so you also can't stand on the board in no wind, even at +11 L.

Mmm that makes me feel a little better about my situation where I also can't stand (I thought the extra 15L of volume would have changed this). Luckily I don't tend to need to balance myself in such low wind much.

Good to know. There is relatively little experience to draw from with the mid-lenths at the moment. So thank you for sharing.

Maybe I can in a calmer sea. Actually, I didn't try because never stand up before holding the wing on any board anyway.

With the Carver, if I drop off the foil in a clean manner I can stand on the board with the wing in my hand waiting for the next gust.

Select to expand quote

Britfoil360 said..

Mikedubs said..
I have the 5'5x19x65L.
I find it much easier to get on than my old Amos nitro 5' 60l board. What you lose in balance due to the width you gain with the length. Picks up onto foil quickly and the responsiveness is fantastic in the roll.

I waited over 4 months for mine, but feel this will be my one board quiver, I have an 80l as a light wind board but think this new one covers me.

Mike

Do you ride it with or without straps

I ride it strapless or with a surf front strap on my going out side then switch feet and ride wave strapless.

Select to expand quote

Holoholo said..
I'm 95kg currently on a 5-0 x 24 x 90L which works but is rather a tweener in every way. Looking for a change- debating a 2 board quiver or maybe a 5-10 x 21 x 70-85L as an all arounder.

I'm in Maui, so only occasionally in flatware conditions, almost always lots of water moving. I mostly like to play in surf, do out and back in bumps, downwind in big bumps.

Anyone have experience- feedback with this type of board in surf as well as getting going on long narrow boards in large bumps etc?

How about perform in the surf?

I suspect attempting a unicorn single Swiss army do all board risks being a tweener thats ok at everything, but never perfectly dialed. Budget is a factor, but, probably something like a 5-8 x 21 x 65L for surf and 6-2 x 21 x 95L for light days/downwind is mo bettah.

I am your weight and I'm riding a 5'10 x 20.5" 80L as my daily driver. I was over on Maui last month and got a few days at Kaa, the board was pretty much perfect for those conditions - I was on my 4.5 & 3.0 with big messy swell right after a kona storm so grabbing reforms on the reef and inside for the most part. I did get outside the reef and up to Kanaha but lowers was closing out as well. My next round of boards will be 6'0" x 19.5" 80L daily driver and 5'7" x 18.5" 65L for steady/strong days and prone.

Select to expand quote

ArthurAlston said..

Taeyeony said..
I agree with you on this I think 15L is a good starting point. I have Sunova Carver about 11L above my dry weight. It's about to float me on the surface but I can't stand on it if it is not moving. I find it takes off with a little bit more effort compared to my DW board which is about 30L above my dry weight. The difference is not much in flat water but in chop, it is quite significant as the DW board is a lot better at keeping board speed through the chops.

Very interesting, so you also can't stand on the board in no wind, even at +11 L.

Mmm that makes me feel a little better about my situation where I also can't stand (I thought the extra 15L of volume would have changed this). Luckily I don't tend to need to balance myself in such low wind much.

Good to know. There is relatively little experience to draw from with the mid-lenths at the moment. So thank you for sharing.

I can stand and wait for wind in waves holding an unpowered wing and flat water paddle (only just, definitely no chop) my 5'9" @ 94litres which is + 11 for me. The Kalama E3 isn't super narrow at 22 1/2" so that might make it a bit easier. I really noticed the fore/aft instability when I first got this board as my previous 6'1" E3 @ 105 litres was a lot easier to stand and paddle, but like everything in foiling, time on water gets your reactions and muscle memory in synch with your equipment.
As you guys said it's hard to know where you stand as far as paddling skills as I see guys SUP paddling relatively short and narrow boards in waves and I think to myself "geez I'm such a kook" ..I had an Amos Sultan at 7'2" x 19" for a while and that was so stable and fast through the water whilst taxiing and getting up in light wind it felt like cheating.

Just got my custom 6'10/21.5"/125l ( weigh 110kg) and what a thing of beauty it is. I have had two sessions so far in patchy light winds 10-14 mph with occasional gusts to 18mph on my local lake. A bit tippy at times climbing on at first, but you get used to it fast. At the end of my first session I was so high. I felt like I was having way more fun than anyone in those conditions. I can't wait to sail it again.

Select to expand quote

JonahL said..

I am your weight and I'm riding a 5'10 x 20.5" 80L as my daily driver. I was over on Maui last month and got a few days at Kaa, the board was pretty much perfect for those conditions - I was on my 4.5 & 3.0 with big messy swell right after a kona storm so grabbing reforms on the reef and inside for the most part. I did get outside the reef and up to Kanaha but lowers was closing out as well. My next round of boards will be 6'0" x 19.5" 80L daily driver and 5'7" x 18.5" 65L for steady/strong days and prone.

Probably crossed tacks at some point. Thanks for the feedback- especially helpful with you being my weight. Sounds like my guesstimate on what might be a good 2 board quiver isn't out of line. Thanks much.

Can anyone tell me how thick the sultan wing 95l is at the tail?

thanks