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Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: gcs on November 02, 2018, 05:23:20 AM

Title: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: gcs on November 02, 2018, 05:23:20 AM
Hello all:

Need help deciding on new board.  Would appreciate any input.  I'm 6 foot 200 lbs and often go out in breeze and messy chop on open water.  Been paddling for years and would say intermediate.  Currently occasionally  ride a 10'6 yolo board that I also use to surf.  Also have a 12'6 Riviera Voyager which is 12'6 and 32 wide and 280L.  Also have a Riviera RP 14 downwinder which is 14 x26.5 and 255L.  Have also owned a Yolo Predator 12'6 x 29 which was 300L but not as stable as you might think.  The touring board is super stable reasonable upwind and slow downwind.  No complaints it is what it is.  The downwinder is nice but I get bucked doff in side chop and sometimes catch a rail.  I don't like falling off especially in winter.  I can paddle about any board in calm conditions but like to be ready for less than perfect conditions (or if they turn that way).  So going to go for a wider 14 foot board but a lot of tourers are a bit too wide.  Want to be in the 28-30 inch width range.  Here is what I have narrowed it down to:

Yolo TR14   14, 29.5w and a 330L of volume.  I liked my predator 12'6.  This is essentially a 14 foot version of the prowler/predator but made of epoxy/fiberglass rather than carbon and weighs about 30 lbs  (can't locate any of the older used prowlers/predators)

Naish Glide in 29 or 30 inch width

SIC bullet - 27.5 width

Starboard touring board in 31 inch width (worried a bit too wide)

Also could get a wider race board I guess but would gave to go used as would like to keep price 1500-1800 max.

Leaning toward the Yolo because I live on Gulf and they have been good for me - have had several over the years with no issues.

Any thoughts and advice appreciated.

Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: PonoBill on November 02, 2018, 08:30:26 AM
I'd look for an F14. A new one will be over your budget ($2700) unless a shop is having a clearance sale, but a used one should fit well. The only problem is finding one. I think the new ones are really rebranded Bullet 14 Wide. I borrowed one from SIC to do a ridiculously turbulent PPG distance race, and it saved my ass. I could stand while everyone around me was on their knees or in the water. Very stable and still reasonably fast. I got second in the 60 to dead class on the board. Of course, I think there were only a couple of geezers doing the race.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: TallDude on November 02, 2018, 10:36:38 AM
If you can find an older Hobie 14' Elite like this one or similar, it'd work perfect for what you want. I've had mine for 7 years and it's still my go to in rough ocean paddling. It's 28" wide but carries more width through to the tail. It has a good amount of rocker which slows in in the flat water, but gives it stability and it surfs. The carbon elites like mine are very light. I think the veneer ones are lighter too.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/d/hobie-14x28-race-touring/6738885582.html
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: oceanAddict on November 02, 2018, 03:58:55 PM
I'm about the same in size as you  (5 11 3/4; 205) and recently got a used 2017 Infinity Blackfish for the similar condition you describing. Open water (Broad Sound / Boston harbor), distance paddling.   Happy as a clam. The first day I took it out was a chop and side wind, I could not wipe a grin off my face, it so stable I could not believe my eyes. It's light too, not sure if it's important to you, but I really wanted to have a lighter board. It feels wider than it is, and stable and goes straight even with rail submerged. I would buy this board again without any hesitation.   
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: robon on November 02, 2018, 05:55:09 PM
In your budget.

Boardworks Great Bear 14 X 29. Shape has been refined since first version and original shape did well in rough conditions, and the new outline looks better.

Infinity wide-Aquatic Tour.

You could look for a wide version in a starboard allstar hybrid. I have seen these marked down.

NSP has a new Coco carbon touring board that is 14 x 30.

I have a Naish Glide V3 and love it, but it's heavy. Still my favourite Glide shape out of the bunch. Naish nailed it with the V3. Sometimes a the wood V3 pops up at shops and is a couple, three pounds lighter than the Epoxy and is usually marked way down because it's discontinued. It's worth it.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: paddlejones on November 02, 2018, 06:31:13 PM
TD
Great find...
I had one of the hobie 14’ boards for a few years. Beyond stable. That is a steal, I bought an infinity 12/6 tour board 2 months ago or i’d drive the 8 hours and pick that up.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: nalu-sup on November 02, 2018, 09:29:21 PM
I just helped my brother in law in picking out a SIC FX 14 Tour. They are currently on sale on the SIC web site for 40% off at $1199. It is a heavy construction, but has the 30" stability you are looking for, and looks like a good all round design for flat water, chop, and maybe some downwind.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: TallDude on November 02, 2018, 10:47:38 PM
My neighbor has that SIC FX 14 Tour, and it's like the Riviera Voyager in 14' but a better shape. He's a beginner so it's all about not falling into the water when you start out ::) It is a heavier construction than most the SIC's.   
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: rbgar on November 03, 2018, 07:40:23 AM
https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,34155.0.html


got you written all over it
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: gcs on November 03, 2018, 09:19:34 PM
Thanks so much for all the thoughtful responses.  Plenty to think about.  Also putting Fanatic Ray 14 in the mix if I can find one - a little lighter than the others too.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: DavidJohn on November 03, 2018, 09:33:25 PM
I’m your size and I love my 14x 29” Glide.. It would be a perfect choice IMO

https://vimeo.com/229234055
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: JEG on November 04, 2018, 12:55:23 PM
as you described board choice, I agree with DJ with the Naish Glide in 29 wide.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: gcs on December 11, 2018, 02:53:31 PM
Based on what is available I have narrowed it down to these two that can be had about the same price.  A Naish Glide gtw 29.5, or the SIC twc x-14 at 28.5.  I suspect the Naish will be better in the rougher stuff and the SIC faster in the calmer stuff.  The SIC is about 3-4 lbs heavier.  Honestly think I would really enjoy either one.  Help me make the call lol.  Thanks again for everyone's input.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: Area 10 on December 11, 2018, 03:09:13 PM
If those are your choices, get the Naish.

I have an X14 and love it. But you need the SCC construction one. The TWC version is very heavy and it affects the performance too much.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: burchas on December 11, 2018, 09:10:26 PM
The Naish will be the better call imo.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: singingdog on December 12, 2018, 04:23:46 AM
It seems that this question pops up on almost every 14' board choice thread: "Should I trade stability for incremental increases in flatwater speed?" IMHO, no. The worst case scenario is that you get a board that limits the days you can spend on it. Nothing worse than sitting on shore, with a fast board tied to your roof rack, wishing you could go out in dicey conditions.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: RideTheGlide on December 12, 2018, 06:38:49 AM
It seems that this question pops up on almost every 14' board choice thread: "Should I trade stability for incremental increases in flatwater speed?" IMHO, no. The worst case scenario is that you get a board that limits the days you can spend on it. Nothing worse than sitting on shore, with a fast board tied to your roof rack, wishing you could go out in dicey conditions.

This was my thought process. I am probably low intermediate; this was my first year of SUP but I have decades of paddle craft experience. I got the chance to spend some money on something for my 60th birthday and when I think about what I really want to do a lot that I can't now, it's paddling out beyond the breakers to fish and/or tour. I want to do some multi day trips. I don't care about racing. I went with the 30" Naish knowing full well it is one of the slower 14' boards out there and that I don't need near that much volume. I will admit the pricing on this board did help sway me. But the thing that kept coming up in my mind is if I go down to the coast 15 times planning to paddle out beyond the breakers with gear, how many times will I end up sound side or scrubbing the trip? Or maybe worse, going on a day when I will have trouble standing.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: rbgar on December 12, 2018, 01:53:28 PM
When I talked to Joe Bark about the Big guy Eliminator being 29.5” wide he said “ falling off isn’t exactly fast”, he was correct as I’ve placed in my local races when faster guys are wiping out.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: RideTheGlide on December 12, 2018, 02:31:24 PM
When I talked to Joe Bark about the Big guy Eliminator being 29.5” wide he said “ falling off isn’t exactly fast”, he was correct as I’ve placed in my local races when faster guys are wiping out.
My balance is okay, but what it once was; I am turning 60 and the goal is to avoid decline in my balance. Improving it is not realistic. It isn't bad; I will be fine on a stable board. Anyway, someone said pretty much the same thing to me - any board is faster than swimming.  8)
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: Area 10 on December 13, 2018, 01:28:22 PM
Stable boards are blessings from heaven. Tippy boards are the devil’s response to your vanity.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: gcs on June 10, 2019, 06:48:04 PM
Hello all.  Thanks again for the input.  By the time my boards sold all of the on sale Glides were gone.  I ended up getting an Infinity Wide Aquatic Tour 14.  It serves my purposes well.  It is super stable with plenty of glide.  The Good:  I ride it almost every day in whatever conditions I get thrown at me.  Nice construction it looks and feels good and has Innegra throughout rails, nose and tail.  Very nice SIC like handle.  Volume in nose helps in chop.  Great deck pad that goes all way to tail without anything in the way.  Incredible value shipped for approx $1200.  Packing and shipping seamless.  The Bad:  Weighs 32 lbs.  Little nose and tail kick (but glides so well so..)  Stock fin.  After talking to Mr. Allison (wow he is a knowledgeable finnologist!!)  going to get Thresher 9  fin and will be set.  I would prefer a SIC RS14x28 but cannot find one for $1200 shipped lol.  I was so impressed I also got the 10 4 x 32 regular wide aquatic to replace my Yolo original 10'6 - lower volume, so pretty light and strong.  Ditched stock fins for Farberow flex single.  A sweet surf shape.  Also paddles well getting to the more remote surf spot.  Thanks again for the advice. 
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: Dusk Patrol on June 10, 2019, 08:26:04 PM
That’s awesome. Congrats on both. They are such good values in terms of both design and construction quality.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: Ichabod Spoonbill on June 11, 2019, 04:35:03 AM
gcs, I like that touring board you got. I'm not a racer, so I don't really waste my time with boards that emphasize speed over utility. Racing kind of stresses me out.  I like big touring hulls which let you glide mile after mile...
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: RideTheGlide on June 11, 2019, 05:42:46 AM
Since the above posts, I have turned 60 and got the big board on my birthday. I have been out fishing BTB (beyond the breakers) 3 times so far and going again this weekend. The good news is that it's really stable and handles breakers, chop and big swell. Also it was fairly easy to outfit for fishing. The only negatives are the weight (about 32 pounds) and it's a bitch to fight wind. The vast majority of BTB fishermen are kayakers and that's who I go with. Fortunately some of them are not in great shape or are just lazy and I can generally keep up okay but I drop behind if they kick it up a notch. I have fallen in twice over a mile out and practically walked on water getting back on. It was messing with gear and not paying enough attention. The first time was going for a rod I was trolling with when I got a big hit. :)
EDIT - meant to say that only going in twice is not bad considering how they happened; I have been fine paddling and paying attention.
Title: Re: Help w 14 foot open water board board
Post by: eastbound on June 11, 2019, 06:54:40 AM
"Tippy boards are the devil’s response to your vanity."

shorter and shorter surf sups are same--gotta be zen about what what's reasonable and what works--vs diminishing returns of exhausting all energy paddling a sinker
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