Author Topic: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?  (Read 6316 times)

breakbad

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At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« on: August 27, 2015, 06:34:13 PM »
So my current race board is a 14x27 around 250L. It's stable. I'm comfortable on it. Buoy turns, surfing, no problem. I've won one and placed in a hand full of the recreational 3 mile races, and one race I even lead the first mile with the 'elite' guys before I started gassing.


At a recent event I saw a guy on a custom carbon and asked to try it, I knew it was narrower than mine. It was a bit tippy, but I paddled out in some light chop, made a wobbly buoy turn, and paddled back. Come to find out, it was 23! But thick, at 270L. The fin was comparable if not smaller to mine.


I could see myself easily doing a 3 mile in flat conditions with it, which made me wonder if I drop down, what would be I be comfortable with in some more serious conditions? 26? 25? 24? Does that extra volume help? I gotten advice on here that people my weight (185lbs) should have around or at least 270L. I tried a 14x24 @ 250L and it was very unstable for me. Maybe I'm ready for a 14x25 with some more volume. Too bad there are no boards around here like that I can try. My next purchase may be on faith.

seant319

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2015, 06:58:04 PM »
I can comment since with my camelbak on board and pfd I am 185- 190 lbs.
I have a 2013 14x25 starboard ace and a 2014 14x 25.5 Starboard Allstar. I am an experienced paddler and SUP racer.

The allstar is faster overall and seems to be a better all conditions board, especially for boat wake and side chop. it's easy to get back on if you fall out, but most importantly it's significantly more stable than the Ace and does not roll and flip over with the side chop and boat wake.

The volume on the ace is 299 L, The allstar is closer to the 260s or lower I believe. The allstar is 6 pounds lighter also.

I don't know if volume is a big factor in stability compared with other factors such as board width and shape.

I think you would be comfortable on at least a 25" board. Best to try before buying because I have tried some really tippy 24" boards and 23" boards.

breakbad

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2015, 07:16:05 PM »
I can comment since with my camelbak on board and pfd I am 185- 190 lbs.
I have a 2013 14x25 starboard ace and a 2014 14x 25.5 Starboard Allstar. I am an experienced paddler and SUP racer.

The allstar is faster overall and seems to be a better all conditions board, especially for boat wake and side chop. it's easy to get back on if you fall out, but most importantly it's significantly more stable than the Ace and does not roll and flip over with the side chop and boat wake.

The volume on the ace is 299 L, The allstar is closer to the 260s or lower I believe. The allstar is 6 pounds lighter also.

I don't know if volume is a big factor in stability compared with other factors such as board width and shape.

I think you would be comfortable on at least a 25" board. Best to try before buying because I have tried some really tippy 24" boards and 23" boards.

Thanks, great insight since I've always wanted to try the Allstar. The 2015 14x25 is listed at 269L, maybe the 2014 is similar.

I am still curious if any riders my weight or heavier have found narrower high volume boards to be surprisingly stable.

Luc Benac

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2015, 07:49:52 PM »
I can comment since with my camelbak on board and pfd I am 185- 190 lbs.
I have a 2013 14x25 starboard ace and a 2014 14x 25.5 Starboard Allstar. I am an experienced paddler and SUP racer.

The allstar is faster overall and seems to be a better all conditions board, especially for boat wake and side chop. it's easy to get back on if you fall out, but most importantly it's significantly more stable than the Ace and does not roll and flip over with the side chop and boat wake.

The volume on the ace is 299 L, The allstar is closer to the 260s or lower I believe. The allstar is 6 pounds lighter also.

I don't know if volume is a big factor in stability compared with other factors such as board width and shape.

I think you would be comfortable on at least a 25" board. Best to try before buying because I have tried some really tippy 24" boards and 23" boards.

Thanks, great insight since I've always wanted to try the Allstar. The 2015 14x25 is listed at 269L, maybe the 2014 is similar.

I am still curious if any riders my weight or heavier have found narrower high volume boards to be surprisingly stable.

I have the 2015 Allstar 14x25" and it is quite stable for a 25" board.
Granted I am only 163 buck naked so probably 170 with paddling gear.
On flat water and light chop it is a lovely board for sure.

Cheers,

Luc
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PonoBill

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2015, 07:54:09 PM »
Stability is what you're used to, but it has a lot to do with rails and tail. You could certainly get used to a 24 if it had a wide tail and harder rails in the tail. Rounded rails let the board rock more, but they give good secondary stability. If you get used to that, it becomes comfortable. I'm 240 and I'm totally comfortable on a 12'2" X 26" with very little rocker. I'm simply used to everything it does.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

corlot

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2015, 09:01:45 PM »
I am about 187lbs but last year paddled at 193. As previously mentioned, rail and tail will make a big difference. I have paddled tons of 24-25 inch wide race boards. The list includes 2013 14x25 Sprint, 2012 14x25 Ace, 2014 14x24 Fanatic Flat water, 2014 14x24 Sprint and currently riding a 404 14x24. Every board paddled differently but I realize that I prefer hard rails for stability at that width. Volume was actually a secondary consideration for my last  board. The 2014 Sprint is way more tippy than my 404, but has considerably more volume. I could see volume being an issue if the races were really choppy but you might be surprised by what you can get away with. I am not even sure you can trust the volumes as they are listed. I paddled a 2015 14x25 Allstar that was listed at 260l+ but reacted and felt like less volume than my 404 at 226l. The 404 is probably pitching it for me though....

peterp

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2015, 10:15:15 PM »
How old are you?

TallDude

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2015, 10:23:45 PM »
Tippy is all in your head. I'm 6'7 and 240 lbs and I paddle a point to point 18' x 25". I've raced a 19' x 23" and fell a few times, but got my fastest time in that race. I've surfed a 12'6 x 24" race board and didn't fall going in and out of the surf. At a 185 lbs and probably less than 6' tall, you could go 14' x 24" or 25" for race board.


I make an 18' board look like a 14'er:)
« Last Edit: August 27, 2015, 10:25:18 PM by TallDude »
It's not overhead to me!
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raf

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2015, 05:30:10 AM »
Board shape has such a huge effect on stability.  Some 24's might be more stable than other 26 or even 27s in a dynamic environment.  I also think you can go too narrow.  If the board's width at waterline is even to or narrower than your natural paddling stance (i.e., shoulder width?), balance will have to come from the hips more than from foot pressure.  For example, on a Fanatic Flatwater, which is 24" wide, but probably closer to 22.5" at waterline because of the rail shape, it is extremely difficult to remain stable in any side chop because once you begin to tip, any weight on that rail will increase the tendency to roll ...there is no foam outside your foot to gain buoyancy, so the board keeps rolling and you fall.

FloridaWindSUP

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2015, 06:05:36 AM »
+1 for the comments about shape features like wide tails, hard rails, recessed decks, etc. affecting stability.

I've ridden the 24" wide 404 v3 and it's definitely the most stable 24" wide board I've tried. Not at as stable as a 27" of course, but pretty close to some 25 and 26" boards. You do miss the extra width in rough water, though.

I'd say something 25" wide, with a square tail, like the 25" Allstar or 25.5" 404 would be a safe bet for you. Faster than what you're on but still with a little stability to spare so you can focus on your stroke.
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breakbad

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2015, 06:45:30 AM »

stoneaxe

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2015, 06:55:52 AM »
Tippy is all in your head.

Hey....I resemble that remark.... :P

Generalities apply but its all about the individual. At one end of the balance spectrum you have me, on the other Jeremy Riggs. Where you fall on the bell curve determines what is possible. We can all improve with TOW but I'll never even approach the top of the curve nevermind be able to paddle next to Jeremy on an epic downwinder on a 23" board....and he can do that and turn around and take pictures at the same time.
Bob

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1tuberider

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2015, 07:00:14 AM »
I have the all-star 12'6. I use it in the ocean and when its choppy I get bucked off a few times. I have put
around 50 miles on it so far. I am still hoping the get the balance to try down winding in 25 to 30 knots.

I did a downwinder in 20 to 30 knots a couple of weeks ago. I used my 28" wide 14 footer. It worked great and was
very stable. When I feel as comfortable on my all-star then I will use it for the run.

When I bought the all-star I got to test many boards on flat water. I liked the all-star best. Then I put it in the ocean and
discovered its a different world. I hope to master it in the ocean. Yesterday I only fell off once. The time before it was 5 times in a messy windy condition.

My weight a little more than yours. You will probably find that in protected waters you can get very narrow, but when you get into messy conditions a wider board may be faster.

TN_SUP

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2015, 07:01:47 AM »
Corlot, what's your favorite? I'm still looking to upgrade my 2013 Sprint without spending over $3K on a new one. My 2014 Flatwater is only for downbreezing. Strange how the fanatic is wider on the top than the bottom, trapezoidal shape, so it's tippy when using wide stance.
« Last Edit: August 28, 2015, 07:28:17 AM by TN_SUP »
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Board Stiff

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Re: At 185 lbs, how narrow can I go on a 14?
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2015, 08:45:52 AM »
Just curious, what's the benefit of the narrow pintails on many race boards. It's obviously less stable, especially if you have to step back to pivot turn or trim the board while downwinding. Does it offer some other performance advantage in terms of maneuverability or reduced drag?

 


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