Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: clinto on August 15, 2017, 01:25:05 PM
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As all of you understand and experience , I am already getting bored with my current board. I took a big step down at the beginning of the summer from a 160L 10' x 32" Dolsey to a 130L 10' x 29 laird surf hybrid. I have now mastered the laird and am going to go sub 8'. I'm looking at 2 totally different boards on CL and would like to get your thoughts. Both are 120L. One is an L41 simsup st. @ 7'8" x 30. The other is a starboard 7 11 as they called it @ 7' 11" x 29". The L41 is a quad which I have never surfed before but is something I need to consider.
For reference I'm 6'4" at 210 and 35yo. I have a lot of surf experience and good balance. Surfing in FL sloppy conditions.
Thanks guys.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170815/1f472a2ed51a118d23ed59e17cb8b6ed.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170815/d9fbc4d505a3682740902fc9cffb9c79.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170815/f8ef01b2cc56781cd30156e3591618f6.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170815/1fa6d28b4c30f67269bc5301f985ed83.jpg)
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Nothing says more about what's right for you than a demo ride. :)
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I'd go with the L41 but be careful, it will only fuel your obsession to go even smaller :-) Simmons style boards work well in slower mushier surf. I had 3 Infinity Phoenixes which are similar to the SIMSUP. It takes a little getting used to the wider tail but they are fast and lots of fun.
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Thanks guys. The guy with the L41 has a Kings Simmons as well. It's a 7'10". I've been reading all the hype on here but any quick and simple thoughts on build and ride of Kings vs L41? Also, if I know I won't be able to paddle a board the first time I take it out how do I demo? I'm tempted to demo but don't think it'll tell me much.
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Do you have waves that will work with small, flat boards? That generally means critical waves (close to top to bottom breaking) in the shoulder to DOH range. You're making a big jump which will be fine if that's the waves you have, but if you're riding in knee to waist high mushburgers then they're going to be marginally fun. Big mush is OK, but these things rock in waves with a real pocket.
I love my 8'8" L41, but it's fun in ten percent of the waves I can reach with a one day drive except for middle of winter, when I'm not here. Which is why I'm spending the afternoon putting a Tuttle in it. This size would be fine for you--8'8" X 31"
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20818986_10155032555423668_4800099914341280073_o.jpg?oh=31ab53545899ebc4bfdfa8f74ed2f936&oe=5A1A6532)
(https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20819172_10155032555838668_5085520868347551104_o.jpg?oh=3dc5734027d1a640dcbf6f1b5c274f67&oe=5A234AA8)
I think L41's are mostly made in Stretch's factory. His reputation is superb, and my L41 has stood up to my usual crap amazingly well. Dave Daum at King's makes awesome boards as well, there's no problem with either.
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Also, if I know I won't be able to paddle a board the first time I take it out how do I demo? I'm tempted to demo but don't think it'll tell me much.
A flatwater demo will tell you quite a lot about stability. Try that first. Then look for some small waves or chop.
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I picked up a king's super simmons in the spring. Love it. I mostly ride the east end of Long Island. With the variety of wave conditions on the Island it holds up well. Its fast when needed and you can turn with ease. Good Luck.
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i kept 'progressing' downward, but then the Peter Principle kicked in. i had reached my level of incompetence, and now own a board i can barely stand on. unless you can demo, i'd err on the side of too big. i'm just about your size (unfortunately much older) and own a L41 8'4" which is very comfortable, 8' Starboard Hypernut which is damn near perfect (could lose some volume), and a 7'9"*30" Sunova Schroom, which is my mistake listed above.
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i kept 'progressing' downward, but then the Peter Principle kicked in. i had reached my level of incompetence, and now own a board i can barely stand on. unless you can demo, i'd err on the side of too big. i'm just about your size (unfortunately much older) and own a L41 8'4" which is very comfortable, 8' Starboard Hypernut which is damn near perfect (could lose some volume), and a 7'9"*30" Sunova Schroom, which is my mistake listed above.
yep....I think anyone who really gets into the sport has that board. mines my 106l 7'4 hypernut. Works- but Mucho effort and only in trunks in perfect glass; non critical waves (which never happens). (Im 210lbs) Ride it about 5% of the time and aggrivates me just looking at it knowing its my most expensive board
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I enjoy reading everyone's experiences. I went for it and got the L41. 7'8" x 30" @ 120L. I'm 6'4" at 215. Took it out today for a quick intro paddle and was pleasantly surprised. 2nd attempt I was up and paddling without too much work. These boards are super stable in a modified surf stance. The quick pop up technique from "The progression project" website is key. I was able to catch a couple knee high closeouts (no surf today) but was able to get in position, turn and catch a wave. That's a win for me. I took the chance with buying as I was unable to test prior but am stoked. My quiver is growing and my boards are shrinking. This obsession everyone peaks of is very real.
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A few more pics. She a beaut. With carbon rails should I need railtape?(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170818/47842f613e830f1c4030ea4faae8bfa7.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170818/0a5787a02235fbec4b5e4633b258a77d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170818/8ffc5c6acb5d70cee3893c300d84939d.jpg)
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Awesome, glad it worked out well. If you feel that good after the first session you'll have it dialed in in no time and will be searching for a 7-4 x 30 x 115L in a month or two :-)
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A few more pics. She a beaut. With carbon rails should I need railtape?
I would install rail tape, it's cheap insurance. I use 1" wide 14mil ISC Helicopter-OG-HD Surface Guard Tape from Amazon. It's only $26 for 30ft if you get the 1" wide which is plenty wide to cover the apex of your rail. If you want a bit more rail coverage get the 2" wide x 30ft for $46. Just make sure you get the HD version (14mil).
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i never put rail tape on my L41, and it looks like your board...good as new. however, my Hypernut, much as i like it, looks like it has acne.
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I am loving this board. Super small mushy waves and I'm already able to catch almost anything I try for. Can't wait to get it in some size. I have been able to get a couple small short waves but am really liking the feel.
I haven't had a matte finish board before so forgive me if this is normal, but there are a couple spots on the bottom that you can see the cloth weave. Looks like it didn't get polished or was over sanded maybe. It's not soft and seems fine other than the look of it. Anything to be concerned about?(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170821/dbf8a87d0e25a889995bfce614afc614.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170821/d1b937dd7c5fe66dbb46a4b5b87ef0c7.jpg)
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If it's water tight and not delaminated I would not worry about it. The only time I see the cloth weave appear are on areas of impact on my rails (i.e. from paddle strikes). Glad you are stoked on the board.
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Congrats on the L41. I also have an ST in very similar construction with the carbon rails. Over the last two years I've really beaten the crap out of it and it's been on a plane to Mexico and Hawaii. Really welll made board. It's still holding up great and is water tight. I have RSPro tape on mine, but I don't know if that was necessary as those rails are as hard as concrete, though I'm not a rail banger. Mines an 8'4"x31", which at 170lbs is on the big side for performance, but it's my go to board when it's windy because it's easy to stand on.
I actually went up in length this year to a Starboard Pro 9x29 and that's allowed me to catch more waves and is actually much turnier than the L41. It's a little harder to stand up on though. Catches waves a lot easier than the L41 but lower top speed. That L41 hauls ass! (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170822/295ab10343e9fd61546f6df4c1bf608a.gif)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170822/07922ad2240a29c2c488b42d22fd3e40.jpg)
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JP did you get the 2017 9.0 pro? if so what are your impressions?
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JP did you get the 2017 9.0 pro? if so what are your impressions?
Yes, I got the 2017 in starlite construction. Its a really fun board that surfs smaller than it really is. I wanted something that would catch waves a little easier and turn a little quicker than my L41 and this checked both those boxes. It's actually about 2 litres smaller than my L41. It's quite a bit tougher to stand on and paddle in the chop though, and ultimately a little slower in top speed, but then everything I've ridden is slower than the L41. I was getting a little frustrated in bigger surf with the really wide tail and high speed of the L41 . I need to be into the critical section of the wave to take off on it consistently, but then it requires a big step to the rail and a lot of weight to get it to stay high on the wave. The Starboard makes all that really easy and I don't have to move my back foot when changing directions.
Under shoulder high the L41 is great because it's so fast that it makes it easy to make sections that are hard to connect on slower boards.
I did have an issue with the Starboard leaking. From day one it would drip from the middle of the back pad, about halfway between the handle and the tail, always in the same spot..I got a warranty replacement and the new one doesn't leak. When they pealed the pad on the old one, they found a hole take had been clearly drilled into the board and plugged with some sort of resin. This board has no vent, so of course that wasn't going to work. Whether this was a manufacturing error or part of the production process I don't know, but I'm hoping my new one doesn't have a similar hole in it.
Overall though, I'm really happy with the Starboard. It's pretty light and super versatile for not a lot of money. It'll surf the knee high stuff but is very composed in overhead waves too.
JP
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