BWalnut said..
85l Carver session 6:
100 minutes on foil.
7-17 knots (average 13)
Rider weight with all winter gear fully loaded: 99kg.
BAR+GF=4.36
BAR*GF=3
Foil: Cloud IX fs1150 with catalyst stab and 76cm mast.
Wing: Cloud IX Ho'okipa 4.2m

Phenomenal session. The Carver is fully capable of enjoying low and light wind conditions. Matched with my 4.2m and my fs1150 this will be my best lightwind kit to date I expect. I only had one period of slowish taxiing trying to get to a better wind takeoff location. On foil, the board pumps great and the fs1150 with the catalyst stab manages small swell beautifully. Great glide, very pumpable. Stoke continues on this gear.

Poida said..




Hi BWalnut,
I noticed you have been using a relatively short mast for winging on the Carver. Something similar to a DW SUP style.
Ive been using the Carver 5'6" board and enjoying it but feel that the mast Im using, which is the 93cm, is getting too long?
Any comments as Im thinking of getting a shorter mast, maybe to compensate for the board thickness, I dont know, just the longer mast feels too long?

massi said..
Really nice board BWalnut!would you still use this board in light summer breezes between 8-12 knot over a DW board with more length?I am trying to decide if this style of board is the right compromise over a full DW as those are the conditions I encounter the most in summer and given that I windsurf in winds from 18knots up. I weight about 76kg and I am still a beg/intermediate.

BWalnut said..
Almost done with my full review on the Carver. Have ridden it in 6-43 knots with foils from 700-1150. Anything special people really want to see in a formal review that is commonly missed?

Taavi said..




A riding video would be great addition to a review. Often reviewers concentrate on the exact technical specs or measure the wind strength down to 1 knot precision, while a mere riding video would help putting the words in context.

Taeyeony said..
Here is my custom Carver. 5'10" 85L standard build with foot strap inserts. 5.6kg on the bathroom scale.
The color is so sick the dark wood deck with black carbon rail and gold logo is so nice.







I have 2 sessions on it in open ocean conditions with big messy chops. 15-20kt.
I'm 75kg dry with vest/waterbag/ board and foil weight, it just floats me on the surface. aka maximum instability condition.

You can see video of the sea condition on my instagram
www.instagram.com/p/C2jYP_JvHG8/?hl=en&img_index=6

The wind was blowing 20+ kts all night from left to right of the beach and this beach has strong tidal currents as it is on the south tip of Phuket island. Water flow in and out at about 3 kt at mid-tide on the high tide day. Sometimes I can't paddle back against the current when the wind drop completely.

This one is harder to start in the choppy sea compared to my DW (7'2" x 18" 103L) most come from fore-aft instability and lower buoyancy. The roll instability is a bit better since it 2" wider but it feels not very different.

It took me only a few minutes to get used to this board. I figured out the best method for getting up on your foot. Here is my detail on how to. This is easier than the stink bug method for the narrow board that roll from side to side easily.

Imagine you are in messy chop and strong wind with this board and want to start in regular stance.

1. Climb up the board and kneel low. Just focus on the balance. The wing should be on the right side of your board.
2. If you don't do anything the wind and wave will push the board pointing the nose downwind. this gives you bit a more stability.
3. Grab the LE handle with right hand and pass the LE handle to left hand and grab the front handle with right hand.
4. Twist the board using your wing to point the board to the beam reach (board perpendicular to the wind) the board should also moving forward a little.
5. Pass front handle from right hand to left hand and grab the rear handle with right hand. The board is now moving fast cross wind and you are very stable and can stand up and ride off.

Steps 3-5 should be smooth and fast. Step 4 is very important you should twist the board when your hands are on LE handle and front handle so the wind is not throw you off balance.

The Carver feels more agile on foil compared to the DW board. Glad that I get it. Will compare with DW in light wind day.

Taeyeony said..
I only have one Code mast; 85cm.

But for North I have 72/85/95.

I ride mostly in open sea. 85cm seem the best overall but in really high wind with 1-2m wind swell 95cm help a lot but I think it is a bit too extreme.

72cm is too short for winging in choppy sea, I don't use it since I got 85cm.

Stretchy said..
Took a leap of faith and preordered mine, so reading with interest!

oskarhhh said..

So you don't find the extra thickness of these boards to effect mast length to much?

Stretchy said..
Took a leap of faith and preordered mine, so reading with interest!

GillesBCN said..
Hi guys, I'm planning to get a Carver 5'10'' (85l) mainly as light wind wing board, from 8 to 15 kts approx. For that wind range I currently have a 78l 5'2'' x 24'' custom board and with the adequate foil and wing I can ride it in as low as 8-10 kts (I'm 80kg). But I would like to experiment new sensations, and all the reviews I could read are a big motivation for a Carver. Only doubt, is 85 not too small ? Based on volume only, it is more than my actual board, but I have the impression that these shapes are floating less than traditional ones. I know 95l would be better for the lowest wind limit, but I would really like to optimize the size of te board, not having unnecessary liters. Thanks for the advice !

One thing I've noted in my review is that this board shouldn't really be the target for lightwind dedication. This is a high performance narrow board that can work well in light winds but I would argue that for a dedicated light wind board you might consider other options.

ArthurAlston said..




I've been on a 5'10" 85 L Amos Sultan for the summer as a single board. I agree with your assessment above (i.e. a size like that comparable to body weight is a high performace mid-length) and not a true light wind board (reason is that you need some wind to get the board moving - for me it's around 9-10 knots). So if you want a true dedicated light wind board, add 10-15 L of volume over body weight.

I'm tempted to have a 20" wide 6' long 95-100L board built to replace my Sultan as that would also be a true light wind board (in addition to being a high performance mid-length.)

Stretchy said..
I ordered the 6'2" 95l board. I'm 6'4", 94kg currently on a 5'10" 105l Smik. If there was a 105l version I would have picked it, but I reckon I'll get the hang of it eventually

ice said..




can you provide on any feedback on this board pls?

Stretchy said..




Yes for sure, but I still don't have it yet. I pre-ordered, delivery not until July

Stretchy said..
First session on my 6'2" Carver today. I'm nearly two years into my winging journey and a slow learner so this is feedback from a novice's perspective. I was a bit apprehensive, stepping off my 29" 105l board I was expecting climbing on this 20" wide board to be somewhat challenging. I'd have preferred to start in flat water conditions but winter weather meant swell plus chop and intermittent wind, not ideal but this board needs to get wet! First launch, took me 3 falls before I got standing. Once standing the Carver then accelerated away nicely and I was up on my ART999 foil with ease, a pleasant surprise as this foil can be a bugger to get up in rough conditions. Volume being 10l less than I'm used to didn't feel too small.
on foil the board felt instantly comfortable and responsive. I was making more silly mistakes than usual, so I think I still need to get my balance on this narrow board dialled in. My foot switches aren't pretty and today was no exception, but I did one dodgy switch where I was able to save a fall by grabbing the leeward rail with my back foot - that felt cool.
Overall I'm pretty happy with my purchase. This board is not too much for me, I think it's only upwards from here!

Stretchy said..
First session on my 6'2" Carver today. I'm nearly two years into my winging journey and a slow learner so this is feedback from a novice's perspective. I was a bit apprehensive, stepping off my 29" 105l board I was expecting climbing on this 20" wide board to be somewhat challenging. I'd have preferred to start in flat water conditions but winter weather meant swell plus chop and intermittent wind, not ideal but this board needs to get wet! First launch, took me 3 falls before I got standing. Once standing the Carver then accelerated away nicely and I was up on my ART999 foil with ease, a pleasant surprise as this foil can be a bugger to get up in rough conditions. Volume being 10l less than I'm used to didn't feel too small.
on foil the board felt instantly comfortable and responsive. I was making more silly mistakes than usual, so I think I still need to get my balance on this narrow board dialled in. My foot switches aren't pretty and today was no exception, but I did one dodgy switch where I was able to save a fall by grabbing the leeward rail with my back foot - that felt cool.
Overall I'm pretty happy with my purchase. This board is not too much for me, I think it's only upwards from here!

Stretchy said..
Looks nice Leigh I'm jealous you've got a v2 ART also!! Getting to kneeling with wing flying is the trickiest bit for me. I kneel more across than along the board, I lean on the wing on leeside of board while climbing aboard. The trickiest bit is then pulling up the wing with the front handle and grabbing a handle underneath. If I need to, I'll crouch back down again, bracing wing on water, while i grab the rear handle. I suspect that the NP Firefly, with pistol grip and boom, would be best for this.

Stretchy said..
Looks nice Leigh I'm jealous you've got a v2 ART also!! Getting to kneeling with wing flying is the trickiest bit for me. I kneel more across than along the board, I lean on the wing on leeside of board while climbing aboard. The trickiest bit is then pulling up the wing with the front handle and grabbing a handle underneath. If I need to, I'll crouch back down again, bracing wing on water, while i grab the rear handle. I suspect that the NP Firefly, with pistol grip and boom, would be best for this.