2014 Fanatic Falcon Flatwater Carbon Delicate?

[SUP407]

Hi, been lingering for a while. First post.

I have a 2014 Falcon Flatwater Carbon (14x24). Like it. It's fast, but in a deceiving way. Without gps, I bet almost everyone would think it's slower than current board.

Has anyone experienced easy dings on the nose and tail? Like the type where you have no idea when you did it, but it's substantial enough to make you wonder "wtf?"

[JimK]

The Flatwater falcon is a LIGHT and STIFF board but it is very well made I suggest you contact the dealer you bought it from Fanatic will WANT TO KNOW and resolve

JImK
www.extremewindsurfing.com

[SUP407]

Thanks, Jim. I will. The production quality is top notch, so I hope I didn't make it sound like that. I just was wondering whether others have gotten easy chips in carbon, as well. I am not sure I would say it is a warranty issue. I think the board definitely made contact with something, but I don't know what or when.

[TN_SUP]

I received my Fanatic 14'x24" this week and am impressed, but it's very different from the low volume piercing nose boards I'm used to (60 liters more than Sprint).  Ran the usual 6 mile buoy course on my first paddle and the speed/times were almost exactly the same as with the 14'x25" Starboard Sprint, but my heartrate average was about 50 bpm faster. I'm puzzled where to stand on this board - i.e. where should the blunt nose be in relation to the water? I always let piercing bows touch the water. Have you (SUP407 or any other zoners) figured out where the nose should be for max speed? Upwind was confusing, sink the bow to reduce profile or raise it above the waves. I will write a review after a few more paddles.

[JohnnyMaya]

The Fanatics are really well built boards. In a smart way too!

While they are amazingly light for their volume and they are pretty solid in the standing area, the nose area can be very fragile.
I have a friend who owns one and he has put an hole on his just from bumping into a corner (in a very gentle way).

I actually think it is a good thing. while the board is very light and solid while showing great stiffness, it doesn't have any unnecessary weight, considering you use the board for it's purpose, which is paddle on water!

[supuk]

From all the ones I have repaired they seam to most commonly go on the nose and around the rail between were the reinforced rail finishes and the deck starts and along the centre spine up front so keep a eye out for those areas and if they are getting soft . They are only a single layer of carbon on the deck on the nose and tail and two layers of glass on the bottom so they are quite light but on the plus the rails seam solid and they are quite stif. Here is a pic if you want to see inside and get a idea of what you will need to repair, this was one was on the rail like described.