Please explain these boards to a newbie

[SoFloSupChick]

Women-schwomen... If I always did what "most women" do, my life would have been pretty darn boring.

Also, fun fact, I actually tried to register on this forum twice with a non-gender-obvious username, and my account didn't get approved. Tried to use "Chick" in the username, and the account got approved in a few minutes. Go figure... Maybe I'm not even a woman at all? 

[easy]

Where are you in south FL?   If you haven't found a board by November I'll be back in Fort Lauderdale and you're welcome to try some of my boards out.   I have these boards you can try;  14 bullet V1 and V2,  2017 starboard allstars 14 x23,  14x24.5,  14x 27,   SIC RS 14x 24.5,   2017 JP  allwater 14x 25.5,  NSP ocean racer 14x 28,  amundson TRX  14x 27 .  These are not for sale, I use these on my charter boat.  The more boards you can try the better.

[PonoBill]

Go figure... Maybe I'm not even a woman at all? 

Me either. And I'm not really all that Pono.

[Area 10]

Women-schwomen... If I always did what "most women" do, my life would have been pretty darn boring.

Also, fun fact, I actually tried to register on this forum twice with a non-gender-obvious username, and my account didn't get approved. Tried to use "Chick" in the username, and the account got approved in a few minutes. Go figure... Maybe I'm not even a woman at all? 

Hmm, yes.  I thought about saying something when you got the standard (if you were British) “full pints of beer for the men; ladies drink half pints” reply... but, well, you can fight your own battles I’m sure. As you just did. Amongst my female SUP buddies preference for 14 these days slightly outnumbers 12-6, although 12-6 does have a loyal following. Very light amateurs can sometimes actually find themselves faster on a 12-6 in flat water or upwind. But I can’t imagine anyone who really wants to downwind even semi-seriously choosing a 12-6 instead of a 14. For downwind, length is key to fun. Or at least, easy fun.

[SoFloSupChick]

@easy, thanks much! Appreciate the offer, and might take you up on it! I'm also in Fort Lauderdale.

@Area 10, not to completely derail the conversation, but the community would be much better off if these weren't just "my own battles".

This could have been another woman, who didn't know any better, take this kind of advice to heart, get her a "pink it and shrink it" lady board, and it would not have been the best board for her.

Luckily, in this situation I know better. My guess is that gender has less to do with it than height / weight / technique. For example, I'm taller than my husband. And while he is physically stronger, I usually leave him in the dust (or spray).

[Bean]

This could have been another woman, who didn't know any better, take this kind of advice to heart, get her a "pink it and shrink it" lady board, and it would not have been the best board for her.

Nothing wrong with a "lady board" for the right user...

[Califoilia]

@Area 10, not to completely derail the conversation, but the community would be much better off if these weren't just "my own battles".

This could have been another woman, who didn't know any better, take this kind of advice to heart, get her a "pink it and shrink it" lady board, and it would not have been the best board for her.

Luckily, in this situation I know better. My guess is that gender has less to do with it than height / weight / technique. For example, I'm taller than my husband. And while he is physically stronger, I usually leave him in the dust (or spray).

If you weren't on the other coast, I'd swear you were a friend of mine I surf with...and both of you ROCK!! Can't offer you any better advice on the boards than you've already been giving, but love the stoke, and the "attitude"...and say, "just go give 'em hell SoFlo!", I have no doubt you'll do great on whatever you decide on. 

[burchas]

...the community would be much better off if these weren't just "my own battles"

If you're looking to do downwind in South  Florida, you'll have to be prepared for a lot of those,
and get use to Uber shuttling do to solo runs.

I don't know where @easy were when I stayed in Fort La but with this kind of fleet and charter
boat to go with it, it's the perfect setup for a South Florida downwinders, as the one thing you can
count on is the easterly wind.

Otherwise, PonoBill's recommendation makes a lot of sense. One good week in Hood River
will give you about 3 years worth of good downwinders in South FL. and you'll get access to
the best boards at will.

[Eagle]

Would take up easy on the offer.  But def get a board "right for you" -> not what is good for someone else. 

[Luc Benac]

Just to wet your appetite on the Bark Vapor and The Naish Maliko :-)

[burchas]

Just to wet your appetite on the Bark Vapor and The Naish Maliko :-)

Luc, enough is enough! You had plenty of time to play with the Maliko now it's time for
your side by side review for these boards. Maybe OP will find your insights helpful.

[Area 10]

Just to wet your appetite on the Bark Vapor and The Naish Maliko :-)

Luc, enough is enough! You had plenty of time to play with the Maliko now it's time for
your side by side review for these boards. Maybe OP will find your insights helpful.

Ok here ya go:

Maliko is faster in flat water.
Vapor is easier in very choppy waters.
Both are nice downwind.

[Luc Benac]

Just to wet your appetite on the Bark Vapor and The Naish Maliko :-)

Luc, enough is enough! You had plenty of time to play with the Maliko now it's time for
your side by side review for these boards. Maybe OP will find your insights helpful.

Hey I just received it yesterday evening!!!! and I am at work until the week-end......

[Luc Benac]

Ok here ya go:

Maliko is faster in flat water.
Vapor is easier in very choppy waters.
Both are nice downwind.

And that, in a nutshell is why I bought a Maliko, even if I already had a Vapor. Very similar but different and I should be able to jump from one to the other without having to readjust my paddling and stance like with a displacement board.

This does not count (by Oliver Darkes):

[Luc Benac]

Oh, and BTW the two boards have similar finbox, so my fins that fitted the Vapor also fit the Maliko. Just that, brought a smile to my face (in addition to the board been almost like new outside of a few minor scratches on the paint).