Mctavish 9'6" SUP

[supstoked]

Easily remedied with a alternate stick-on handle on the rail.  I started installing my handles slightly offset from the stringer so as not to step on it when surfing.  Problem comes when a goofy-foot uses it.

[DavidJohn]

Easily remedied with a alternate stick-on handle on the rail.  I started installing my handles slightly offset from the stringer so as not to step on it when surfing.  Problem comes when a goofy-foot uses it.

I can see what you mean by the hand hole needing to be off-set .. Here's a great shot of Matt Lumley showing that his foot would be right on the hand hole if Naish didn't off set them.

btw.. I've never had a problem with standing on a hand hole but my size 14 feet should help there.. 

DJ

[paddleoz]

Easily remedied with a alternate stick-on handle on the rail.  I started installing my handles slightly offset from the stringer so as not to step on it when surfing.  Problem comes when a goofy-foot uses it.

I can see what you mean by the hand hole needing to be off-set .. Here's a great shot of Matt Lumley showing that his foot would be right on the hand hole if Naish didn't off set them.

btw.. I've never had a problem with standing on a hand hole but my size 14 feet should help there.. 

DJ

Hey DJ - have to disagree with you on this one.  Imagine if Lummers were goofy !!! (yep, toes in the hole)  Downright discrimination against goofyfooters by naish on these new board 

On a serious side - I ride 9'0 boards and have never ever been aware of my toes anywhere near the carry handle and the handles are smack bang in the middle of my boards.  IMO - GSI have screwed up - Bigtime.

[Kel]

Hi,

Mark Kelly from GSI here. Yes we have identified the issued and have changed the position of the handle in current production. The response to the McTavish range of boards has been great. Richie Lovett won the SUP division of the Manly Festival of Surfing on the weekend riding the 9'0" model.

I'll pull some action picks and put them on this site today.

Cheers,

Kel

[DavidJohn]

Thanks for jumping on board here Kel.. and welcome to the Zone.. 

Here's a few pictures from the Seabreeze forum.

Also great to hear that you're fixing that handle issue.. 

DJ

[csx355]

Hi Mark - I have a 9'0 on order but will have to wait until Easter 2010 in the UK for it - does that mean that I can be assured of getting one with the handle balance point correct?

Love the shots DJ - the first pic  Off the Lip  on the 9'6" is just sex.

[bigdom]

csx - gotta feed the addiction !

who in the UK is stocking the mctavish ?

[Kel]

UK stock will be updated yes. Tiki is the Distrinbutor in UK.

[csx355]

Come on Dom - you know that there is a 9'6" out there with your name on it

Many thanks for the re-assurance Kel good to know that GSI and Mctavish are up front with stuff like this.

[Eugene]

I had the opportunity to ride the 9'6" McTavish a few days ago in 3 ft beach break semi clean waves. I've been riding anything from 11'6" to 9'8"s for the last three years. The board felt great for my 190 lb body. Very predictable on the wave, good edge control, snappy on cutbacks and rebounds well off the top. I liked the paddling speed [not too rockered out]. It punched through the white water with ease. The deck pad is top quality, as is the look of the board.  What really impressed me was how stable it felt for a great surfing board. I did notice the slightly off-centered handle forced me to keep a hand on the front portion of the board so the tail wouldn't drag in the sand while carrying it. Concerned about how customers would feel after getting one I decided to see what everyone is saying on the forums. Glad to see that Mark Kelly is addressing this, because GSI has been a great company to deal with for a retailer, and they stand behind their product. With all that being said, I can't wait to get my hands on a 9' & 9'6". I hope this doesn't sound like a sales pitch, I'm trying to be objective on this site. I kinda toned down my excitement about the boards ride, very impressive!

Mark, Ed, Bob, great additions to the SUP collection.

[LagoonSurfer]

Verdict on the 9' is still out for me. First session was somewhat questionable. I just picked up my board 2 days ago and the handle issue hasn't been resolved yet. I also just don't get the traction deck--I slip off that thing like no other SUP. Would waxing it help?

Overall layup and build quality is nice though.

Would it be more stable wave riding if it had all 5 fins in? (I tried it in 4 foot storm swell with a 2+1 thruster set up and was a bit squirelly).

[csx355]

Can't believe that the handle issue is still happening - I unpacked my Mct 9'0 April 8th and rejected it immediately- the tail was dragging on the floor without fins and leash fitted. Real gutter.