Naish 14x28 LE vs 14x26 GS, width vs weight as they affect speed?

[WIPaddlr]

So here is my dilemma. I am 6.3, 87 kilos, 52 years old. Currently i have an SIC Bullet V2 which I love for the rare downwinders and for just cruising around. I also have an SIC X14 Pro which I have been racing this last year. Although I have had some good results and even a podium on the Pro the conditions are much worse then expected on heavily waked and windy lakes and Lake Michigan. That being the case I an selling my X14 Pro (listed on the Mullet) and looking for something more stable for my size so I can enjoy the races more and not loose too much speed. I need something for all conditions as well as the Carolina Cup. Right now I found a 2015 Javelin LE 28 for a good price and also a 26 GS for about the same price. Would a wider yet much lighter board be faster or slower then an 8 pound ish heavier, 2" narrower board? I have ridden the 26" GS when I was looking for a DW board and it felt pretty stable but I was not considering it as my main board at the time. I will not be able to demo a 28" LE to compare and was also concerned about durability and flex for my weight. Other options would be to wait for the FX14 but at 25" I am thinking not stable enough or the Vapour but also might not be stable enough or the new 2016 Allstars in maybe a 27" but would have to buy glass as Carbon out of this world so back to the weight issue. Another option would be 2015 Allstar carbon 28" as well.

Thoughts please? I really appreciate having access to this forum and expertise here, it is great!!

[Area 10]

Demo a Bark Dominator. It works for Larry Cain.

The 14x28 Javelin is a big board, and might be quite a transition from a X14 Pro. It feels bigger in the water IMO than the 28.5" wide X14.

[WIPaddlr]

Thanks about the Jav 28. Have any direct comparison on stability of X14 pro vs
26" 2015 Jav?

Btw Cain is now paddling a 2015 25" Allstar. Looking at a recent vid on Ontario race minute 7 he also has some challenges on such a narrow board but those are some pretty rough conditions.

[Area 10]

Yes, Cain did not look happy on that board in those conditions. In his position I'd have rather been on a Dominator...

I don't think the 2015 Javelins are especially stable for their width, especially in side chop, unless maybe you are quite heavy because they don't have the advantage of a very sunken deck.

But, really, it is pretty much impossible to give advice about stability to another person. I'm constantly amazed at how little other peoples' assessment of the stability of different boards relates to my own experiences when I try them. But then again, I'm just an average guy and I paddle in the sea, in very shallow water, and the wind is rarely below 15 knots. Some people live in places where 15 knots is virtually a tornado, and have the balance skills of a professional gymnast.

So, you really need to demo a board for yourself. I was out yesterday in cross-chop and wind of around 15-17 knots on a supposedly fast 14x25" board that is widely recommended for choppy conditions, but I had one of the slowest and most unpleasant runs on that circuit I've ever had. The board was torture in the cross-chop and I'd have been much faster on any of my wider boards. No doubt a more skilled rider would have flown. Well, maybe...or maybe there is a lot of "emperor's new clothes" stuff going on when you read about board stability. Recently I was told in detail by a sponsored rider how stable his new 24-25" wide board was. Then I watched him 10 mins later be eliminated from a sprint competition against opposition he could probably otherwise have beaten because he fell as soon as he hit the 3 inch wake from another paddler's board. Hmm...

So, in general it's hard to know what to believe, so now I just try to demo for myself.

[pdxmike]

Recently I was told in detail by a sponsored rider how stable his new 24-25" wide board was. Then I watched him 10 mins later be eliminated from a sprint competition against opposition he could probably otherwise have beaten because he fell as soon as he hit the 3 inch wake from another paddler's board. Hmm...

No board is going to be stable in all conditions.

[PonoBill]

I've recently learned from my Foote 10'4" that stability is a very odd duck. That board feels unstable for it's width until you get used to it, which is pretty quickly--and then it's shockingly stable in even the most wicked conditions. Shockingly sounds like a toss-away adverb, but that's the closest I can come to describing the surprise: "wait! how am I still standing?"

I think there may be many flavors of stability in a SUP. The static kind where you're on a huge board with thick rails, or the mush more dynamic stability I experienced recently. That same small dock would be vey unstable in big chop and wind.

[SUPlime]

Why not get a wider X14?

[Argosi]

Thanks about the Jav 28. Have any direct comparison on stability of X14 pro vs
26" 2015 Jav?

Btw Cain is now paddling a 2015 25" Allstar. Looking at a recent vid on Ontario race minute 7 he also has some challenges on such a narrow board but those are some pretty rough conditions.

Yes, Larry's now on a  25" All Star. I was in the same race with Larry. In the video segment with Larry, the conditions were especially tough. We had 3 foot high short period bumps coming in mostly from the side. On top of that, the side bumps were reflecting off the concrete wall nearby, resulting in weird unpredictable side bumps from both directions. Trickiest conditions we've had so far in 5 years of running that race. Everyone looked  uncomfortable on that stretch.

[Rideordie]

Maybe wait for the Fx14? 

[WIPaddlr]

Yes, those conditions really looked tough in that race.

After much, much thought I have a 2016 14x27 Allstar Hybrid on order. One primary reason is all new boards are either too narrow or too wide and this is one of the few stock boards in a 27" width. Also the shape looks interesting as an all around board for the Carolina Cup. The weight also seems okay from what I can tell and the price is great so not a huge risk. It also looks pretty cool I think.

As my Wife says and thankfully understands that boards will be "an ever evolving door" which is right on target for this new sport.

Thanks for the help everyone.

[FloridaWindSUP]

After much, much thought I have a 2016 14x27 Allstar Hybrid on order. One primary reason is all new boards are either too narrow or too wide and this is one of the few stock boards in a 27" width.

That sounds like a good choice. I think a 27 with a good shape and construction, like the Allstar seems to have, will probably be faster for you than a narrower board would be. The beefy nose should help a lot in the upwinds and downwinds.

[yugi]

... until you get used to it, which is pretty quickly--and then it's shockingly stable in even the most wicked conditions.
...

I think that's the key: until you get used to it. It's hard to judge until you've gotten into the groove.

Tricky conditions the best way to test a board for sure. Anything works in easy conditions.

The other day I took a  14' x26 race board out for on a [long] DWer which turned out to be far more festive than planned: 35-over40 kn with pretty crazy cross reflecting waves. Oh boy! Did that drive home how well you really need to know your board. Each twich and lurch correction needs to be instinctive. One way to learn a board!