Naish 12'6" Glide GX or GS?

[whitecap]

Ready to move on to something more appropriate for my weight
and "skill" level. Been on a Starboard Pin, (12-6 x 30", 208 ltr.
volume, pin  tail). I am 5'10" & 190# +/- without  a wetsuit.
My strike & balance are all getting decent and I want to
 spend more time having fun than so focused on  balancing.


Think I want to stay with 12-6 size but not dead certain…the ease
 of t  ran sport and storage is too great to overlook.

I have it narrowed down to two different Naish boards,
12-6 GS & GX. (Both of these models come up frequently
for decent prices used, and in my price range.)
The 12-6 also look like they fhave a flatter rocker
more conducive to cutting chop than the 14s.
From everything I have read the GS sounds
very user friendly yet still reasonably fast. I can't get a sense
 of the stability issues I might face with a GX, and looking for
 some advice.……please!

I primarily enjoy aerobic flat water paddling, but also want to
 use this board on downwind runs. In my case that'll mean
 paddling into the wind for an hour or so and than enjoying
the free ride home.

[DavidJohn]

Pretty sure they only make the 12'6''x30'' Glide in the GS.

[paolosup]

Correct....no more Glide GX's....only GS.

[whitecap]

thanks for the response! Sorry, should've clarified I was
thinking used GX. maybe new or used GS.……and maybe waited to send
these posts from a computer instead of
my phone. interesting reading and grammar
at least eh?

The GXs are intriguing because of the lighter
weight, carbon is always cool!, and the
skinnier profile I only imagine is faster
and more fun, eventually anyway. Just not sure if I
have the skill level to "drive" and enjoy
the GX straight away.

Any thoughts from those who might know
would certainly be appreciated!!

[paolosup]

yes you do! I got a GX after 5 weeks of paddling! Get one. You will not regret it!

[DavidJohn]

thanks for the response! Sorry, should've clarified I was
thinking used GX. maybe new or used GS.……and maybe waited to send
these posts from a computer instead of
my phone. interesting reading and grammar
at least eh?

The GXs are intriguing because of the lighter
weight, carbon is always cool!, and the
skinnier profile I only imagine is faster
and more fun, eventually anyway. Just not sure if I
have the skill level to "drive" and enjoy
the GX straight away.

Any thoughts from those who might know
would certainly be appreciated!!

You won't get a used GX 12'6''x30'' Glide either because they never made one..

They did a 12'6'' x28'' Jav GX that was the same shape.. but lighter and narrower.

[whitecap]

thanks again for the replies. DJ I know the GXs were 28" wide,
which is why I am concerned about stability vs. my "skill set".
seems I've read here you have ridden both, or at a minimum
have an opinion about which board might be best for me……?
would love to hear what you think.

Paolusup I see your signature your GX is 14'. So is that
the board you bought after 5 weeks or what you graduate to?
If so can you speak to the difference between the two
cutting into chop, side or head on? from what I
can tell from pictures it looks like the 14s have
more rocker, meaning the bow wouldn't be as effective……?

thanks in advance for the input & advice!

[paolosup]

Whitecap, I started early JUly with the Naish One inflatable.
This board is 30" wide, and great board to learn. It's inflatable so unless you are highly skilled you should only use it in flatwater. I tried one downwinder (after 3-4 hours paddling) in Hood River with 30knot winds and basically could not stand on the board so pretty much whole downwinder I was on my knees paddling.
Used this board on Hawaii, as its very easy to take with you, and whole family enjoyed it on the Maui swells in the bay's we went to....I think this really helped with learning my stability.
Having come back to PDX, I bot the 2015 Javelin GX X28. Even though 2 inches narrower huge difference in stability. I used the board now 3 times including one race yesterday and its serving me really well.
This GX X28 cuts into swells pretty nicely...love the look of it! It is a very stable board and honestly I am not seeing stability difference between 30 and 28.
I have not yet attempted a downwinder but hope to do that soon....
Since I got the GX I have not been on the inflatable. That board has become pretty much my kids board....Next time we go paddling I will try both to see the difference.
Don't ask me about the rocker, and things like that as I don't understand all that yet! Need someone to explain this to me on 1:!!

[whitecap]

great feedback, this really helps - thanks! if going from the naish one @ 30"
wide inflateable with massive volume was not
a challenge it seems likely I could make that jump as we'll.

my first real downwind ride was in 30 - 40 knt.s on my
Pin……and my knees. couldn't stand up for more than 30
seconds straight. since then I've been out in
some serious Puget Sound "physco-chop" and kept
upright so things are steadily improving.

I've seen a couple of used 12 6 GXs for just under
$1000 while window shopping te net. the $ for a
2015 aren't in my budget unfortunately.……but now
I know a GX is a viable option if I can find the right
one/deal.