Author Topic: Starboard Drive vs Blend?  (Read 13115 times)

surfingmedicman

  • Waikiki Status
  • *
  • Posts: 16
    • View Profile
Starboard Drive vs Blend?
« on: June 24, 2010, 07:32:07 PM »
I'm new to SUP and looking at these 2 boards for my first purchase. I'm 6ft 190lbs with a surf background. I want a board that can surf, cruise, and take my kids for rides. Is the Drive at 10'5" good for this or should I go for the longer 11'2" Blend. I can only afford 1 board so I don't want any regrets before I purchase.

Thanks!

highsierrabear

  • Malibu Status
  • **
  • Posts: 91
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Starboard Drive vs Blend?
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2010, 10:19:50 PM »
We have both a Drive and Blend.  They are both fun. 

I'm 6' and 195-200 lbs, and got the Blend.  My gf is 5'10" and maybe 150 lbs with like zero % bodyfat.  We got the Blend for me and the Drive for her.

The blend is nice and super stable. I've caught and ridden little bumps that never break on it.  It is a big board to turn though.

If I had to do it again, I would have also gotten a Drive, and my gf probably would have started with a 9'-something.  Even that 9" (shorter on the Drive) does make it easier to surf, carry, load on the car, etc.  It has plenty of float for my hefty weight, and even my 38lb dog who hangs 20 on the nose.

I don't think you can really go wrong with the Blend, but I find myself wishing I had bought the Drive as a starter board.  Our next surfing board will be a Pocket Rocket for the quiver.  I expect we'll take the Drive and Pocket Rocket most days, and trade back and forth.

Hope that helps.

Sup-position

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2171
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Starboard Drive vs Blend?
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2010, 05:58:55 AM »
I mostly take out the Drive and Blend when it is small
1-3' Waves. They both nose ride great and catch the dribbliest
waves. The Blend has significant rocker and therefore less glide than the
Drive. I am 185# so weight wise we are close.

The Gals that run our Group Paddle prefer the Drive, all flat water.

What kind of waves are you normally riding?

www.Sup-position.com
Huntington Beach, California, USA
Ralph
Sup-position
(714) 899-3020 call, Text or Message

cammar

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 119
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Starboard Drive vs Blend?
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2010, 09:01:22 AM »
I'm 155 and like the Drive much better than the Blend.
I don't know if your windsurf, but in case you do, the Drive sails like a dream...

Easy Rider

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2426
    • View Profile
Re: Starboard Drive vs Blend?
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2010, 01:45:01 PM »
For what you have said you want to do with the board - Surf / Cruise (I am assuming you mean flat water paddling) and Taking the kids for rides . . . I would suggest the Blend as a better board.  In addition to the added length (better for flat water) it will have more volume - which will be better for the "kid rides".
It still surfs really well also.

my 2¢
Easy Rider is the name of my store in Edmonton, AB, Canada.
My name is Warren Currie . . . and we SUP Surf indoors . . . in a shopping mall!

Sup-position

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2171
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Starboard Drive vs Blend?
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2010, 05:43:08 PM »
Our consensus is mostly toward the Drive.
Although one of our riders likes the Blends
forgiving rocker in small surf.
The Blend really does bog down with the
rocker in flat water paddling compared to the
Drive.

www.Sup-position.com
Huntington Beach, California, USA
Ralph
Sup-position
(714) 899-3020 call, Text or Message

JonathanC

  • Peahi Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 678
    • View Profile
Re: Starboard Drive vs Blend?
« Reply #6 on: June 26, 2010, 11:35:39 PM »
I traded my early model Blend for a Drive,first wave pearled the Drive but virtually never again once I adjusted to the rocker. Trouble was that I also have an 8'5 PR and at 148lbs found that I wasn't ever using the Drive so sold it too! Realized I'm not a longboarder at heart. But for a general family and beginner wave board I'd go for the Blend, so cruisy on small waves and just that bit more volume for learning.The reality is that you can't go wrong with either board so don't stress it too much.

 


SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal