Leap of Faith - SIC FX 14????

[Rideordie]

I have an agreement to sell my SIC X 14 Pro on this Friday.  I REALLY like that board.  It is fast and responsive on flat water for me.  I like the narrow 26 inch width, which suits my frame and stroke.  However, there are a few traits that I don't like about it.  Here they are in no particular order.  The nose catches when drafting and does not allow for easy direction changes.  Although OK, it is not as stable as I would like.  Does not downwind as good as I would like.  I think it needs a little more nose rocker and volume for that.  Board trim balance is a bit too narrow and could be more forgiving.  At my 200 lb weight, I think I may need a little bit more volume than 253 liters.  When you listen to Mark Raphorst describe the FX 14, he addresses all of these concerns with the new design.  The volume at 290 sounds a little higher than I would have expected and the narow 25 inch width is more narrow than I expected.  The new flush deck kind of surprised me too, as cutouts usually help with stability and leverage.  The rails are also 3/4 inch thicker at 7.75 for the FX.  So, with my current favorite board being sold, I have a dilemma.  Should I wait until I can test this board and maybe others in late April, or order an FX 14 now and have it arrive late January/early February?  I have combed the web and have found VERY little feedback and no real evaluations.  What you you think?  Pull the trigger, or hurry up and wait?                                       

[Luc Benac]

I have an agreement to sell my SIC X 14 Pro on this Friday.  I REALLY like that board.  It is fast and responsive on flat water for me.  I like the narrow 26 inch width, which suits my frame and stroke.  However, there are a few traits that I don't like about it.  Here they are in no particular order.  The nose catches when drafting and does not allow for easy direction changes.  Although OK, it is not as stable as I would like.  Does not downwind as good as I would like.  I think it needs a little more nose rocker and volume for that.  Board trim balance is a bit too narrow and could be more forgiving.  At my 200 lb weight, I think I may need a little bit more volume than 253 liters.  When you listen to Mark Raphorst describe the FX 14, he addresses all of these concerns with the new design.  The volume at 290 sounds a little higher than I would have expected and the narow 25 inch width is more narrow than I expected.  The new flush deck kind of surprised me too, as cutouts usually help with stability and leverage.  The rails are also 3/4 inch thicker at 7.75 for the FX.  So, with my current favorite board being sold, I have a dilemma.  Should I wait until I can test this board and maybe others in late April, or order an FX 14 now and have it arrive late January/early February?  I have combed the web and have found VERY little feedback and no real evaluations.  What you you think?  Pull the trigger, or hurry up and wait?                                     

Wait and try. There are so many interesting boards coming this year. Even if you like the FX14, you will still have an itch of not having tried the others.
FX14
JL Rail
Bark Downwinder
Bark Vapor
Starboard 2016 Allstar in 27 :-)
Rogue Downwind
........

Cheers,

Luc

[burchas]

I have combed the web and have found VERY little feedback and no real evaluations.  What you you think?  Pull the trigger, or hurry up and wait?                                       

Here is a good link to get your first impression of the board:



It shows that in fact, the board posses nice DW ability.

There will be more impressions coming early November if you can wait that long.

Also, just adding to Luc's list

I would look into Infinity Blackfish
There is a lot of info out there about the board and it seems
to check all the boxes you were talking about.

[calinso]

Over on seabreeze.com.au. Niels from SIC Denmark has written a great review on the SIC Fx14

[Rideordie]

Thanks.  However, I am pretty sure the board in the video is the 12 6 and the one Niels reviewed is a pre-production model with different specs.  It is 14 x 26 wide and has significantly less volume.  Still, it looks really good.  Starboard should make a 14 x 26 Allstar.  There is a gap between 25 and 27.  Naish should reduce their Javelin prices.  Barks are interesting, but I am not sure if these boards are fast enough on flat water to suit me.  The Blackfish looks really interesting and agree from my brief read that it is targeting what I am looking for.  Price is right too.  However, I don't know of any dealers in the SC/NC area.  Novemeber is not too far away to wait for more reviews.  Burchas, who are you expecting to review the FX 14 in November?           

[DavidJohn]

If it were me I'd be putting an order in for the new FX14.

[burchas]

Burchas, who are you expecting to review the FX 14 in November?           

I'll have my hands on a FX early Nov. and while it's a 12.6/27 it should
have similar volume to the 14' according to Mark.

As for stability, I should be able to give some notes as I have experience with both the Bullet 14 v2 and your x 14 pro. I hope that helps

here is a quick pic:

[Rideordie]

David, that's how I am currently leaning!!      Nice pics of your new board Burchas!!  I am looking foward to your review!! 

[yugi]

... There is a gap between 25 and 27....

... Naish should reduce their Javelin prices...

...Barks are interesting...

...Blackfish looks really interesting ...

The stuff one learns here just keeps me coming back!

[burchas]

Nice pics of your new board Burchas!!  I am looking foward to your review!! 

Well, if you find your self in NYC around that time, you can join in on the review

[Area 10]

If it were me I'd be putting an order in for the new FX14.

Me too.

You can't necessarily trust reviews, so there's no point waiting for them. If you have a chance to demo one, then that might be worth waiting for. But by the time that happens, who knows what availability will be: sourcing SUPs often turns into a crazy drawn-out procedure.

If it sounds like Mark Raaphorst has read your mind when he's describing the FX, then he probably has: he'll have many other people making the same points. For instance, as success in races these days becomes increasingly about drafting strategy, it is inevitable that the new breed of boards will be created with drafting ease in mind. And Mark Raaphorst is the distance board shaper I trust more than any other.

Life is short. I don't see anything obviously better out there, or in the way, for what you want, and you already know that you like MR's designs. So if you have no demo opportunities then maybe a leap of faith will have to suffice.

[burchas]

Life is short. I don't see anything obviously better out there, or in the way, for what you want, and you already know that you like MR's designs. So if you have no demo opportunities then maybe a leap of faith will have to suffice.

I'm with A10 on that, dah...

[Luc Benac]

So if you have no demo opportunities then maybe a leap of faith will have to suffice.

That is what I did for my Bark Downwinder. Well not quite as I relied on Area10 and Starman's review on this forum.
It worked out good for me and it is now my favorite board.
Hopefully it is the same for you and your soon to come FX14 is all the board you were looking for :-)
Cheers,
Luc

[Rideordie]

Thanks for the invitation Burchas, but no plans to head that way.  I guess that it is self-evident that you pulled the trigger on an FX custom.  DJ and Area 10 agree that I should go for it.  Yes, I do trust Mark Raphorst designs.  The Bullet 14 V2 is the standard by which other down wind boards are measured.  The X Pro series boards have also proven to be very competitive on flat water.  If Mark bowls a strike through the middle of these two, I should be a happy (and fast) camper.  I am handing off my X Pro tomorrow, depositing the check and placing my order.

Just googled leap of faith and found this quote.  Seems applicable and wise:  "To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions." - Benjamin Franklin     

[Rideordie]

Thanks Luc.  I am hoping it will be too!!