Comparison of various Surftech boards vs SIC or BP boards for downwinders?

[marvinhecht]

I am starting to do some downwinders (Hawaii Kai to Kahala in Oahu). I have enough credit built up with Surftech to get a surf SUP - but I've also thought of using that credit for a DW board. Does anyone here have actual experience DW'ing one of these boards..

Gerry Lopez 14'0 Kaiwi-Kai (Yellow Leapard) by Surftech
Gerry Lopez 12'6 Manu-Kai  (Blue Leapard) by Surftech
Bark Expedition 14'0 (Yellow and White - Planing hull) by Surftech
Bark Downwinder 14'0 (Upcoming 2015 model -if anyone here has demoe'd it, that would be cool)

.. and how do they compare to the following?

SIC Bullet 14" (EPS)
Blue Planet Bump Rider

- I had a brief ride on a SIC 14" Bullet but had to abort the DW run - it sure seemed to glide well on the open ocean. From everything I read and hear, the SIC's are the Ferrari's of DW boards...
- I did do a DW on the Bump Rider and that board was really nice - keeps you high and dry out there and I could start to get that surf/bump gliding feeling on the bumps even just the first time I rode it..

Thanks for any thoughts/ feedback

[PonoBill]

I did a Hawaii Kai downwinder last year on the Blue Planet board and was very impressed. Blue Planet also had a production bullet 17 that they lent me, and that makes for a nice Hawaii Kai run. I think a rudder board is good thing on Hawaii Kai, especially rounding Diamond Head but not quite as beneficial as on either a Maliko or a Maui southside run.

The BluePlanet board was very fun, responsive and got into bumps quickly. Hell of a bargain price on the used one I borrowed and beautifully finished. If I wasn't so neck deep in boards I probably would have bought it.

[Eagle]

The Bullet 14 is a great solid fast board with moderate nose rocker designed to power over bumps with minimal pearling.  We have a flatter 14v2 for our ocean inlet use where most runs are in 10 - 25 kts of gentle breeze - perfect for our conditions.  If you plan to do more DW vs AW in more breeze then your B14 or F16 are better choices.

Any chance to demo should give you clear answers within a few minutes once you dial in profile differences feel speed and use.

Here is a vid showing the B14 - and how easy a versed DW paddler quickly adjusts trim in a bit of wind chop to maintain glide.

[marvinhecht]

Wow - the person in that video is sure moving around a lot! Catching some good ones also! I'll have to demo that board again on a full DW run. It's the same board that 2 or 3 of the other people in the Blue Planet / Wet Feet Hawaii downwind / time trial group own - some of whom initially bought other 14" boards--  and in the end--  bought that one.

I'm curious if anybody has any comments on any of the Surftech boards. Most likely, I'll end up using my credit to get a surf-type-SUP and continue to rent boards for DW runs. But if one of those boards is a standout on DW runs.. I might reconsider. I do remember demo-ing the Kaiwi-Kai  a year ago once before I knew what it was really for - and I remember just thinking it was really long, and really skinny, hard for me to balance on (at the time) - but in hindsight it would probably be pretty good on a DW run. I have also seen a guy surfing one of these a couple of times near "Old Man's" beach break on bumpy days and having fun catching waves.  I just can't find that much information or reviews on it.

Thanks - MH

The Bullet 14 is a great solid fast board with moderate nose rocker designed to power over bumps with minimal pearling.  We have a flatter 14v2 for our ocean inlet use where most runs are in 10 - 25 kts of gentle breeze - perfect for our conditions.  If you plan to do more DW vs AW in more breeze then your B14 or F16 are better choices.

Any chance to demo should give you clear answers within a few minutes once you dial in profile differences feel speed and use.

Here is a vid showing the B14 - and how easy a versed DW paddler quickly adjusts trim in a bit of wind chop to maintain glide.

[Area 10]

I've downwinded the Lopez Surftech 14 and the Surftech Bark Expedition. I'd give them a miss if I were you, if you are after a specialist DW board. I haven't tried the new Bark Downwinder board - few people have - but it looks more promising.

[marvinhecht]

Area 10 -- Thanks! What I like about DW is that stoke feeling you get  when you ride  the bumps-- similar to SUP surfing. Any board that maximizes that feeling is good.

What was it in particular about the Lopez 14" that made you realize it may not be ideal for a dedicated  DW-er, or what do other more DW-specialized boards do better?

Hope the Bark DW board arrives soon so I can try it!

I've downwinded the Lopez Surftech 14 and the Surftech Bark Expedition. I'd give them a miss if I were you, if you are after a specialist DW board. I haven't tried the new Bark Downwinder board - few people have - but it looks more promising.

[Area 10]

The Surftech Lopez has huge volume throughout which makes it corky. It was hard to control and a bunch of us tried it back to back with a few other DW boards and none of us liked it. It was hard to control DW and not fast in flat water either. Maybe if you were 300lbs it would suit. It also has a liftsup handle which is a tragically bad idea for a DW board because you can't grab it in a hurry. Very often in big conditions you find yourself needing to get a good hold of a big board to eg. get out of the shorebreak and you have to fiddle around with a liftsup handle to open it first. That feature caused me and the board to be swept across a rusty seabreak in head-high shoredump and 35 knots. I nearly broke my back. In the end I had to get out by just running up the beach dragging the board on the ground behind me with the leash. Our beaches are covered in flints and other stones so you can imagine what that did to the board. I was seriously unimpressed. The construction of the Surftech was tested that day however, and it proved pretty tough.

[Lakeshore1]

I'm kind of disappointed in the above review of the Lopez Kaiwi Kai. I was going to order one in the next day or so. $1,300 with shipping from Surftech is a good deal. But the Kaiwi Kai is for my 18 year old son. If it's really "corky", I'm not sure it would be a good choice for him. Perhaps the Amundson 14' TR-T would be a better option for us, as we paddle flat lakes, rivers and downwinding when conditions are right. I am adding a board to my current stable of an SIC F14 and a 14' 404 Zeedonk green label.

[gorgebob]

The Lau kai is thick and Corky but fast down wind and just OK flat water. The TRT is going to be more stable and a fun big flatwater board. I haven't taken the TRT DW but if it works like the TRX it should be predictable and fast. There is not a ton of kick in the nose so you'll need to hope back. The SIC Bullet has a ton of rocker but still catches swell and makes DW runs fun.