Author Topic: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"  (Read 8993 times)

Noo Noo

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SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« on: March 04, 2017, 01:13:15 AM »
Hi All

just wondering if anyone's done a comparison , or ridden both or just have thoughts in general on the two boards above?

Got the opportunity to pick up either for reasonable money withe the Blend being £200 cheaper.

I'm looking for a do it all type platform. I cant really pick and choose my SUP days so I need something that can cover as many conditions as possible. It'll be a bit of a do it all type board  - touring, take the little one out, start in the waves, even a spot of fishing perhaps.

Particularly wondering about construction (and performance I guess) and whether the Naish would be worth the extra. Also worth noting that these will be 2015 / 2016 boards.

Noo Noo

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2017, 04:18:50 AM »
Just realised that I better add a little more info.

Weight is about 78kgs and I'm a beginner. I fully appreciate that I will outgrow these options quite quickly but not being able to pick my days and wanting to take the little one out I'm more than happy to compromise with a bigger board with the benefit of some glide included.

I've also just stumbled onto a 11'2" Starboard Wide point for the same cash as the Nalu. Tempted by this one if I'm honest. Waves are the ultimate aim but having that ability to do ok as a basic tourer would be spot on.

TallDude

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2017, 10:10:26 AM »
I haven't surfed or paddled the SB Blend but my brother and a surf buddy of mine have the Nalu 11'4. I have surfed and flat water paddled the 11'4 extensively. From the videos of the SB Blend, it looks very similar. If they were the same color, you'd be hard pressed to tell any difference. Iggy has always been my favorite shaper. The 11'4 Naish Nalu stays true to the Iggy line. Naish's 10'10 and 11' are 32"wide. The wider versions I feel lost that great Iggy ride. The 11'4 x 30 maintains the original shape and great ride. I have bought and sold a lot of boards, but my old 11'6 Nalu will never be sold. After 10' years, it's still in great shape.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2017, 10:12:14 AM by TallDude »
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

Noo Noo

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2017, 06:36:46 AM »
Cheers and thanks for the info.

After much deliberation, research and fingers in he wind I've stumped for the 11'2" Wide Point. It seems to tick all the boxes as a do it all platform with a surfy feel. Loads of volume to develop and take the little one touring.


Even tried the Starboard board selector tool thingy which worked out to be the Blend or the Wide Point so I was kind of heading in the right direction, possibly anyway.

Saw some good reviews of it too.

Area 10

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2017, 08:45:27 AM »
The Naish Nalu 11-0 is actually 31" wide. Not that it matters, but I just thought I'd correct that detail before it becomes interweb folklore.

TallDude

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2017, 11:27:32 AM »
The Naish Nalu 11-0 is actually 31" wide. Not that it matters, but I just thought I'd correct that detail before it becomes interweb folklore.
You are correct. It's interesting about the Naish Nalu line. They keep their old thinner more performer longboard SUP's mixed in with a kinda 'All Arounder" line. Most people just see a 10'10 x 32" and 11' 4 x 30" and think it just a little longer but slightly narrower version, but they really are completely different boards. They should have a Performer Long board SUP category and an 'All Around" Sup designation on these Nalu's. They surf and paddle so different. The Nalu Carbon pro 10' x 28.5", 10'6 x 30" (but 4" thick), 11'4 x 30" all surf great. The 10'10 x 32" and 11' x 31" in my opinion don't surf well and I've demo'd them in the surf. Not sure why they are in the Nalu line?
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

Area 10

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2017, 04:13:04 AM »
Interesting. What is it about the 11x31 you didn't like? DJ seems to swear by his, and they have a lot of rocker so you'd think that they would surf well for such a big board. I've seen the 11-4 actually described as a better all-rounder on the grounds that it has a flatter rocker and is narrower so paddles distance better.

coldsup

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2017, 09:53:44 AM »
I've had the 11 4 Nalu GTW ....great board. Quite thinned out in the nose and tail and actually has heaps of rocker. I used to surf it in small stuff and slightly overhead waves....nothing steep though. It is very much a surf shape rather than anything else but it is long enough to flat water it...but it isn't fast :)

Has a great rounded pintail and with a big new single fin it was glide heaven on big rolling waves. It caught stuff super early....further out than anything else I have surfed...but it was my biggest surfing board by a mile for sure. Way too big for your weight though...you will find it hard to turn off the tail.......find a 10 6 Nalu and you are laughing.

I am 90 kg and used it for surfing and a few coastal paddles....only short ones. I sold it on as it was just too easy....I partly regret that now but 11,4 was just too big for my surfing.

The Nalu 11,4 and 10 6 are great boards...user friendly and work.

The 11 x 31 looks tubby to me ...not really refined in nose and tail....but I ain't seen one in the flesh.
« Last Edit: March 09, 2017, 10:21:49 AM by coldsup »

Dusk Patrol

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2017, 12:40:06 PM »
I know this is straying from the Blend, but I flat water paddled both the 11x31 and 11'4" Nalus in Kailua's ka elepula lakelet, and the difference was striking. The 11x31 felt sluggish and hard to turn. The 11'4" felt much more alive underfoot. Granted it was flat water, but that same difference is likely to translate to the wave.   I think the value proposition of the  11x31 is stability.
RS 14x26; JL Destroyers 9'8 & 8'10; BluePlanet 9'4; JL Super Frank 8'6

Area 10

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2017, 01:15:14 PM »
I guess Robbie didn't get the memo about the 11-0 Nalu not surfing well :)

https://youtu.be/U937MttI6y0

Dusk Patrol

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2017, 02:33:44 PM »
^ true, but he could surf a door.  And I do respect the fact that DJ thinks it surfs well...
RS 14x26; JL Destroyers 9'8 & 8'10; BluePlanet 9'4; JL Super Frank 8'6

yugi

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #11 on: March 09, 2017, 02:38:24 PM »
I've had my Nalu 11'4 almost 9 years now and still use it regularly. I even whip it out for some downwinds just for fun if I'm with a slower crew.

Sweet board. It cost a bomb at the time but I believe I have well amortized it.

coldsup

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #12 on: March 09, 2017, 02:53:30 PM »
I guess Robbie didn't get the memo about the 11-0 Nalu not surfing well :)

https://youtu.be/U937MttI6y0

That's the 11,4 ....

TallDude

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #13 on: March 09, 2017, 03:22:03 PM »
You can tell Robby's is forcing those turns in that video, but making it look easy.
Here's a video of a guy wake surfing the 11'-4. You can see how much loser and responsive it is. Actually the guy's pretty good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYZ53DykZjA

It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

DavidJohn

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Re: SB Blend ASAP vs Naish Nalu GS 11'4"
« Reply #14 on: March 09, 2017, 10:20:35 PM »
I guess Robbie didn't get the memo about the 11-0 Nalu not surfing well :)

https://youtu.be/U937MttI6y0

That's the 11,4 ....

Pretty sure it's the new 11' Nalu.

 


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