My Next Naish? Mana, Hokua X32, or Raptor?

[ShannonS]

Hi All, I am hoping for some advice on what my next board should be. I have read as much as I can on these forums and can't make my mind up. Let's limit it to the Naish line for now.

I'm 5'10" and 180lbs. For regular surfing, I stick to longboards mostly, but will ride a fish when I want to go smaller. I don't have the ability to ride a pure short board anymore (40).

I'm on a 10' Mana now. Unfortunately, I have one of the Manas with durability issues and have had to make a few repairs.

Should I:
- Go Smaller Mana
- Shift to a more wave focused board like the Hokua X32,
- or change things up entirely with one of the new fancy Raptors?

The board will be exclusively used for beach breaks in NJ. I'd like to be able to paddle to the nearby inlet about 1/4 mile away on a daily basis for exercise, but will be spending most of the time hunting small waves. I like the concept of the Tomo/Vanguard design, but not sure if it has truly proven out yet or not.

Thank you in advance!

[Sup-position]

We have some Killer Deals on X32's now..
Seems to work on your waves..

You could go 9'1" ..

Raptor's are a ways off...and paddling to your break will be a chore..
Probably not a logical step down from the 10' Mana ..

You could also go shorter Mana or narrower Hokua's

[Zooport]

Agree with Ralph.  That 9'1 would be really stable and surf pretty well.  I rode a friend's 8'6 X32 and really liked it.  Really stable, still turned well.

[DavidJohn]

Try and demo a new 9'5'' Mana.. It's very different to the 10' Mana..

I have one.. also an x32 9'1'' Hokua.. and recently surfed the new 7' Raptor..

If I had to pick only one it would be the Mana..

[ShannonS]

Great feedback!

DJ - Glad to hear you suggesting something other than the Raptor since I know you have logged some time on them. The other comments seem to echo the sentiment that it is not quite a fit for me yet.

I do love my existing Mana, but quickly outgrew the size of it. My only hesitation in getting the 9'5" would be the durability issues. Does anyone know if the durability issues still exist?

The X32 look great, but are  more $ in comparison.

Is there any issue with getting a few year old leftover in these boards?

In kitesurfing, a few years old tech is really outdated since it changes so rapidly, what about these models?

thanks again!

Shannon

[DavidJohn]

The Hokua's and Raptor's are still awesome boards but the Mana is such a great do it all board.. and has the best stability.. and has the best glide out of the three..

I don't know of any durability issues.. I have the 2015 version in the GT construction.. It's been used heaps and it's still like brand new.. I have many friends with the cheaper GS construction and they are also perfect..

If looking at an older model make sure it's a 2014 or 2015 version because before that the 9'5" Mana was a different shape and IMO not as good as the new one..

[Zooport]

The X32 look great, but are  more $ in comparison.

Except that Ralph reports some killer deals on them.  I have always been interested in the shortest X32.  Wanting one ever since I rode Bob's longer one.  What is the shortest one, 7'8?  7'6"  Got any of those Ralph? 

[SupPadre]

I have a 9'5 Mana and an 8'8 x32LE. Our surf is almost always small wind swell, and since getting the 8'8 I rarely use the Mana. The 8'8 got a bit of bad press on this forum with a couple of users finding it a little slow. I switched mine from the stock thrusters to a quad set up and it has been my favorite board since then. The 8'8LE is a LOT lighter then the Mana, or most other boards for that matter, which helps justify the additional cost to me. My biggest complaint with the 8'8LE is that anytime my wife surfs with me, she always wants that board.

I am somewhere between beginner and intermediate and found the 8'8 to be very stable and easy to catch waves on. I am close to your size, but a little heavier at 187. It sounds like you are a more experienced surfer than myself, and I am glad I got the 8'8 and not a longer board.

The Mana would be easier to paddle to the inlet, but if your doing that paddle for exercise and not speed, the X32 will be fine.

Hope this helps.

[Sup-position]

Zoo..
Shortest X32 is the 7'10" Available

Shannon..
X32,  7'10", 8'3", 8'8", 9'1" (discount)
Others from 7'10" to 9'6" Regular Price.

Mana's in  8'10", 9'5" at discount
Others  8'5. 8'10", 9'5" Regular Price.

Call, Text or email...
I can make it happen..

Ralph

[RATbeachrider]

I don't have the ability to ride a pure short board anymore (40).

No no no ... you do have the ability! I'm 51 and I just surfed the 5'8 (pictured with the 8'2 SUP) in head high semi-wally waves this morning.  Btw, I voted for the x32 Hokua.  The Tomo style boards are "kind of funky" but pretty good in mushy knee to butt waves.

[SUPJorge]

FYI, I absolutely love my 9.1X32. Worth the price in my opinion, doubly so if discounted.

[ShannonS]

Awesome replies! I will be emailing you soon Ralph. I have to get rid of my two eMotion kayaks (single and double) before I'm allowed to get a new board

[Sup-position]

Right On Shannon...
Talk to you soon...

[Caribsurf]

I found the Naish Hokua 8'8" X32 LE  stable as a table but slow as one too.  I was so disappointed by that board, as my everyday board is 8'11" Hobie Raw which is 28.75" wide surfs much better and so much faster.  My Hobie feels more like a surfboard than a SUP  the X32 LE Naish definitely felt like a Sup and a slow one at that.  Not just surfing, but also paddling back out and trying to beat incoming sets, it was a lot harder to get speed.

Just my observations and opinion.  If I had demoed it first, I never would have bought it.  It was easy to sell as they seem to be in demand..

one other thing..My Naish had a "Made in China" sticker on it..when did Naish start building SUPs in China?

[DavidJohn]

I found the Naish Hokua 8'8" X32 LE  stable as a table but slow as one too.  I was so disappointed by that board, as my everyday board is 8'11" Hobie Raw which is 28.75" wide surfs much better and so much faster.  My Hobie feels more like a surfboard than a SUP  the X32 LE Naish definitely felt like a Sup and a slow one at that.  Not just surfing, but also paddling back out and trying to beat incoming sets, it was a lot harder to get speed.

Just my observations and opinion.  If I had demoed it first, I never would have bought it.  It was easy to sell as they seem to be in demand..

one other thing..My Naish had a "Made in China" sticker on it..when did Naish start building SUPs in China?

Naish have had a second factory [China] for about 6 yrs now.. Since the big fire at the Cobra factory in Tiawan stopped all production..

If someone can paddle a 28'' wide surf sup board they don't need an x32.. The x32's are for bigger guys that need the extra width to balance..

The beauty of the x32 Hokua's is the added rocker.. and added rocker means slightly slower paddling speeds but better surfing performance IMO.

I love my 9'1''x32'' Hokua.