Author Topic: New board time 14 foot all arounder.  (Read 12550 times)

Muskoka SUP

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #15 on: August 02, 2015, 04:17:19 AM »
Robon, what about the Boardworks  Great Bear 14 x 30?  342 litres would fit the bill for your volume requirement, and then some.  Though it might be too corky paddling it without an extra load... Just a thought.    I initially thought about suggesting the 29+ 14' Fanatic, but it's Carbon, and therefore spendy and probably a bit fragile. 

- David
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robon

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #16 on: August 02, 2015, 07:58:46 AM »
Robon, what about the Boardworks  Great Bear 14 x 30?  342 litres would fit the bill for your volume requirement, and then some.  Though it might be too corky paddling it without an extra load... Just a thought.    I initially thought about suggesting the 29+ 14' Fanatic, but it's Carbon, and therefore spendy and probably a bit fragile. 

- David

Hey,

I was considering the Great Bear at one point, and if I could have two 14 footers right now it would be in the running, but it is a gigantic board. Even the 12'6" Great Bear is massive. If I was heavier or could have a pure expedition board, I would strongly consider it. I was looking into the Tahoe Tallac in that expedition class of board too, but it's similar to the Great Bear as being a bit big for every day use. These types of board fit the bill for long distance paddling and you can bring a bunch of gear, but I'm looking to split the difference right now in volume and width.

There is always a compromise, but after testing a few boards, and seeing paddlers that are well over 220 pounds do well on boards such as the Naish Glide 14 x 29, Amundson 14 x 27.5, Starboard All Star 14 X 28, and even the Lahui Kai 14 X 27.5, at just over 200 pounds, I think I can have my cake and eat it too with a board in this range. I will still be able to do overnighters and have a decently fast every day cruiser that isn't too big. One day I would like to have a big expedition board that you can pack everything on for extended wilderness trips, but I think I can get what I want out of a smaller board right now.

« Last Edit: August 02, 2015, 08:02:02 AM by robon »

Lakeshore1

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #17 on: August 02, 2015, 06:36:31 PM »
My .02 cents... take a good look at the SIC F14. Not just because I own 2 of them, but because they are a really good all around board.

HanaSurf

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #18 on: August 02, 2015, 06:47:10 PM »
My .02 cents... take a good look at the SIC F14. Not just because I own 2 of them, but because they are a really good all around board.
I have to agree. Mine does great in wind and chop but last 2 days have been calm and I've done some distance touring and island hopping. If conditions happen to change the F14 can handle them. I've been trying a little downbreezing on it too. Super versatile board.

robon

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #19 on: August 03, 2015, 04:35:32 PM »
Thank for the input everyone.

I almost ended up with analysis paralysis choosing a board, but I ended up ordering the Glide. The Canadian dollar is at a 10 year low right now, so I went for the best bang for the buck (imo) for cost, durability and performance with the Glide. Speaking of cost; shipping has gone up a lot over the last couple of years for certain shops. My shipping destination is relatively close to the shop I really wanted to support, but the cost to ship was more than double than the shipper another shop is using that is much further away.

Anyways, I came very close to ordering the Lahui Kai and All Star but came back to the Glide. The Glide weighs quite a bit more than the others, but the same as my old 12'6". Yep, the 12'6" Starboard Touring AST with Deck Pad weighed right around 35 pounds, so I can deal with the weight of the Glide. I'm sure I will be getting another board soon enough. The 2016 range is looking good so far.

DavidJohn

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #20 on: August 03, 2015, 04:40:32 PM »
Thank for the input everyone.

I almost ended up with analysis paralysis choosing a board, but I ended up ordering the Glide. The Canadian dollar is at a 10 year low right now, so I went for the best bang for the buck (imo) for cost, durability and performance with the Glide. Speaking of cost; shipping has gone up a lot over the last couple of years for certain shops. My shipping destination is relatively close to the shop I really wanted to support, but the cost to ship was more than double than the shipper another shop is using that is much further away.

Anyways, I came very close to ordering the Lahui Kai and All Star but came back to the Glide. The Glide weighs quite a bit more than the others, but the same as my old 12'6". Yep, the 12'6" Starboard Touring AST with Deck Pad weighed right around 35 pounds, so I can deal with the weight of the Glide. I'm sure I will be getting another board soon enough. The 2016 range is looking good so far.

Great choice IMO..  :)

robon

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #21 on: August 03, 2015, 05:35:26 PM »
DJ, you might be aware of this and so might others who are familiar with Naish.

Apparently Naish painted some 2013, 14 x 27.25" Glides with 2014 colours, and the dimensions of the 14 X 29" are even written on these 27.25" boards. If I hadn't closely looked at the pictures they sent me, I definitely would have ordered it. I could tell something was different from the noticeable rocker compared to the somewhat downturned nose of the 2014 re-design. I would have been pissed if I got that board.


DavidJohn

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #22 on: August 03, 2015, 06:15:22 PM »
I got one of those.. and they offered it to me cheaper or I could have swapped it for the new one.. I bought it.. and also bought the new one..  ;D

capobeachboy

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #23 on: August 03, 2015, 10:54:40 PM »
I got a Jimmy Lewis Maliko 14 and it's more downwind-specific than the others on your list but it's plenty stable at 28" wide, paddles great & is a hoot to surf.  Construction is very good & lightweight too. 
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pdxmike

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #24 on: August 04, 2015, 12:19:13 AM »
robon--I was just out on my 14' x 27" Glide (not the elf shoe, but the next model, which is a generation old now) in Puget Sound this morning, going from dead flat to heavy chop, and up- and downwind, thinking what a great board it is. If I could have only one board, that would probably be it.  I bet you'll love your new model Glide.

Area 10

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #25 on: August 04, 2015, 03:42:06 AM »
robon--I was just out on my 14' x 27" Glide (not the elf shoe, but the next model, which is a generation old now) in Puget Sound this morning, going from dead flat to heavy chop, and up- and downwind, thinking what a great board it is. If I could have only one board, that would probably be it.  I bet you'll love your new model Glide.
Yeah the Mk2 Glide still holds up very well compared to the current competition, and is great upwind and in small downwind. It's only weakness is in big confused waters, where it becomes discombobulated. I've often wondered why - maybe because of the radically different rails front and back? I dunno.. Anyway, I think it is still one of the most effective all-round, all waters distance boards ever produced. It is a shame that boards like this (eg. 27-28" wide and respectable in all conditions) seem to be disappearing from several of the the big brands' catalogs, leaving a gap between out-and-out touring boards and highly specialised (often tippy ) boards.

LeeBee

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #26 on: August 04, 2015, 04:52:10 PM »
I am 6' 2" 195 lbs. and have an 2014 Amundson 14 TR-X, it would hold you at your upper weight limit in my opinion. To me it feels almost too stable, and I wish I had gone for something narrower, but I also paddle on flat water on lakes in Colorado. Good glide, speed, and stable in side chop (but 6-8" small stuff). The Gladiator Hybrid fin further aids stability over than the stock one with no loss of speed. At 26 lbs. it is a lot nicer to put on your roof rack when in a case than a 30 lb. plus board, but I am 72 so maybe that's not an issue for you.
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robon

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Re: New board time 14 foot all arounder.
« Reply #27 on: August 04, 2015, 05:45:50 PM »
The Amundson TR-X is a very nice board, and I have paddled the TR-T and was familiar with the 1st generation TR-X 14, which was also very stable. The TRT-14 was extremely stable and it takes some fun out of it when a board is so stable that there isn't much of a learning curve. Great for paddling in rough conditions with a load of gear, and for bailing you out sometimes, but for everyday use a bit overkill imo. I also have the Gladiator Hybrid and will try it out on the Glide. It was almost too much fin for my 12'6". Tracking improved, but I noticed some drag and in confused waters (swirling current, tidal whirlpools, etc) and quartering swell, it was a handful on my 12'6" compared to the dolphin fin I had on. Good for straight line down winding and adding a bit of stability though.

There is some great suggestions on here, and most would have worked really well for me, but the deal I found on the Glide was a bit too good to pass up when shipping, the Canadian dollar and the cost of the board itself were all considered. I went back and forth on a few boards, and I'm sure I will trying out a few more when the 2016 range from all of the manufacturers  is made available to the public.


 


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