New Touring/Racing Board - 404 12'6" vs. Naish 12' Glide

[murybcm]

Sooo I just got my first board, 11' NSP, not too long ago and I already want another one.  I want a touring/fitness/getting into racing board and I have my sights set on the 404 12'6" Monster and the Naish Glide.  I have read a little about the 404 but not too much and I am trying to get some more opinions on it, especially versus the Glide.  I don't really know much about these types of boards and all the different types of races (stock, elite, etc.) but I definitely want to learn.  I will be doing flatwater paddling mostly on lakes and rivers but I definitely want to take this board out into the ocean as much as possible and still be fast. I am 6'1" and weigh around 145-150 lbs.  Any advice about this subject you guys have for me will be great.  These two boards are just two that I have in  mind so if I am completely off please let me know.  I really like the look of the Bright Green 404, but a lot of that may be due to the videos of Danny Ching doing crazy stuff on it.  Thanks a lot!   

[murybcm]

I'm getting a lot of views but no replies, so I guess I'm pretty far off.  Are these boards even comparable?  Can anybody give me advice on touring/racing boards in general and what makes a board good for fitness training?

[mrl]

If you have room to store it the 14 foot long Surftech/Bark Dominator is very nice

[randersen]

I would stick to a displacement hull like the 404 if you are doing mostly flat water.  I have the 12' Glide and a couple of home builts similar to the 404 and would take the home builts over the glide any day for flatwater.  The glide is a planing hull so slower in flatwater.  In the ocean the Glide deals with chop pretty well.  I have not paddled the 404 specifically, but for fitness or touring a displacement hull is the way to go.

[murybcm]

Thanks randersen...I think I definitely want a displacement hull.  I didn't really like the looks of them at first but now I really do.

[TallDude]

The 404 is a very popular open ocean race/touring board with a displacement hull, hard rails, and enough rocker for ocean bump.  The Glide'Javelin' is a flater board (less rocker) better suited for flat water. The regular 'Glide' is designed for the downwinding races/touring which is in abundance in Hawaii. The southern California coast has shorter swell frequency (smaller bump) than Hawaii. The 404 is more designed for the smaller bump. So you almost need a board for every different type of water condition. I think the 404, Hobie 'Elite', Ron House 12.6 Race, or Lahui Kai 12.6 race boards are all very similar open water-mixed use boards to consider. I've paddled them all, and raced a few. If you can, you should demo them before you buy.

[paddlejones]

at you weight, check out the Naish Catalina

[murybcm]

Awesome Thanks!  Now I have my eyes on the 404 12'6" Monster and the Hobie Elite.  Is it dumb to lean towards the 404 because it has a pad farther towards the tail?  How did these two compare when paddled?

I looked at the Naish Catalina as well but wasn't quite sure about the sunken deck or whatever it is called.  What is the main purpose of this?  I want to be able to move around on the board for pivot turns and other shenanigans, would this type of deck prevent me from doing that?

[paddlejones]

sunken deck is to add stability, probaly won't get in the way of steping back to make a turn.
the niash construction is awesome, as well as the flatwater hull design

[TallDude]

The 404 has more volume in the tail, which is better in the bump (they say). Most of the unlimited boards have more volume in the tail (more even front and rear balance), which helps maintain a better waterline. When the decks get sunken really far (Star-Board 'Ace' with foot wells), they become almost impossible to surf. Battle of the Paddle and a few other races have a surf in finish, so the boards with little rocker, or very sunken decks usually don't have a pretty finish. As for the extra deck pad, you can add more to just about any board. There is also a spray on grip product that works well. That's usually what the Hobie guys use.

[PT Woody]

I'd pull the Naish 12' Glide out of your wish list, consider the Catalina instead and also suggest you look at the 2011 red Fanatic, the Starboard Race and when it hits the market, the Jamie Mitchell 12'6" board will be awesome for your weight. I've never seen a 404 in the flesh so can't comment on that one.

[greatdane]

The 404 and the Glide couldn't be much different.  For what you described doing, the 404 would be better.  I raced the Naish Catalina all last sunmmer and did not like it at all.  Unless they have refined it, the huge "drain holes" catch more water than they release and for it's width and low speed, wasn't all that stable IMO.  For what you are doing, the 404, Barks, Hobies, Fanatics would be more solid performers.  Good luck!

[paddlejones]

GD... Good to know about the catalina, i love the shape of the naish flatwater nose & hull, but so far the jav seems too narrow and the catalina seems to be for a light person, i hope to try them some time.

[greatdane]

Last year when the Jav came out, Naish asked for feed back from the few folks that got them.  The response was pretty unanimous; it is a super fast board, but too unstable & needed a lowered cockpit like the Catalina.  The response I got was that was what they were going to do for 2011... but as far as I can see, they left them the same. 

[PonoBill]

Javelins are fun once you get used to them, but they are not stable. For their size and considering the amount of rocker they have they are very quick to tip and hard to save.