Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: Ichabod Spoonbill on April 05, 2019, 05:36:27 AM
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I'm going to be doing a lot of on-water teaching this summer, and I was thinking of getting myself a Bic Tough-Tec as a knockaround board. There's also a really good offer on these boards from the ACA, like 50% off.
I was wondering if a 9'2" would float me well. The board is 145 liters, and I'm about 205. I could get a 10'6", but I would rather go smaller. Would this work?
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Can't speak to this particular board but I'm a little heavier than you and my 9-6 145 liter board floats me fine. Actually paddles really well in calm flat water for it's size also. I put some miles on it last weekend when it was glassy.
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How much do you weigh, Scallop?
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That's personal...
210
Creek has a video paddling the same 9-6 Steeze in flat water and I think he was possibly heavier than me at the time of the video but you could ask him.
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That's personal...
210
Creek has a video paddling the same 9-6 Steeze in flat water and I think he was possibly heavier than me at the time of the video but you could ask him.
Thank you Scallop, and having paddled with Creek, I already know the answer to that!
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145 liters would float me fine at 225 lbs. I wouldn't be able to paddle it very fast, but at 31.5 " and a wider tail it should be stable. Looks like it'd be fun to surf too. A little heavy.
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IS at 145 l and 31.5" wide that should be a pretty stable platform for you. She is a heavy girl at 30lbs, and if it has that old-skool handle, that might be less than ideal. But, it's a board that will take a beating for sure.
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In the early 80's when I started windsurfing, I had a few BIC and F2 roto-molds that I could literally run in the rocks. I used to launch off of a rock jetty. I just dragged those boards over the boulders. I kept the BIC's for 25 years and it became my son's first paddleboard.
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I have a 10'6" ace-tec, and it is damn heavy. I can imagine the tough-tec is even heavier.
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I have a 10'6" ace-tec, and it is damn heavy. I can imagine the tough-tec is even heavier.
Yeah, I’m prepared for that. This board is going to beaten up, so the weight is kind of secondary. I’m also interested in putting a board like this through it’s paces. I think of it as taking a VW Beetle cross country or something.
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Ichabod Spoonbill, I had one and the ltrs might b be correct but the board is heavy and its like riding less than 100ltr board.
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Bic Sup’s website has “Special Offers” including the Ace-Tec version of that board for 50% off. It’s the Oxbow Search version. I can’t imagine the need for anything tougher than the plastic shell of Ace-Tec. It would be relatively lighter weight.
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Bic Sup’s website has “Special Offers” including the Ace-Tec version of that board for 50% off. It’s the Oxbow Search version. I can’t imagine the need for anything tougher than the plastic shell of Ace-Tec. It would be relatively lighter weight.
Dusk, I see that. Thank you. I'm on a very tight budget these days, but maybe. BTW, if you saw the rocky shores here, you might think differently.
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Ichabod
Just being the devils advocate, if you are not going to surf it, use it for teaching, cruising and have a rocky shoreline........why not a good quality inflatable? My brother and sister in-law have two 10’6” Red Paddleboard Rides and they love them. One they got on sale for about $700 US and the other have been paddling for about 7 years. Rocky shoreline of a little lake in the interior of BC. They seem indestructible.
Cheers
Bob
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Ich, About 2001, I bought a Mini-Mal from a friend's rental inventory that he may have had in service for 6yrs or longer. I bought it because there were, inexplicably, inserts for foot straps. I surf-kited with it. It took an absolute thrashing, like a Fiat cab in Syria. Your rocks may scar it and try to gouge it, but other than bust a fin, I don't think it would hurt it much. (photos on this computer only go back to '06, but I likely have a picture..)
Jim
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It's funny about toughness. I took my NSP 14 through a creek last week. Lots of trees to dodge and beaver dams to navigate. That guy is pretty tough, but still it got pierced. I don't know if I'm too fussy about my dings, but I'd rather not have to repair too often. I'm going to search around, but I can get one of those Bics new for $350, which is heard to beat.
FRP, when I can afford an inflatable, I will get one!
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I have a 10'6" ace-tec, and it is damn heavy. I can imagine the tough-tec is even heavier.
Yeah, I’m prepared for that. This board is going to beaten up, so the weight is kind of secondary. I’m also interested in putting a board like this through it’s paces. I think of it as taking a VW Beetle cross country or something.
On my break, there is a guy that has had his ToughTec for 5 years. He catches almost every wave that comes by him and has a great time. The thing is all dented to hell, but it keeps catching waves.
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I ended up getting an Ace-Tec 9'2". I managed to convince the ol' wifey to go for it, so it's coming next week sometime.
I had rented this model a couple of years ago in Jacksonville and it was fun. I only got a few rides before the rains came. I think the smaller size will be something to work at. I haven't spent much time on small boards, so this will be a good progression. I'll post some real pics when it arrives.
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That should be a fun size to work with. A few weeks and you'll have it wired.
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Thanks Stoney. Hopefully I'll be able to take it to the waves at some point! Even if I don't, it'll be small enough to challenge me.
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A nice review:
https://www.sup-internationalmag.com/shaping-bay/bic-9-2-performer-test-review/
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That is a good review. Thanks Dusk. BTW, what does it mean to "judder"? I haven't heard that term.
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I assume it means to shudder or vibrate. I had a 9’9 JL Maestra that kind of vibrated sometimes.
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Looks fun !
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The guy arrived the other day. Weather and obligations have kept me from riding it, but soon!
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Cancel everything.... Must surf...
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I wasn't able to surf but I took the board out for a 3–4 mile paddle. I had to get used to the different type of ride. I'm so used to the big boards that have a fore-and-aft stability I was surprised by the nose sinking. I got used to it though, but then I had to get accustomed to the thin rails which really wanted to dig into the water. It was weird to have less primary stability on a board 31.5 inches wide than on my 31 inch board, but I'm guessing this is so you can dig a rail into a wave easily. Once I got used to that, it was a pretty nice ride. I think this will do very nicely as a putter/teaching/vacation board.
If I'm just doing flatwater, I think it could use a bigger fin than the 8" dolphin fin. Nothing too big, but maybe a 9–10" fin. Of course when I bring this on the waves the 2+1 fins will be pretty sweet!
Back to the size, it feels weird to have a board this small on my car. I can safely say this is the smallest board I've ever owned or paddled for any time. (I did once paddle one of Creek's 9' Sunova's.) I know I will learn a lot from the small size in terms of adjusting my weight. I can already see I need to keep my feet a little further forward to engage the nose. Usually I paddle with my toes in front of the center handle and my heels behind. This board seems to want my heels right at the center. I included pics with my feet in the different positions.
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It’s a good looking piece of kit... a shiny red sports car... 8)
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So I've paddled the board a half-dozen times on flatwater and finally have it dialed in. I replaced the 8" fin with a 9" fine from my Imagine Surfer and saw a huge difference. I went from 3–4 strokes on a side to 6–8. Plus my speed went up. The 8" fin will be great for waves, but I think this new one is the right size. I'll just have to keep both on hand!
Paddle stroke makes a huge difference. That adage about not paddling past your feet is really true here. Anything past my feet turns the board, but a quick, straight drawback does the trick. Combine that with keeping my weight slightly forwards, tilting the board slightly on the paddling side, and the board cruises. The altered stroke is a great ab workout too.
One day I'll actually take this onto the waves. Until then I'm having fun.