Yesterday I was looking at my Bark Downwinder on the top of my truck and once again noted how the clean lines and regular rocker made it so nice (at least in my eyes).
This is pretty much the opposite of my Starboard Race with "progressive" rocker and contorted shape.
The Boardworks Eradicator is also a board with somewhat clean lines if flatter and more angular than the Downwinder.
I was curious if you guys could think of other boards for flat water or open ocean that would have similar clean lines and shape as an attribute.
Jimmy Lewis Rail
Any SIC board. I look at my Bullet on my truck all the time and think "wow, that's so slick".
Quote from: PonoBill on February 09, 2016, 09:29:43 PM
Any SIC board. I look at my Bullet on my truck all the time and think "wow, that's so slick".
I agree. On my car, I can stack my F16 on top of a buddies Bullet 17'4 and then my Bullet 14v1 on top of my F16 and they nest together like... Pringles.. well not quite, but they look well together. Try stacking my Starboard All-Star or even the Think XO on top of any SIC and it needs a lot of pool noodles and looks a mess..
Bark Vapor. I bought one recently and have found myself going into my garage to just stare at it. Upside down, like on a roof rack, is it's best angle.
The Bark is there with my SICs, which are indeed beautifully clean.
Quote from: PonoBill on February 09, 2016, 09:29:43 PM
Any SIC board. I look at my Bullet on my truck all the time and think "wow, that's so slick".
Me too... :)
Love SIC lines! (pun) Bark Vapor too. Clean lines on a board are important for me.
Here are some pics of JL Rail.
Wow Yugi, global warming has certainly affected Switzerland... ;D
All kidding aside, the Rail is so typical of a J.L., I haven't seen one yet that doesn't have that signature look. Certainly the continuous rocker line contributes..
Naish boards looked great back when Harold Iggy shaped them. Now they compete with SB and Fanatic for the haphazard, piecemeal fugly Borg look.
My two sense worth...
yeah, flowers and paddling in January! :o
but then a few days later...
Nice. Bit of rocker FTW, eh? SUPs, skis, same difference.
BTW, no one cares that you.... 8)
Touché. Interesting how board rockers are coming lower just like ski rockers have done. My skis are pretty much the rocker line of a Bullet V2. Nice clean lines.
Got change for a nickel?
Quote from: yugi on February 10, 2016, 06:44:42 AM
Touché. Interesting how board rockers are coming lower just like ski rockers have done. My skis are pretty much the rocker line of a Bullet V2. Nice clean lines.
Got change for a nickel?
Nope. Our JONG Cdn Gov't phased out pennys. 8). Lots of snow for the Euros this year... Lucky guy. (I don't frequent TGR anymore. Actually I got disinterested in ski forums after the TTips crash so many years ago. I do recall quite well a certain Harri go faster story however... ;))
Quote from: yugi on February 10, 2016, 02:14:13 AM
Love SIC lines! (pun) Bark Vapor too. Clean lines on a board are important for me.
Here are some pics of JL Rail.
Nice. And nicer in Orange than the Yellow and Red, I have seen on some web page.
More rocker than I was expecting.
So it looks like we could soon have a review of the Vapor (Are10) and a review of the Rail (Yugi?).
Anybody knows anything about the JL Sidewinder? It looks comparable to the Vapor as a fast choppy conditions board.
I do agree with your point about ski/board rocker, Yugi. Excessive tip/nose rocker is certainly best left for special occasions and conditions. Open water-downbreezing and on/off piste sessions suit low-early rise rocker - the daily driver.
<edited to add> I think there's also some correlation for tail rocker too.. More of a tracking vs. surfy/slarvyness.
Actually this thread drift is pretty spot on. Boards and skis that look right "usually" are...
Quote from: Luc Benac on February 10, 2016, 07:14:26 AM
Quote from: yugi on February 10, 2016, 02:14:13 AM
Love SIC lines! (pun) Bark Vapor too. Clean lines on a board are important for me.
Here are some pics of JL Rail.
Nice. And nicer in Orange than the Yellow and Red, I have seen on some web page.
More rocker than I was expecting.
So it looks like we could soon have a review of the Vapor (Are10) and a review of the Rail (Yugi?).
Anybody knows anything about the JL Sidewinder? It looks comparable to the Vapor as a fast choppy conditions board.
Yes! I vote for the orange as well. I wonder if that's a production colour?
^ yes it is
small world!
Quote from: yugi on February 10, 2016, 07:27:35 AM
^ yes it is
OK, now I'm coveting the Rail... Too many boards, not enough money. (SIC Bullet on order for the Spring)
small world!
You on FB?
Quote from: PonoBill on February 09, 2016, 09:29:43 PM
Any SIC board. I look at my Bullet on my truck all the time and think "wow, that's so slick".
Yep, I love the look of my new Bullet V2. The funny thing is, on flat glassy water I'm going exactly the same speed on the V2 as i was on my 2014 Javelin LE, despite being considerably wider and heavier. Not to mention it's way more fun. Maybe clean lines are fast lines to some extent?
JP
Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
^ wow. Nice to see data back up that the V2 isn't slow on flats. That 2014 Jav LE is blazingly fast!
I've always comments that the V2 is slow on flat strange.
Quote from: yugi on February 10, 2016, 08:20:36 AM
^ wow. Nice to see data back up that the V2 isn't slow on flats. That 2014 Jav LE is blazingly fast!
I've always comments that the V2 is slow on flat strange.
Undoubtedly there are many variables that affect speed, the most important being the idiot at the helm (me). There are plenty of guys I know who go really fast on that LE, but I'm not one of them. It's not a balance thing, as I could downwind it in heavy Gorge conditions without falling off. My theory is it takes a certain amount of power to overcome the rather abrupt rocker of the LE, and I can't generate the required propulsion. The other odd thing is that since the V2 has a much more curvaceous outline, I get fewer strokes on a side before I have to switch, yet still going the same speed. Of course that's a huge benefit going down wind since it turns like a surfboard.
JP
Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
Quote from: Muskoka SUP on February 10, 2016, 07:17:10 AM
Quote from: Luc Benac on February 10, 2016, 07:14:26 AM
Quote from: yugi on February 10, 2016, 02:14:13 AM
Love SIC lines! (pun) Bark Vapor too. Clean lines on a board are important for me.
Here are some pics of JL Rail.
Nice. And nicer in Orange than the Yellow and Red, I have seen on some web page.
More rocker than I was expecting.
So it looks like we could soon have a review of the Vapor (Are10) and a review of the Rail (Yugi?).
Anybody knows anything about the JL Sidewinder? It looks comparable to the Vapor as a fast choppy conditions board.
Yes! I vote for the orange as well. I wonder if that's a production colour?
That Orange is pretty isn't it?
I've nicknamed mine "The Creamsicle".
I just thought I'd add to the orange theme here. Here's the Bark Vapor, from one of my favorite angles. Sorry the picture is so crap:
(http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t550/Area_10/Bark%20Vapor%20bottom_zps3glkszsb.jpg) (http://s1313.photobucket.com/user/Area_10/media/Bark%20Vapor%20bottom_zps3glkszsb.jpg.html)
^ nice figure.
So how does she ride?
Quote from: yugi on February 10, 2016, 11:16:12 AM
^ nice figure.
So how does she ride?
The problem is that here in the UK we've been experiencing the same storms that have been battering the other side of the Atlantic, just a few days later. This has led to weeks of this (this is a wind recording from the professional weather station which you should be able to see just offshore in the next picture, if it was a clear day) :
(http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t550/Area_10/Chimet%20Feb%202016_zpsowjozglo.gif) (http://s1313.photobucket.com/user/Area_10/media/Chimet%20Feb%202016_zpsowjozglo.gif.html)
Which means my local beach has been looking like this, day after day after day:
(http://i1313.photobucket.com/albums/t550/Area_10/Windy%20Feb%202015_zpsjvjbeyeo.jpg) (http://s1313.photobucket.com/user/Area_10/media/Windy%20Feb%202015_zpsjvjbeyeo.jpg.html)
So, we've had a few epic downwinders, but I've not had enough chance to try the Vapor in the kinds of conditions that most people would want to use it yet. So I'll let you know when I've had more experience on it. But I can already tell you that it is (a) amazingly stable for 26" wide; (b) amazingly well-mannered in confused stuff, and (c) lovely to paddle, with loads of glide between strokes. But I need to get a GPS on it some more, and there's a lot more conditions I want to try it in first before I give a full review.
Quote from: Area 10 on February 10, 2016, 11:10:59 AM
I just thought I'd add to the orange theme here. Here's the Bark Vapor, from one of my favorite angles. Sorry the picture is so crap:
Nice, would fit perfectly beside the Downwinder.
Any problem with paint shipping easily or things like that so far?
Cheers,
Luc
The Bark seems very solid and the fit and finish is perfect.
Reassuringly, the board came with a sticker on it that gave the date of the inspection by Quality Control, and the name of the person who inspected it. So if it turns out to have problems then the source could be traced.
The Orange SIC Bullet 14' I picked up over the holidays on closeout for $1300 has gorgeous lines. Unfortunately it got a little bit of damage in shipping but I decided to keep it since it was such a great deal - the repair is pretty straightforward. It looks like they still have a few of them over on SIC's site for sale on closeout though a little more expensive than the price I got mine for.
The JL Sidewinder looks good and has multiple sizing options. Black color though? Any other color options available? Black is a no go straight up.
Jimmy has the knack.
Quote from: robon on February 10, 2016, 03:49:48 PM
The JL Sidewinder looks good and has multiple sizing options. Black color though? Any other color options available? Black is a no go straight up.
I have been told that it will come in both Carbon construction ($$$) and JL Signature sandwich construction ($$).
No info on the weight of a Signature construction 14x27 or 14x25.
Still unclear why the Rail is only available in Carbon.
Rail carbon is light! Lighter than Bullet V2.
Quote from: yugi on February 10, 2016, 08:38:08 PM
Rail carbon is light! Lighter than Bullet V2.
Yes in Swiss Franc but not in Canadian dollar $$$
"This board is stable and doesn't stick in the front when paddling into glides. Super smooth entry rocker."
Lightweight with a super smooth entry rocker - Nice! 8) Look forward to your review of the board Yugi. Should handle some decent sized waves based on your photos -> and take-off sooner than even his revised M-14. You and your buddy are in for some fun times. :)
Quote from: Luc Benac on February 10, 2016, 09:10:27 PM
Quote from: yugi on February 10, 2016, 08:38:08 PM
Rail carbon is light! Lighter than Bullet V2.
Yes in Swiss Franc but not in Canadian dollar $$$
Prices are going up for boards, but we are getting nailed especially hard up here right now. The Starboard Hybrid Allstar is supposedly a bargain compared to the carbon version, but pricing at around $3200.00 plus tax is getting spendy.
Quote from: Luc Benac on February 10, 2016, 08:21:48 PM
Quote from: robon on February 10, 2016, 03:49:48 PM
The JL Sidewinder looks good and has multiple sizing options. Black color though? Any other color options available? Black is a no go straight up.
I have been told that it will come in both Carbon construction ($$$) and JL Signature sandwich construction ($$).
No info on the weight of a Signature construction 14x27 or 14x25.
Still unclear why the Rail is only available in Carbon.
I would think that the Rail only comes in carbon because it is aimed at advanced riders, and they nearly always want the lightest board they can get, and are willing to pay for it.
Personally, I have gone full circle now with downwind boards, and would rather have a stronger and more durable board (and cheaper) even if it does mean it is a bit heavier. There are limits of course - over 30lbs for a 14fter affects performance and portability too much IMO. But boards take such a battering in bigger downwind conditions, and I am sick of getting big repair bills about 50% of the times I go out - damage nearly always sustained during the shuffle or entering/exiting the water. So, the super-lightweight and therefore super-fragile constructions are very nice for downbreezing, but once you are into 30 knot territory they get a bit tiresome, and there is enough push from the wind and swell that those extra couple of pounds don't matter - in fact they might even have some advantages.
Plus the pricing of these superlight carbon boards is getting too much IMO. When a production board from Thailand is more expensive than a custom built at home, you know something has gone wrong. The idea of moving production overseas was to reduce costs. But the high cost of transport, and import tax duties in many countries, now largely offset the lower labour costs, and carbon is super-expensive wherever you are.
In europe the Rail is significantly less expensive (and lighter) than the Bullet V2 (which went up a lot this year).
I’ve been wondering on the optimal width for DW. I’m comfy on 27 wide and ready to go narrower. If balance were not an issue would narrower be faster or at what point does a bit of width help one get up on a plane?
i dropped down in thickness and at 26.25" and hardly ever go in unless i do something stupid or do a run approaching the 1 1/2 - 2 hour mark were my legs start to go 25" shouldn't be a problem and you really notice the glide between bumps improving once you get the width down.
^ post a pic of your new 14'. It has nice clean lines.
Agree on the thinner board being better is cross chop. Less side to slap against.
think this is the one you mean but i actually sold this one to make a new one with a small tweak to it but annoyingly have been to busy to get it done. hopefully when i get back from holiday i will be able to find time
I have seen the Rail in action Downwinding a few times now!
The JL stuff is without doubt the best off the shelf gear I have seen.. Build quality is up there with my Richmond and Custom SIC's.
Clean lines
out of interest what board would people say does not have clean lines?
from what i am reading it seams most people are getting this clean look more from the paint job than the board its self?
hahahahaha
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and even more when they've paid obscene amounts for it.
95% of peeps on forums love the stuff they got. If we were on a "Love Thyself" forum this would be a good thing.
i think clean may be the wrong word, if every board was painted plain white i thing most would be described as clean no? perhaps it would be better describing this look as simple lines were less is more, but that would rule out a lot of boards that have been described. I would not describe my board as clean lines personal and that was not what i was looking for when i built it.
As usual with forums what people have paid a lot for or have been given mates rates or have some relation with a brand suddenly become the best board in the world until they by a new one or change brands which is just all to transparent its quite amusing
Lines are all to do with shape from various angles....No?
Some boards don't have clean lines and it can be seen when foreshortened looking from nose to tail or vice versa..
All my production boards have flat spots in the profile where its supposed to be curved.
The 'Line' would be like a horizon line or brow on a hill which will show up flaws in the shape.
You could say the 'line' is the imaginary 'outline' that the brain perceives that surrounds things. ??
Look at a hand shaped Al Merrick short board and it will have amazingling fine lines with almost perfect curves.
Quote from: supuk on February 11, 2016, 06:17:15 AM
As usual with forums what people have paid a lot for or have been given mates rates or have some relation with a brand suddenly become the best board in the world until they by a new one or change brands which is just all to transparent its quite amusing
Sometimes I just roll my eyes even though I'm sometimes as guilty as anyone. I do try to make sure folks realize that unless they are 6-4, 280, with similar experience and real bad balance then my opinion may not apply. This is all so personal, like my Dad always said..."Opinions are like assholes"..... ;)
That said...my old Vec was inspired by the Foote Maliko 14. I've always loved the lines on her. Here she is on her maiden voyage 6+ years ago.
Quote from: supuk on February 11, 2016, 06:17:15 AM
i think clean may be the wrong word, if every board was painted plain white i thing most would be described as clean no? perhaps it would be better describing this look as simple lines were less is more, but that would rule out a lot of boards that have been described. I would not describe my board as clean lines personal and that was not what i was looking for when i built it.
As usual with forums what people have paid a lot for or have been given mates rates or have some relation with a brand suddenly become the best board in the world until they by a new one or change brands which is just all to transparent its quite amusing
Well I very much enjoy the cynicism of this post. And there is no doubt some truth here. But perhaps you are being a little unkind? People will tend to buy boards that they like the look of, and I don't think it is wrong to be enthused about a new board.
I do think we know what we mean by "clean lines", broadly. And it is indeed to do with simplicity of form as you suggest. Some shapes just look "right" in the way that some art does. In fact there have been scientific studies into it.
It would be easy for me to quote a whole raft of boards that I don't think have clean lines. There sure are some fugly boards out there. But if I did that I'd be dissing a helluva lot of boards that a helluva lot of people have paid a helluva lot of money for. So I think I'll pass on that one. But if you PM me I'll suggest a few. There is one brand in particular that makes relatively few clean-lined boards. And yes, I think that graphics can make a difference. But it goes far beyond that. It is about economy and consistency of form, and a sense of balance I think.
This may sound a bit arty farty or pretentious but I think if you lined up 20 different boards and asked 100 different people to rate the beauty of their shape alone (ie. forget graphics) then I'd bet you'd get a surprising amount of agreement about which board shape looks best, just as you would if you asked people to rate the best looking cars. I think for instance that maybe continuous rocker looks better to the eye than progressive rocker.
And that board of Stoneaxe's is a good example of clean lines to me. Lovely.
With an Infinity Blackfish custom you choose the lines to ride that best match the lines you take:
http://scontent-a.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/10788027_1507883149460792_672665226_n.jpg
Quote from: Area 10 on February 11, 2016, 08:22:00 AM
This may sound a bit arty farty or pretentious but I think if you lined up 20 different boards and asked 100 different people to rate the beauty of their shape alone (ie. forget graphics) then I'd bet you'd get a surprising amount of agreement about which board shape looks best, just as you would if you asked people to rate the best looking cars. I think for instance that maybe continuous rocker looks better to the eye than progressive rocker.
That is what it is. It is the same for a B&W photography (I happen to be a photographer if not an active one lately).
i agree with the hole if it looks good it often is but i don't think a board has to have clean lines to be good or attractive just look at car design and there are plenty of booth with probably the more angular designs being more of the trend at the moment.
I would think clean lines would suggest fairly simple smooth curves and relatively minimal however things like the sic's actually have various chines on the deck and spines that i would say do not follow that and things like that particular JL has very angular deck recess with very hard deck lines which again i would say was not particularly clean, Im not saying any of those are bad, i personally like a few lines to brake things up at times but i wouldn't describe them as clean although paint them all a single colour and they well appear a lot clean. On the opposite side i would say something like the new fanatic ocean 14 actually has some clean simple lines however the paint job does a very good job of hiding them or the barks that are both what i would say is fairly clean and simple and has paint to accentuate them.
Oh yeah for sure, this discussion is about aesthetics only. There are plenty of fugly boards that are brutally effective at what they do. The latest trend for surf SUPs shaped like a barn door is one example.
Even Enzo Ferrari conceded that the original Jaguar E-Type was the most beautiful car ever made. But it wasn't the fastest, even in it's day.
Some people really don't care much what their board looks like. For instance many racers - perhaps most - only have one criterion for purchasing: "will it make me go faster?"
But equally there are quite a few paddlers for who me the look of a board is even more important than it's performance. They do not want to spend thousands of dollars on something that looks like it would be rejected by a dumpster as too ugly to bear.
We hear a huge amount on these forums about "performance", but I can't remember another thread that is about looks only (I'm sure there must have been some at some point however). So this is a welcome discussion for me, and it is enlightening to hear what other people find beautiful.
The clean lines of a downwind board unfortunately make them bog-slow in flatwater. Continuous rocker, more or less required to make a board maneuver and catch bumps well, makes it drag like crazy unless by continuous the designer means "continually flat as a pancake". We need some drag in downwind boards--we're looking to gain energy from the bumps. The notion that this is really a gravity sport and we're just running downhill is instantly dispelled when you feel the acceleration of turning across the face of a wave--or it does if you think about it instead of just shouting "wheeee!".
The ugly, angular flatwater boards are just form following function. You want to penetrate the bow wave and anything else encountering the nose, but you don't want that water weight staying on the board--hence bulbous noses. You want rider weight as low as possible and the lowest angle of thrust possible so less of it is wasted pushing down on the deck--hence footwells or other ways of lowering the contact point between feet and board. etc, etc..
Human eyes see beautiful streamlining where there really isn't much. Vintage cars look streamlined when they really are just made to look that way, with form that flings air everywhere, reducing downforce and screwing up all the dynamics of making a car go around a track quickly. The really fast, dynamically efficient cars look like shit. People love the look of a Ferrari 250 GTO so much that they'll spend $38 million bucks for one, but they get so light in the rear end at speed that no one in their right mind races them at 8/10ths, never mind 10/10ths. I'd still like one.
(http://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/img/editorial/2014/07/07/101815726-Ferrari_250_GTO_Berlinetta_-_Credit_Bonhams.530x298.jpeg?v=1404737687)
Mark Raaphorst has been using this rocker line a long time. If it works, it works. This is a Ku Nalu on top of a Bullet. The Ku Nalu was the first SUP board mark built, probably about 2006. He still has the mold. I had him make this one for me a couple of years ago. A little tighter in the nose for the Ku Nalu. If I didn't know the history I'd think the Ku Nalu rocker duplicated the Bullet with the little nose kick added to help keep from whacking the backs of swells given the shorter length.
(http://www.ponohouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/bullet.jpg)
That would be a board that attract my eyes and that I could perfectly use - joining form and function :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn81Qki5_GI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn81Qki5_GI)
That would be a board that attract my eyes but for which I would have limited or no use where I am paddling.
http://distressedmullet.com/2015/11/14/custom-board-candy-ian-balding-albatross-standup-paddleboard/ (http://distressedmullet.com/2015/11/14/custom-board-candy-ian-balding-albatross-standup-paddleboard/)
It is interesting that a lot of the boards people have posted for having "clean lines" look similar. I like many of them, and share others' feelings who've said a board's appearance is important.
Years later, I still think my Javelin is the most beautiful board I've seen. I think "clean lines" describes it, although "sculptural" may be better. The shape from the side is so flat it almost looks crude at first, but closer up it's anything but that. Quiet, subtle design. I also like that it's all white--no colors or wild graphics to distract from the form or make it look dated. It's a dry martini of the board world, in contrast to some boards that are more like six-packs of caffeinated beer shoplifted from the convenience store. (Photos courtesy DJ):
(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv160/djp-2/P8300043Medium.jpg)
(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv160/djp-2/P4140019Medium.jpg)
Yup. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I concur, Mike. Just like I said earlier. "Naish boards looked great back when Harold Iggy shaped..."
Quote from: pdxmike on February 11, 2016, 10:18:28 PM
Years later, I still think my Javelin is the most beautiful board I've seen. I think "clean lines" describes it, although "sculptural" may be better. The shape from the side is so flat it almost looks crude at first, but closer up it's anything but that. Quiet, subtle design. I also like that it's all white--no colors or wild graphics to distract from the form or make it look dated.
(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv160/djp-2/P8300043Medium.jpg)
(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv160/djp-2/P4140019Medium.jpg)
I concur. I still have one of those that I take out from time to time. Beautiful board. Paddles pretty well too.
JP
Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
Quote from: JP4 on February 12, 2016, 08:01:18 AM
I concur. I still have one of those that I take out from time to time. Beautiful board. Paddles pretty well too.
JP
Dood, you have never said a good word about that board until now. What, now you're pono J, taking boards out from 'time to time'? Sorry, just couldn't resist poking fun, I thought you hated that Jav....
Quote from: covesurfer on February 12, 2016, 09:25:56 AM
Quote from: JP4 on February 12, 2016, 08:01:18 AM
I concur. I still have one of those that I take out from time to time. Beautiful board. Paddles pretty well too.
JP
Dood, you have never said a good word about that board until now. What, now you're pono J, taking boards out from 'time to time'? Sorry, just couldn't resist poking fun, I thought you hated that Jav....
Oh, don't misunderstand me, I still have a certain level of hate for that board, even if it paddles pretty well. It will throw you in the water if you look at it wrong. That's why I make my son downwind on it :o
Go back to your macanu Cove, this is a SUP forum!
JP
Quote from: Luc Benac on February 09, 2016, 06:49:36 PM
Yesterday I was looking at my Bark Downwinder on the top of my truck and once again noted how the clean lines and regular rocker made it so nice (at least in my eyes).
This is pretty much the opposite of my Starboard Race with "progressive" rocker and contorted shape.
The Boardworks Eradicator is also a board with somewhat clean lines if flatter and more angular than the Downwinder.
I was curious if you guys could think of other boards for flat water or open ocean that would have similar clean lines and shape as an attribute.
Luc--this has been a great topic. The thing I liked most is seeing how many people think a board's appearance has an impact on the enjoyment of using it. Also, how many people appreciate "clean lines". And even though that's not defined, people seem to agree on the definition, based on the photos they've posted.
I think some people think they should disregard appearance when choosing a board, especially if it means compromising on speed or other function. This discussion should help them feel it's OK to factor in appearance, whether it's clean lines or even just color.
Quote from: pdxmike on February 11, 2016, 10:18:28 PM
It is interesting that a lot of the boards people have posted for having "clean lines" look similar. I like many of them, and share others' feelings who've said a board's appearance is important.
Years later, I still think my Javelin is the most beautiful board I've seen. I think "clean lines" describes it, although "sculptural" may be better. The shape from the side is so flat it almost looks crude at first, but closer up it's anything but that. Quiet, subtle design. I also like that it's all white--no colors or wild graphics to distract from the form or make it look dated. It's a dry martini of the board world, in contrast to some boards that are more like six-packs of caffeinated beer shoplifted from the convenience store. (Photos courtesy DJ):
(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv160/djp-2/P8300043Medium.jpg)
(http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv160/djp-2/P4140019Medium.jpg)
I can't help but wonder... If you were driving along a canal and flipped the car into the water with the board on top... Think it'd just float and keep going?
The first picture is of a SIC Bullet 14v1 TWC on top of a SICMaui F16v3.. Nice clean lines, and if I could only have one board for all conditions it would be the SIC Bullet 14.. or something like it. I'm always surprised when I look at them like this how when the noses are almost in the same position, how the fins are so close position-wise, and the tail of the F16 extends backwards...
The 2nd picture is a SICMaui Bullet 17-4 on top of a SICMaui F16v3.. Nice clean lines...
I think with two boards on the top of my car, if I flipped upside down into a canal, I may have a better chance than Pdxmike... or maybe not...
Quote from: SD Surfer on February 16, 2016, 06:36:54 PM
I can't help but wonder... If you were driving along a canal and flipped the car into the water with the board on top... Think it'd just float and keep going?
Remember, those photos are from DJ of his board and car, not mine (although I like the car almost as much as the board). Also, he is from Australia, so these photos have already probably been flipped upside down for legibility. If his car flipped upside down, it would end up rightside up from our perspective in the US.
The other cool thing in that photo--totally off subject--is the metal-rod-and-tennis-ball board stabilizer at the back.
Quote from: pdxmike on February 17, 2016, 11:25:28 AM
Also, he is from Australia, so these photos have already probably been flipped upside down for legibility. If his car flipped upside down, it would end up rightside up from our perspective in the US.
But, I think he'd still be on the wrong side of the road.
Quote from: Bean on February 17, 2016, 12:17:46 PM
Quote from: pdxmike on February 17, 2016, 11:25:28 AM
Also, he is from Australia, so these photos have already probably been flipped upside down for legibility. If his car flipped upside down, it would end up rightside up from our perspective in the US.
But, I think he'd still be on the wrong side of the road.
Good point. There's a reason they call the way we do it here driving on the "right side".
At least any drop bears dropping out of the koala trees will be deflected by the board before they get in through the sunroof.
Quote from: pdxmike on February 17, 2016, 12:26:46 PM
Quote from: Bean on February 17, 2016, 12:17:46 PM
Quote from: pdxmike on February 17, 2016, 11:25:28 AM
Also, he is from Australia, so these photos have already probably been flipped upside down for legibility. If his car flipped upside down, it would end up rightside up from our perspective in the US.
But, I think he'd still be on the wrong side of the road.
Good point. There's a reason they call the way we do it here driving on the "right side".
At least any drop bears dropping out of the koala trees will be deflected by the board before they get in through the sunroof.
Ha.. btw it's my last few weeks with my little Suzuki because I've traded it for a new 2016 Toyota FJ Cruiser.. Like this one.. :)
It's due in next month.. Can't wait..
(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy27/djp-3/DJ%202012%20pics/IMG_5384_zpsr8ibrbtv.jpg)
Quote from: DavidJohn on February 17, 2016, 01:40:34 PM
Quote from: pdxmike on February 17, 2016, 12:26:46 PM
Quote from: Bean on February 17, 2016, 12:17:46 PM
Quote from: pdxmike on February 17, 2016, 11:25:28 AM
Also, he is from Australia, so these photos have already probably been flipped upside down for legibility. If his car flipped upside down, it would end up rightside up from our perspective in the US.
But, I think he'd still be on the wrong side of the road.
Good point. There's a reason they call the way we do it here driving on the "right side".
At least any drop bears dropping out of the koala trees will be deflected by the board before they get in through the sunroof.
Ha.. btw it's my last few weeks with my little Suzuki because I've traded it for a new 2016 Toyota FJ Cruiser.. Like this one.. :)
It's due in next month.. Can't wait..
(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy27/djp-3/DJ%202012%20pics/IMG_5384_zpsr8ibrbtv.jpg)
Those colors!?! ;D
Yes.. ;D
Quote from: PonoBill on February 11, 2016, 10:53:23 AM
The clean lines of a downwind board...Continuous rocker...
The ugly, angular flatwater boards are just form following function...
To my eye, I find the 'clean lines' of an angular race board, I'll say the All Star, much more appealing then the fugly looking old Naish with it's unrefined huge boxed rails, funky nose and tail and that super blah white paint job. Sure I understand the appeal of an old love, but when it comes to SUP design, time has ticked fast and what works is what looks good. In SoCal conditions the Naish was a super pig, where I don't even need a ride to know that an FX, Vapor or All Star should all go awesome.
It seemed like a lot of paddlers around here drank the SIC koolaid and bought Bullets; not so surprisingly, most have been sold on as they found them just plain slow and a board designed for conditions we never get. SIC clearly figured out it had nothing suitable between a pure downwind board and the flatwater X and ta dah, the FX. Point being, when I look at the Bullet vs the FX, I see the FX as the prettier, faster board, all the way. Put me in Maui, in the channel and I'll being singing a different tune.
Gee DJ, you'll be anonymous... No one will ever recognize you in that... ;D. Do you get to keep your personalized plates in OZ?
Of course you'll have to sticker it up.. You know, the standard Kialoa decal on the hood (or is it a bonnet in OZ?). While your at it, maybe some RailsaverPro on the doors, so you don't get any dings... 8)
All jesting aside, congrats. A friend of ours has a FJ, and she loves it.. Typical Toyota bulletproof build quality..
Quote from: baddog on February 17, 2016, 02:01:47 PM
Quote from: PonoBill on February 11, 2016, 10:53:23 AM
The clean lines of a downwind board...Continuous rocker...
The ugly, angular flatwater boards are just form following function...
To my eye, I find the 'clean lines' of an angular race board, I'll say the All Star, much more appealing then the fugly looking old Naish with it's unrefined huge boxed rails, funky nose and tail and that super blah white paint job. Sure I understand the appeal of an old love, but when it comes to SUP design, time has ticked fast and what works is what looks good. In SoCal conditions the Naish was a super pig, where I don't even need a ride to know that an FX, Vapor or All Star should all go awesome.
It seemed like a lot of paddlers around here drank the SIC koolaid and bought Bullets; not so surprisingly, most have been sold on as they found them just plain slow and a board designed for conditions we never get. SIC clearly figured out it had nothing suitable between a pure downwind board and the flatwater X and ta dah, the FX. Point being, when I look at the Bullet vs the FX, I see the FX as the prettier, faster board, all the way. Put me in Maui, in the channel and I'll being singing a different tune.
The Naish Javelin a "super pig"? Maybe you're thinking of the original Glide V1.. In flat water.. If one can stay comfortably balanced on the original Jav, it is as fast as any current board its width.. (26"). Truth. 8)
We miss our yellow truck. It was so easy to find it in any parking lot.
It's funny — couldn't imagine paddling an ugly flatwater board. Certain boards to me just seem out of balance like the Starboard Allstar. I'm not arguing if they work or not, but they don't seem pretty to me.
It's like looking at these two vessels. The first is a gorgeous thing; the other looks like a mutated chicken.
Quote from: Muskoka SUP on February 17, 2016, 05:53:12 PM
The Naish Javelin a "super pig"? Maybe you're thinking of the original Glide V1.. In flat water.. If one can stay comfortably balanced on the original Jav, it is as fast as any current board its width.. (26"). Truth. 8)
You're probably right as I've always been a Starby fanboy:)
baddog--we may have differing opinions on the looks of the Javelin, but on the other hand you bring up something that's true for me, and probably most people--that if a shape performs well for someone, it looks better to them, and if it doesn't, it looks worse.
It's funny also that on a thread about board appearance, DJ posted a vehicle whose looks people seem to either love (like me, but then again I drive an Element) or hate--no middle ground.