2018 Naish Maliko Carbon or no carbon?

[Luc Benac]

Does anybody know the details of the  new construction? Videos say full carbon but web page seems to say glass.
Just comparing the 2017 schematic with the 2018 one....

[Night Wing]

I think there is a snafu with the Construction and Description information. If one looks at the Specifications for the 24", 26" and 28" widths, the physical weight of the boards range from 23.1 lbs to 25.9 lbs. For a 14' long Maliko, if it was glass and not carbon, the glass construction will be well over 30 lbs.

So I'm pretty sure someone at Naish made a mistake.

[supuk]

Typical marketing bs just because it as a wiff of carbon running down the center they badge it as the CARBON model and to the un aware they wouldn't know the difference.

The carbon in that board makes up about .5% of the boards total materials...     make of that what you want.

There is no issue with the construction and carbon would make little to know difference if anything you could say it would have a negative effect if you understand how the material's are combined and how they work.

The problem is when people see the word carbon they automatically think its going to be better than glass and get suckered in..
 
POOR move by naish who I had at least a little credibility for but we are not all blind !

[Luc Benac]

One person in the Oz forum complained having received a 14x24 weighting 12.7kg instead of 10.5 -+10% advertised.
Now I do not necessarily say that the construction is not good and might actually be perfect for a downwind board, but I am curious of why a premium priced board advertised as Carbon would be in fact glass construction, if such is the case:

MALIKO 14'0" X24 CARBON
244 L
23.1 lbs / 10.5 kg

I could understand the Riviera boards been glass and priced accordingly and actually thing that these were nice boards for a very reasonable price <$2K but same board >3.5K would be a different story.

I would have expected at least one layer of carbon underneath like the Bark Pro-Elite construction which actually makes fro a very comfortable ride compared to their carbon top and bottom Ghost construction.

[Luc Benac]

I think there is a snafu with the Construction and Description information. If one looks at the Specifications for the 24", 26" and 28" widths, the physical weight of the boards range from 23.1 lbs to 25.9 lbs. For a 14' long Maliko, if it was glass and not carbon, the glass construction will be well over 30 lbs.

So I'm pretty sure someone at Naish made a mistake.

Would be logical, but these are low volume boards and at least one 14x24 was measured at over 12kg/27lbs so not impossible. Based on weight at would have expected at least one layer of carbon at bottom instead of glass.

[Luc Benac]

Anecdotally, the best constructed boards I have had so far are the Ace-GT and the Infinity Whiplash.
The Ace-GT is I believe a PVC/carbon sandwich and I am impressed by the low weight and durability.
The Whiplash looks like a traditional carbon/glass layer with a nice finish.
The Vapor is a mixed bag. The fused-cell blank gives a lot of confidence but the outside paint/layer seems to have small cracks all the time. But these never go to the carbon layer so it is only cosmetic and peace of mind.

[burchas]

Whatever construction they're using, this board for its size and volume is on the heavier side.

As for the construction it self, It seemed to hold well after after it took some banging being tossed
by the wind few times, there was also a noticeable flex to the board.

I can't say it's the perfect downwind board but it's sure as hell a fun downwind board, and if I had
to choose a one board quiver, I think it would be it.

[Luc Benac]

there was also a noticeable flex to the board. I can't say it's the perfect downwind board but it's sure as hell a fun downwind board, and if I had
to choose a one board quiver, I think it would be it.

I think that some glass in a downwind board could be a good think. I am just basing this remark by comparing the Bark Vapor Pro-Elite (glass on top and carbon bottom) and Ghost Carbon (carbon top and bottom). There is a saving of less than two pounds between the two boards I have handled. I have found the Pro-Elite to give a smoother more comfortable ride in chop while the Ghost was feeling more like a traditional race board with a slightly better acceleration. I had only one paddle on the Ghost so it would take more to really say but it was my first impression. I was thinking that I could almost have both :-)

[JEG]

the 2018 looks like lots of glass with a bottom carbon stringer. I'm hopping to test both the 2017 & 2018 (14x26) back to back soon. Back when I tested the 2017 it weight approx 12kg+/- same size so looks like the weight almost the same, was very stable, up wind & side wind was no issue and going back home on a mini downwind was so much fun. Last year it had double concave to flat tail and I think this year its completely flat all the way with sharp rail from mid point to tail (I'm 80kg 5'6").

[burchas]

Last year it had double concave to flat tail and I think this year its completely flat all the way with sharp rail from mid point to tail (I'm 80kg 5'6").

As far as I recall, it has the same bottom shape, rounded V to double concave to a V on the back, only this year it's a lot less pronounced. rail as you described,
is sharp all the way to the mid point or so just as last year but from the mid point on it took a much more rounded shape than last year where it was sharper.

Most of the changes they made I like better on the 2018, the nose shape however, I like the 2017 better although the added volume and the distribution of
it a little further back is better on the 2018 IMO.

[Luc Benac]

Ok so far actual weight are as follows:
two 14x24 reported at 12.4 Kg (27 1/3 lbs) versus 10.5 published - 18% variance
and
one 14x26 reported at 12.7 kg (28 lbs) versus 11 kg published - 15% variance

Now if we consider that the construction is similar to Jimmy Lewis non-carbon sandwich board, the price in the USA is $1,000 higher for a Maliko than for a Rail or a Sidewinder. And only $200 more than the full carbon JL Rail.
That is my only grippe with the board. I am curious to see what the used market will be in the next two years as the board should be pretty robust.

[JEG]

good stats Luc Benac.

in Australia apparently retail $3999 or team domestic $2999 14x24,26,28.

the JL here SIDEWINDER carbon is $3495 and non carbon $2995 14x23,25,27,29. The rail is non carbon $2995 and carbon $3495.

I get the feeling the JL non carbon might be lighter than 2018 Maliko though the board width varies between the 2 brands.

from my experience extra weight can be a good thing on some board.

[Luc Benac]

In the USA there is a slightly bigger difference ($700) between the JL non-carbon and carbon. The Maliko should be in a similar price range like USD 2,300~2,400 rather than USD 3,300 or with a very small premium for the orange and yellow paint and Caspar name :-)
Then again if Naish has only a limited production and sell every board then they sell for what the market will accept and it is a good business decision on their part.

Yes weight for an all water board is not a bad thing, within certain limit. I like the construction that Supuk uses - PVC carbon sandwich bottom, PVC glass sandwich top. It is probably ideal for a DW board. My ideal range is 27~26 for DW board and 22~23 for flat water.

[SupSimcoe]

I’m not sure it has the same construction as a JL as all over the site they state it is a very fragile board and will dent and crack easily. My wife drags her Glass JL on rocks and occasionally hits the ones on the shore, as she hates to get her feet wet, and her board only has a few scratches

[Eagle]

Beefing up the Maliko makes sense as many have complained the previous carbon boards were much too fragile.  Would expect the 2018 to last longer but the new construction is untested.

28 is the same wt as our M14 which still looks like new.  Except for one pressure dent and one paint chip from it tipping over.  That construction is tested and is very good.

Looks like you will be changing up boards.  Personally the V2 is a very good all round option for our waters.  Not super great at anything.  But very good overall.  You know how popular it is.  Do need a narrow option as it is way too stable and sluggish when winds drop below 10 kts.

For a single board quiver the M26 might be ok.  Maybe even the M24.  But would make sure it is truly durable.  We are set with our boards.  We really like em all.  So no mas.  5 covers 95% of what we do.  Which is plenty enough.