Anyone out there tried the AHD Sealion or Sealion XL in real life conditions - ie on shore 10mph slop - with or without a sail?
The videos and blog show mostly clean side off conditions - i need to know if it will point and be fun in side/on conditions - with a 5.8 sail for my FL conditions.
Here is a link to blog
http://leblogdusealion.blogspot.com/ (http://leblogdusealion.blogspot.com/)
If you use Google - it will translate for you.
Thoughts?
Mike in Pensacola
Also Starboard just came out with a 7"4 Rush SUP that looks inviting in clean waves - would like to see how it does in the afternoon sea breeze.
Hi Mike... I took the AHD Sea Lion out just 2 days ago here in Jax with a 5.7 sail and wind was side-on shore at around 12-14mph (I'm around 175 to 180). I had a hard time getting it to plane going out; but once I jibed around to come back in and picked up a swell, it was awesome. My wife (Deb) had no problem planing at all, but she's around 122 lbs... I have also used it for SUP, too. Best way to describe the feeling is "it's like windsurfing on a Frisbee. Super loose and free feeling"...
I'm the Nah Skwell/AHD Fla Rep located here in N/E Fla if you ever want to demo it...
I was just over there (Pensacola area) in June and did a demo at the Grand Lagoon Yacht Club which was well attended. You guys have a great area over there and my friend Mike H tells me the oil situation has improved lately (a Great thing)... Later, JD
Are you coming back out to the panhandle anytime soon?
No 'short-term' plans to go back anytime soon. I'm busy working the east coast of Fla at the moment; then it will be off to the S/W coast... JD
JD - thanks for the report - as long as you can schlog and point so you don't end up like a downwind kiter in marginal conditions - that would probably be my only criteria - planning out would be a bonus - maybe the XL might be the ticket - although you would probably give up some in aggressive maneuvers do to the extra swing length.
May try and tag up with you or maybe you need to make me a Team Rider over here, so interested buyers could demo my stuff?
Yes water is clean, beaches have been cleaned up - caught a nice waist to chest long period swell last week - we had a really nice swell about a month ago - but the water was too iffy - it was pretty amazing to see decent surf and no one out - I think everyone was waiting for someone to take the plunge. Many headed east 60 miles or so for clean water. Keep us posted on your demo travels.
Mike in Pensacola
JD - are there any design modifications/improvements to the Sealion for 2011???
mike
Hi Pensacola... Not to my knowledge. But being a lowly Rep, I may not be privy to such info ;) ... Have you met Mike Haskins yet? You can find him on his NS106 paddling on the Grand Lagoon or behind the GLYC (Grand Lagoon Yacht Club). Good friend and great guy... Later, JD