Naish Javelin 2011 Carbon 14'

[Luc Benac]

In totally flat conditions, you can get your toes all the way up to the smooth part of the pad, in front of the handle. You'll find it even more unstable up there but that's a fast place to go on the flats.

That is where I  was riding. Same with the Glide, front of the booties in line with the front of the pad.

The JP Australia on flat water is definitely super easy and comfortable to run but still very fast. Perfect for a day when you do not want to think too much, want to enjoy the scenery or with aching muscles.
It is immediately rewarding on flat water.
In the chop it cuts through most of the wave, but can slow down and get very wet.
So nothing wrong with the JP and it would be a keeper and a great board for flat/touring for a single board quiver.
The Glide is just better for confused water and downwind.
The Javelin while more demanding for flat water, should potentially bring better rewards even if it could be slower at first.

I could consider keeping the JP, but outside of the cost of having three boards, too many boards also mean that you do not not spend enough time on each.

Anyway this is getting out of the scope of the thread and into generalities...

Cheers,

Luc

[Rideordie]

I also had the exact same board quiver.  2011 Javelin (GS)  14'  and a 2012 Glide GS 14.  Love, love, love the Glide.  Bought the Javelin for more speed, but it was a Bioootch in side wind and side chop.  Goes great downwind and I thought it was fantastic directly upwind too.  Just slices right through the waves.  For me, the constant balance checking on the Javelin took the fun out of it.  I got rid of mine after about a year.  Got an SIC X14 SCC and love it.     
   

[Luc Benac]

I guess I am lucky been pretty light weight at 166 lbs.
I was actually pleasantly surprised with the Javelin on flattish water for the first time.
I was expecting to be thrown out of the board right off the bat, like when I tried the Ace.
As long as I keep on the flat water of the inlet close from my home, I feel that I have a fair chance of learning from that board without dreading going out. It better be that way, because I only go for flat water in the off season and the water is cold by then....

[pdxmike]

When you get right down to it, I make the "Glide or Javelin" decision based on water temperature.  And if it's really cold, or a long race where I don't want my legs to die, I bring out the Bark.

[Luc Benac]

When you get right down to it, I make the "Glide or Javelin" decision based on water temperature.

 

I can only paddle during the WE so it really limits paddle time. So I would feel bad having three boards and not using them much.
If I was not my wife would make me feel bad about it anyway...

[Luc Benac]

I got a used LA Ninja to try out on the Javelin and compare with the Makani Kawa that I have been using.
I just had a 10km flat water paddle this morning.
First impressions.
Paddling with the tip of my feet touching the smooth pad at the front as usual.
1) The nose seems to engage slightly more if that is possible.
The feeling is that the board glides a little bit more. It feels like a chord between the tip of the nose and the tip of the fin.
2) It also feels a little bit tipsier even after the first hour of paddling but definitely seen some improvement as I get used to the fin I guess.

I have no idea if this translates in any improved speed, but that is very secondary as I am just looking for my own enjoyment.
I was paddling at 6.45 km/h average with max at 10 km/h according to my new Canmore GP-102.

Cheers,

Luc

[JP4]

Luc, I have the same board, and like Covesurfer, I put a regular swept windsurfer fin in it, partly to loosen it up for downwinding, and because it sheds weeds well.  I had the same Glide/Javelin quiver for a while, and at first the Jav gave me fits.  I'm still not good in side chop on it, but it became my go to board for Gorge downwinder's for the last month of the season.  While I'm not a great paddler, forcing myself to ride it in all conditions really upped my game.  After getting used to the speed and ease with which it catches swell, it's really hard to go back to something slower... so I bought a 2014 LE Keeping the 2011 Jav for my 16 year old son to ride.
Enjoy your new board!

[Luc Benac]

After getting used to the speed and ease with which it catches swell, it's really hard to go back to something slower

For now I have only been catching large motorboat's wake (of which we have many and that will always steer right by you as a matter of course). Based on just this, I can understand how this board can be addictive for "straight" downwind like the Gorge.

so I bought a 2014 LE

Yes and the truck to put all the boards also - you lucky...... :-)

I am already enjoying the board and I am taking it out every week-end so far (touching wood for the climate to stay as good).

Cheers,

Luc

[Silverboarder25]

I don't know why it always pops up, but this board is such a gateway board! I picked one up a few years ago for a stellar price that was my first flatwater board as well. Fantastic intro to speed.

A tip for carrying it is to always carry it tail first - that way you can at least see how high it is off the ground as opposed to having that danger spot in your blind zone.

I seem to remember that balance was considerably better standing back a bit (handle or further back) when things got choppy, but I can't confirm that for sure. Keep in mind I think that nowadays there are definitely boards that are the same width/narrower that are more stable/faster, but when that great deal comes along how can you really say no? Have a blast on it!

[Blue crab]

I think the threads on this board won't go away because this is really the first board that does really well as a one board quiver, at least in capable hands.  It has been really cool to see the All Star and Javelin progress over the last several years as one quiver boards which are fast in flats, considerably more stable overall, and great at picking up glides / racing in places like the gorge. The weird thing about the 2011 for me is that it is actually more stable in well groomed downwind conditions than in a flat water race. I sill love to for downwind but don't dig it for mild, distressed chop.

[Luc Benac]

don't dig it for mild, distressed chop.

Yes I cannot imagine that I will ever be good enough to enjoy side/confused chop of any kind on this board.
On the other hand, I could see myself getting good enough to take it on my favorite light upwind/downwind ride in Howe Sound where 90%+ of the time you go either against or with the chop. Downwind in light wind/chop seems to be the best with this board and it seems pretty stable in such conditions - unless I am due for a nasty surprise one day...
And yes the price was so "right". I would never have jumped the gun on a new Javelin 14x26 at $4K new, even if available used.

[Luc Benac]

I took the javelin with the Makani Kawa this time out on the same paddle. Similar conditions as much as can be.
GPS results are so very close than could be considered the same - which I guess is not really a big surprise.
In these flat conditions it would take a better paddler than myself to separate the two fins. Both seems excellent and deliver a nice ride.
Looking forward to try the Ninja on the Glide and of course if it makes it to me the Aercor.

Cheers,

Luc

[Luc Benac]

I took the Javelin with the Naish Dolphin 10.5 fin. As it was a little bit more windy and not super flat water today and I wanted to try it.
As expected, stability is improved including secondary stability. Side chop is still not fun but it feels a little more manageable.
The size of the big fin is not too evident upwind or in flat water protected from the wind. The board feels a little bit slower and not as responsive but it is OK.
Curiously, when trying to pick-up a wake, the Javelin loose the feeling of gliding that is so nice and it feels like if you had snag a weed.
All in all not a great success but something to keep trying for potential open ocean conditions.

Cheers,

Luc

[Luc Benac]

I just tried the Hybrid with tide, wind, quartering chop and board wake bouncing of the coast in our inlet, and it performed beautifully.
I had never experienced this board as stable in this kind of conditions. Usually I would have been on my knees or in the water.
Now the other side of the coin is that the Hybrid keeps the board straight. Not much foot steering and such.
I was wondering if the LA John Becker would be the same. Been a keel, it is probably not looser than the Hybrid but I wanted to ask just in case.

[Luc Benac]

DJ had mentioned that a friend of his had good success with adding a fin box closer to the center.
I had our local repair shop do just that and will try it this week-end.